Writing is a solitary vocation. We spend hours inside our heads, transferring abstract ideas into concrete written words. At times, it can get lonely and the company of a pet proves beneficial for all the right reasons.

Our pets keep us company. They provide much needed moral support in our darkest hours. They alleviate our gloom when our work is rejected and are often the first to receive our gesture of elation when we get published. 

Studies show that people who keep pets live longer. Animals are therapeutic and provide comfort. They love unconditionally and serve as a channel of release for our pent-up emotions. Think of them as someone we confide in when we have one of those bad days.

Exactly what kind of pet a writer should get? Any pet will benefit a writer. It is the establishment of a connection that makes the relationship healthy for both the owner and the pet. Of course, having a pet requires responsibility, and the responsibility we take upon keeping them can serve as a needed distraction from time to time--a respite from the demands of the writing life if you may.

The maintenance of a pet, whether it is as simple as keeping a goldfish or as difficult as keeping a horse, means something about caring for another creature brings out the best in us. It doesn’t even matter what occupation you hold. Caring equates to compassion, and compassion is a strong emotional drive that allows us to shape our writing to a relatable level.  

Research on animals and human health shows that all pets, including insects, are good for us. The company of animals helps to lower blood pressure and keeps us mentally occupied so that our depressing thoughts are kept to a minimum. This is good news for a vocation like writing that thrives on seclusion and cerebral engagement. Google “writers and their pets” and you will see photographs of eminent authors and their animal friends having a good time together. 

For some, having a pet is an intangible reward for a job well done. I know of some writers who have adopted a cat or a dog from local shelters after their books or long articles were published. Such an adoption, they claim, serves as a long-term reward that can never be equated in monetary or material terms.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that pets decrease blood pressure, triglyceride and cholesterol levels, feelings of loneliness, and encourage an active lifestyle and social interaction. Even the most introverted writer wouldn’t mind going out to take his dog for a walk. Talking to a pet would appear preposterous for some, but a creature who never talks back or throws scathing criticism at our work helps to renew our confidence, knowing that we have a friend that listens. 

To quote the humorist William Bruce Cameron about pets: “When we adopt a dog or any pet, we know it is going to end with us having to say goodbye, but we still do it. And we do it for a very good reason: They bring so much joy and optimism and happiness. They attack every moment of every day with that attitude.”