Pets surely can be healing. Would not be fair to any animal to keep it in an apartment. There are days I would not be able to care for a pet-no cats. Only size dogs allowed are ankle-biters. Something happens to me then a lot of pissing and moaning, arguing, etc. over what to do with a pet. I have heard this type of thing many times in my life. I have nothing for my 3 adult children to argue about other than which one will take things to the dumpster. I am a clean person and do not allow trash to gather, old mail, dirty dishes, I am not a hoarder either.
Wow, I did get off the subject. A companion dog would be nice, but not realistic. I do walk dogs around here after someone has a surgery-the way to have a pet.