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/ To support this show, visit https://anchor.fm/dinky-podcast Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Instagram and TikTok at @dinkypod. If you have a question or comment, email us at [email protected]. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dinky-podcast/support