Pets help your mental health primarily by decreasing your stress, believes Richard Timmins, DVM, of Camano Island, Wash., and director of the Association for Veterinary Family Practice.

• 蒂明斯理查德--华盛顿卡马尼奥岛兽医博士和兽医家庭实践协会主席，他认为，宠物有助于人们的心理健康，主要是通过减轻人们的压力。