Can Spot Alleviate Stress?

As I'm a dog-lover, a USAToday article about colleges using dogs to help relieve stress in students caught my eye.    Apparently, research shows that interaction with pets decreases the level of cortisol — or stress hormone — in people and increases endorphins, known as the happiness hormone.  Therefore, if you are feeling stressed, one of the best treatments available may be spending some quality time with your pet.