Dogs may be man's best friend, but owning any companion animal can be beneficial for both your mental and physical health.

Research has shown that pets help their owners produce mood-changing serotonin and oxytocin. And animal-assisted therapy has become an accepted practice around the country.

Today on All Sides, we discuss how pets help us to be happier and more.

Guests:
Dr. Joshua Brody, Director of Immunotherapy, Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City
Dr. Aubrey Fine, clinical psychologist and professor, California State Polytechnic University
Dr. John Swartzberg, chair of the editorial board of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health Wellness Letter