OPINION

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By Owen Fallon

The household pet has become an increasingly common and sought-after gift for families around the country, but with various types of pets come differing benefits for each owner. At the discretion of many questionable owners, wild animals such as snakes, lions, fish, and spiders are sometimes also chosen as household pets. However, two pets remain supreme over all other animals: dogs and cats. There are two types of people in this world: dog people and cat people. I’m a dog person. 

A dog helps a veteran that struggles with PTSD. Photo credit: Cesars Way.

Let’s start with the unarguable facts for why dogs reign superior. Dogs are literal life-savers for many people. They are used by the police for their heightened sense of smell and ability to sniff out bombs and drugs, they track criminals, find missing people, and aid blind people and others with disabilities in getting around. In addition, they have a sixth sense and are able to detect an oncoming seizure in humans. Superpower much? These types of dogs are known as seizure-alert dogs and are crucial for people with epilepsy or other seizure-related disorders. Not only can they help people that struggle with seizures, but they can also help to alert humans that struggle with diabetes when their blood sugar gets too low. They are one of the few animals that humans have domesticated and used for practical purposes other than for food or fur. There aren’t many other animals that are tangible contributors to society, especially cats. In fact, cats don’t do any of those meaningful things that dogs do. Well, I suppose they’re valuable for scaring rats and mice away, but that seems negligible compared to some dogs’ life-saving capabilities. 

However, a dog’s impact on one’s health goes far beyond its tangible uses. An easy fix to loneliness at all ages is simply to buy a dog. Dogs will always be loyal and there for you whenever you need them. There is no question that dogs spur happiness into people’s lives; the sheer amount of laughter that dogs can provide can always brighten one’s day. A pilot study found that dog owners laugh significantly more than cat owners. To go one step further, even non-pet owners were found to laugh more on a daily basis than cat owners. One can’t deny that coming home to your dog, who is more excited than anything to see you, provides a sense of comfort, loyalty, and maybe even importance for some. But often a cat couldn’t care less (if you can even find the thing). In fact, it was probably happier without your existence. 

Another way dogs boost one’s health is through necessary exercise. Dogs require some form of physical activity, which usually requires owners to go outside for a walk or throw a ball. Exercise has proven to be extremely beneficial for humans and helps to maintain cardiovascular health. Dogs also use the bathroom outside, unlike cats. Do cat owners really enjoy having a live animal use the bathroom inside their house? 

If a pet is supposed to satisfy companionship and pleasure, then a dog meets the definition perfectly. Most dogs are extremely approachable and want you to pet them, matching your desire to pet them. A dog acts as if it is your servant and will do anything you wish. But some cats think they’re doing you a favor by allowing you to pet it. The cat acts like your king or queen and is bothered by your interest in it. I also fear the entirety of my finger being bit off due to the sudden movements and twitches of some cats. 

Yellow Lab puppy. Photo credit: Getty Images.

Another advantage of dogs is their aid in one’s social life, as people generally love dogs, and dogs generally love people. This allows for bonding through one’s dogs and is an easy conversation for strangers. They have the innate ability to help form human relationships. Dogs also can be trained to respond to human words, and they react to the tone of speech. They are commonly used in hunting, as their obedience and fetching skills are inherent to their nature.

Andy Sidhu (‘22) points out that “dogs are significantly easier and more welcoming to cuddle with… Since when has a cat been a man’s best friend?” While hard to find, there are some cat lovers out there. Lucy Ottley (‘23) expresses her love for cats as she stated, “my cat has become a part of my family and is always there for me… They also are better at comforting than dogs.” Ottley’s 18-year-old cat is older than she is. This is an upside to cats, as they usually have significantly longer lifespans than dogs. 

The bottom line is this: having a dog has numerous benefits and advantages in life that are nonexistent in cat-owning. Other than one’s lousy opinion that cats are just better, one can provide no substantial reasoning as to why cats reign supreme over dogs. 

Featured image: stoltzgroup.com.