Humans that own dogs live longer than those that do not say a recent pair of studies published last month.
Dogs and humans that like each other secrete the hormone oxytocin that is a behavioral trigger for bonding. According to a study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, according to the studies ([1](https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.119.005554),[2](https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.118.005342)) dog ownership decreased mortality from all causes and was associated with a 21% reduction in mortality in people with pre-existing heart disease. Interesting, the reduction in mortality was more pronounced in those that lived alone, suggesting that the companionship of a dog might be a vital component of the effect.
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