• In the Loop: Your pooch may be good for your heart

a Labrador retriever sitting in front of a door with its leash in its mouth, waiting to go for a walk

Those of us with dogs running around our lives and homes know the benefits of pet ownership. The unconditional love, trust and loyalty shown to us by our canine companions, coupled with their displays of unbridled enthusiasm on our return home each day (and sometimes just from another room), are hard to put into words. Even if we have to suffer some chewed up furniture, shoes, pillows and remote controls (don't ask) to get there.

But as we go through life with our four-legged family members, there's another benefit of having them by our side that was (good) news to us: They may make our hearts as healthy as they make them full. According to a new study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes (and covered by The New York Times and a plethora of other media outlets), "owning a dog may be good for your cardiovascular health."

Read the rest of the story.

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This story originally appeared on the In the Loop blog.