I preface this with if you have the means, of course, but IMHO if you do not have a pet and have a chronic condition, GET A DOG. I would recommend pets for anyone, chronic or not, but I have a special place in my heart for the dogs that have been by my side when I just needed love. The thing about dogs is that they understand you in ways that humans never will and that can be enough to get your eyes to open another day.
