As the urban population begins to age, pet ownership rates have also begun to skyrocket. This is due to the belief that these domesticated creatures yield substantial benefits to people. Serpell (1991) illustrates a study that showed positive changes in behaviour and health status of individuals that acquired pets for the study in comparison to those that did not. The study also indicated that as the people in the urbanised area began to age, they began to adopt more pets in an attempt to improve their physical and mental health (ibid). In support of this, a study conducted by Staats, Wallace, & Anderson (2008) stated that many people over the age of fifty believed that pet ownership is beneficial.