You have probably heard the saying that a dog is a man’s best friend. But have you ever stopped to consider why? There are many health benefits from owning a pet for both children and adults alike. For instance, pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer trips to their doctors than those without pets. This might be because owning a pet tends to make people feel good. Dogs provide loyal companionship, which can help combat loneliness and depression in older adults. Also, owning a pet can motivate a person to get outside and exercise and even socialize more with other pet owners.

Question

You have probably heard the saying that a dog is a man’s best friend. But have you ever stopped to consider why? There are many health benefits from owning a pet for both children and adults alike. For instance, pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer trips to their doctors than those without pets. This might be because owning a pet tends to make people feel good. Dogs provide loyal companionship, which can help combat loneliness and depression in older adults. Also, owning a pet can motivate a person to get outside and exercise and even socialize more with other pet owners.

In three to five sentences, state the claim the speaker presents in the argument. Explain if the speaker provides relevant evidence to support the claim and sufficient evidence in the argument.

Answer 1

The claim the speaker presents in the argument is that owning a pet can have various health benefits for both children and adults, such as reducing the number of doctor visits for older adults, combatting loneliness and depression, motivating people to exercise, and promoting socialization. The speaker provides relevant evidence to support this claim by citing statistics on the decreased doctor visits of pet owners over 65. However, the argument could be strengthened by providing more specific examples of how pets benefit mental and physical health, as well as citing additional research studies or expert opinions on the topic.