According to ‘The Atlantic’, millennials recently overtook boomers as the largest pet-owning cohort of Americans; by some estimates, more than half of them have a dog. The pet-ownership rate is even higher among those with a college education and a stable income—the same people who are most likely to delay marriage and parenthood beyond the timelines set by previous generations.

So should you just stop at pet ownership or continue down the path of human parenthood? In this episode, we will review how pets vs. children impact your health, happiness, and more.

To learn more about the effects children and pets have on health and life expectancy, check out these articles:
https://www.health.com/condition/pregnancy/reproductive-history-health-risks
https://www.mrhc.org/blog/news/does-not-having-kids-cause-health-issues-in-women/
https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/blog/understanding-how-having-children-can-affect-your-health/
https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/keeping-pets-and-people-healthy/how.html
https://www.parents.com/news/giving-birth-later-in-life-could-mean-you-live-longer-according-to-a-new-study/
https://www.vice.com/amp/en/article/gyxqxw/how-having-kids-could-affect-your-lifespan
https://www.verywellhealth.com/pets-and-longevity-2223874

For more info on brain changes when interacting with kids or pets, visit:
https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/blog/understanding-how-having-children-can-affect-your-health/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/many-same-brain-regions-are-activated-when-mothers-look-their-pets-or-their-children-180952946/

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