Having a dog can help you live longer? Apparently.

That’s according to a new study published this week in the American Heart Association Journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

The study says that owning a dog lowers your risk of all-cause mortality by 24%, and lowers your risk of cardiovascular death by 31%!

Wow!

Previous studies suggested that dog ownership corrolates with lower blood pressure levels, improved lipid profiles, and diminished sympathetic responses to stress.

I’m no scientist, but I’m guessing it’s because snuggling a dog helps you de-stress. And I don’t know about you, but my dog forces me to go on more walks – even when I would rather just crawl into bed at the end of a long day.

Here are some cute pictures of my dog, Diamond.