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​Nola Daninger
​staff writer

Unseen Connections

1/10/2025

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Unseen Connection
There are many reasons why everyone should have a furry friend at home. Whether it's to calm you down, to help you with daily tasks, or to have someone who always looks forward to you coming home. This is a controversial subject, because some people believe that animals should not be pets, or that they just don’t like animals at home. The reasons that will be listed below will prove that everyone should have a pet and the benefit of it. Having a pet will help your mental health, reduce health risks and act as a reliable helper to people in need.  Everyone loves their pets, especially me.
As well as many pets, dogs have proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and even depression according to 5 Ways Help with Stress and mental health, on the site www.heart.org.They can also make you feel less lonely as well as encourage more exercise and going outside. Dogs especially require daily walks and play time. This will increase your vitamin D and improve your overall health and happiness, according to  5 Ways Help with Stress and mental health, on the site www.heart.org. It is also proven that people often get a rush of oxytocin, which is known as the bonding hormone. This occurs when you have affectionate and warm hearted interactions with your pets. Having animals also helps lower blood pressure as well as reduces the ultimate risk of heart disease. For example, finding ways to manage your stress, like spending quality time with your cats or petting your dogs can reduce health risks. These are just some of the many reasons why animals are more helpful than a lot of people make them out to be. 
Say that you are struggling with depression or living alone and you don’t know how to increase your happiness or decrease your loneliness. You might not be in the mental or physical state to adopt or have a kid or a relationship, so why not get a cat? Dogs and cats have shown to help decrease symptoms of depression as well as giving you a loyal companion that you can always count on to be there when you are stressed. Dogs also are good for people who have disabilities because they act right away if the owner is having a medical episode. These animals are called service animals and they not only make sure you’re healthy and secure, but they also bring companionship and serve as a trustworthy buddy to always rely on. Pets can calm their owner down if they are having a panic attack or just anxiety as well as alerting others if they need help. Dogs especially can even retrieve needed objects that someone in a wheelchair might need and provide balance for someone who struggles with the activity. They can open and close doors, pull wheelchairs, and recover medicine for their owner. These examples are just some of the many amazing helping opportunities that dogs exceed in that Healthline mentions.
Animals are an essential part of life, and humans should take advantage of being able to have them. Whether it's at home, at school, or even at work, animals can help with many day-to-day activities and make them easier. Having a pet will help your mental health, reduce health risks, and act as a reliable helper to people in need. Next time you see a puppy in the shelter, or a cat on the street, remember that you need them just as much as they need you. “Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet”. - Sidonie Gabrielle Colette



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    Nola Daninger

    My name is Nola Daninger I play volleyball everyday. It's my favorite sport.  I have played for four years. I have also played soccer on and off.  Photo by Eason Zhou

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Founded in 2010 and based in the Journalism elective, The Willis Hall Herald is the official student-led publication of the Upper School at North Cross School. The Herald may be published in magazine form three or more times per year. Founded in 2017 and produced by the Herald staff, GeoPrism: A Global Studies Journal may be published in magazine form once or twice per year. The Herald welcomes letters, commentary and submissions of original content that adhere to the Herald’s dedication to factual journalism. Letters and other content must be signed and may be edited for length and Herald style. The Herald does not guarantee publication of outside submissions. Submit letters to [email protected]. The Herald won Gold Medals from Columbia Scholastic Press Association in 2012 and 2015. The Herald also became a member of the National Student Press Association.
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The Staff

Co-Editors-in-Chief .....................................Lauren Boone ‘25 and Jacob Johnson ‘25


Digital Publishing Editor ................................................................Anna Ciccozzi ‘26


Copy Editor.....................................................................................Aadeetri Pandey ‘26


Opinion Editor...........................................................................Mason Bibby '27


Staff Writers.........................................................Hanchen Ou ‘26, Fiona Parnell ‘26, Nola Daninger ‘27, Dara Kerman ‘27, Victoria Real ‘27, Margaret Bass ‘28, Luke Cocowitch ‘28, Joaquin Downey ‘28, Mia Esposito ‘28, Akali Koeda ‘28, Monica Koene ‘28, Shree Patel ‘28, Kaitlyn Perkins ‘28, Isla Whittle '28
Advisor......................................................................................Robert Robillard P’35
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  • Home
  • Podcasts
  • Opinion
  • News
    • Head of School Armistead Lemon
  • Sports 24-25
  • Features
    • Profiles >
      • Senior Class of 2023
      • Student Profiles
      • New Teacher Profiles
      • Leadership Profiles
      • Seniors: Class of 2022
      • Seniors: Class of 2021
  • Arts
    • Scary Stories
    • April Fools Day
  • GEOPRISM
  • Print Issues
  • Photos
    • Homecoming
  • Ads
  • Staff
    • Lauren Boone '25
    • Jacob Johnson '25
    • Anna Ciccozzi '26
    • Aadeetri Pandey '26
    • Mason Bibby '27
    • Nola Daninger '27
    • Dara Kerman '27
    • Victoria Real '27
    • Caroline Welfare '27
    • Margaret Bass '28
    • Luke Cocowitch '28
    • Joaquin Downey '28
    • Mia Esposito '28
    • Akali Koeda '28
    • Monica Koene '28
    • Hanchen Ou '26
    • Fiona Parnell '26
    • Shree Patel '28
    • Kaitlyn Perkins '28
    • Isla Whittle '28
    • Robert Robillard P'35
  • Resources
  • News Archive
    • Coronavirus
    • Eason Zhou '24
    • Practice
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    • Sports 2021-22 >
      • Football: State Champs
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  • Calliope