A 2002 research in Warwick University (UK) found that having pet animals can actually boost a child’s immune system.

The research suggested that owning a pet exposed children to more infections earlier on in their lives thereby strengthening their immune system further down the line.

The researchers claimed benefits were more evident in children aged between 5 and 8 where pet-owning kids were found to attend school more often than those without pets by an extra 9 days.

Their findings seemed to add weight to the so-called “dirty hypothesis” (i.e. too much cleanliness doesn’t challenge the immune system, leaving it more vulnerable in later life).

Now let’s not all rush out there and buy out shares in the nearest pet store as the researchers did add a cautionary note: pets can also pose health risks to children – roundworm, for instance, which affects dogs, can cause stomach aches and eye damage in humans.