Filling the Empty Nest with Pets

The answer, according to the LA Times, for the loneliness sometimes encountered by baby boomers as kids grow up and move out is to add animal companions to the household.

"I can't imagine life without animals. It would be very lonely," says one of the several people interviewed by the Times, all with pro-pet sentiments.

Pets aren't just for fun, say experts, they are good for health as well. Says Dr. Dennis Coffee, a California psychiatrist,

Animals benefit people because they are much more supportive and forgiving than many humans."

He should know, he brings his Chihuahuas to his medical office to help put his patients at ease.

There are some downsides of course to pet ownership. First is the cost--not just food but also veterinary bills. Second is the limitations it can put on travel or even on your schedule. Third is the time commitment. Dr. Coffee above spends two to three hours a day taking care of his many pets.

[Source: Los Angeles Times Paper Edition}