Ah, science has discovered what many parents already knew!

"Science"  has has long known that homes with pets in them produce children with stronger immune systems.

I could have told them that years ago.  Want to vastly increase your children's chance of not having allergies?  Fill your house with pets, plants, and stop sweeping up every speck of dust.

Early exposure to allergens produces defenses against them.  No exposure to allergens weakens the immune system.

But hey, I'm not a scientist.... none of four kids ever had allergies.  I have been around dogs and cats since birth - I've never had allergies and I have a very strong immune system. Ditto my parents and their parents.


One study (and there are more):  http://healthland.time.com/2012/07/09/study-why-dogs-and-cats-make-babies-healthier/