After a rough day at work, nothing beats wet kisses and furry hugs from house pets. Many studies have proved animals’ incredible ability to lighten moods and reduce tension in people. Kaieteur News Online reports on the wonder these creatures can bring.

What most of us might not know is that having a pet can contribute significantly towards improving our health by relieving our stress levels. Yes, that’s right, pets can do that. So for all you pet lovers out there, two thumbs up.

Scientific research has shown that persons who own pets are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets, and that people with pets have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than those without pets. Moreover, it was proven that playing with a pet can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calms and relaxes in addition to lowering triglycerides and cholesterol levels (indicators of heart disease) in persons that have pets.

Most seek pets for companionship to combat chronic emotional conditions like depression. In 2012, about 62 percent of American households owned at least one pet. While majority account for dogs and cats, there are also a handful of extreme animal enthusiasts who opt to keep animals usually found in the wild.

Monkeys are among the popular wild animals that are now regarded as pets. In South Africa alone, over 500 families are said to be keeping this primate as a pet due to their high chance of being tamed. In the U.S., buying and selling monkeys is legal in some states. Should one be proven guilty of violating the law, the animal will be immediately taken.

About 14,000 kilometers away, Debby from Missouri is kept happy and healthy by her caring little fellow, Richard. She’s suffering from anxiety disorder. Doctors see positive results and approve of this effective approach. Organizations like Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers for the Disabled on the other hand pour effort into training monkeys to provide assistance for the disabled and paralyzed.

Like many wild animals, these are also potential carriers of diseases that can easily be transmitted to humans. This is why it’s important to only buy monkeys for sale with papers. Being a responsible owner means getting only from trustworthy sources to assure quality and safety.

For those who are interested in taking in these adorable baby monkeys from established shops like Poggi’s Animal House, note that raising one has intricacies that may need veterinary consultation from time to time.

(Source: The secret to the reduction of stress starts with ‘P’, Kaieteur News Online, June 2014)