SYDNEY, Australia: Whenever you get into a fight and you spend all night crying, who sits quietly by your bed keeping you company? Your dog. When that special someone is not around and you need to talk, who listens to you no matter what? Your cat.

Yes, pets have proven that in their own furry way they can be your most loyal and loving companion. In fact, they can even take the place of that 'special someone' if they turn out to be not so 'special' after all. So when it comes to affairs of the heart, why are pets so perfect when their owners often prove to be so flawed?

1. Pets listen: Here you are talking your heart out, expressing your feelings and sharing your thoughts. When it's time to hear his side of things, he tells you that the new football show on TV has a hot female anchor. Great. But while most boyfriends aren't exactly keen on listening to you, the good news is that your pets are. According to K9 Magazine, a study carried out in the UK showed that 95% of people preferred to confide in their pets over family or friends. The study, conducted by the Purina Pet Care Team, also revealed that the relationship between pets and pet owners was so special that 75% of those surveyed wish they could better understand their pet's behavior.

2. Pets don't just listen, they understand: A woman's indirect way of expressing herself and a man's inability to read between the lines has caused.. well, havoc in many relationships. Well, what the male species can't do so well, the canine species can. Or at least try. That a clever border collie that can fetch at least 200 objects by name may be proof that dogs can really understand human language, can really listen. According to researchers, Rico can fetch an object even though he has never heard its name before. Rico's abilities may be what experts call fast mapping, similar to when young children learn how to speak and understand language. According to wired.com, fast-mapping allows a child to form quick and rough hypotheses about the meaning of a new word the first time they hear or see it. So while fast mapping has only been described in human children, Rico may just prove that dogs can understand words too. Who knows - maybe even better than some insensitive humans can.

3. Pets help you lose weight: He constantly takes you out to dinner and then comments on your extra weight. What's a girl to do? Why, exercise with your pets, of course. According to MSNBC, a first-of-its-kind experiment was set up in which people and their pets were put on a joint diet and exercise program. The experiment showed that those who underwent the program with their pets did better than those who did it alone. In fact, the dogs who participated in the experiment actually did better than their owners.

4. Pets calm your nerves: Be it non-compliance to a request or constant tardiness during dates, girlfriends and boyfriends can inevitably cause your blood pressure to shoot up. Your pets do the opposite. A study led by the State University of New York's Dr. Karen Allen showed that pets can help lower blood pressure. Stockbrokers with high blood pressure were given pets to see if there would be any significant change in their blood pressure levels. Six months later, the new pet ownering brokers showed less than half of their previous blood pressure rate. Purdue University's Professor of Animal Ecology Alan Beck ScD, found that the simple act of petting your dog slows down heart rate and causes blood pressure to drop.

5. Pets keep you sane: They say that two heads are better than one. But when it's two clashing heads arguing over which is the better restaurant or which movie you should watch, it can only be worse than one. Aside from the fact that your pets can't argue with you, a study at Australia's University of New England found that cat owners may be less prone to psychiatric disturbances than non-cat owners. Pets also help in dealing with the depression and loneliness caused by a failed romantic relationship.

6. Pets don't ask you to buy jewelry: For your second anniversary, she's probably hinting on something small and shiny. Something that's in a small box. Gone were the days when a cuddly teddy bear made her happy. Girlfriends, even boyfriends, can be rather.. costly. Pets, on the other hand, don't need bling to be happy. Heck, they don't even need clothes. But if you want to, your pets are always there to be your willing fashion experiment. The internet has an abundance of pet apparel for every pet owner's whim. But really, all your pet needs is a whole lot of love and of course, regular supply of good food.

7. Pets foster a learning environment: Thinking about that special someone is fine. But doing that on the eve of your finals or your big client presentation isn't - in fact, it can lead to disaster. While lovers have the tendency to distract you from studies or from work, pets do the opposite. A study of 37 Australian elementary urban and rural schools found that the presence of cats helped increase class cohesiveness and general atmosphere. Felines generated "a calm, orderly environment, modified disruptive behavior and reduced friction."

8. Pets are loyal: No heartache is worse than one caused by infidelity. Loyalty in a relationship is something hard and harder to find these days. For those who still believe in true love and loyalty, here's good news - your pets love you and they will always be loyal. Dogs, in particular, are known to be very affectionate and very loyal. According to Wikipedia, this loyalty and devotion are part of a canine's natural instinct as pack animals. Dogs tend to view their human companions as members of their pack and in fact makes little or no distinctions between humans and their fellow dogs. Cats, for their part, despite being branded as aloof show their unique view on love by marking you as theirs. Sweet.

9. Pets don't break your heart. With human love comes heartache. But loving a pet gives you a healthy heart. According to sixwise.com, studies have shown that people who have suffered a heart attack survive longer during recovery if they have a pet than if they don't. Realbuzz.com also reports that pet owners have lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels than non-pet owners, accounting for their three per cent reduction in heart mortality rate. And there's more. Studies have also found a direct relationship between pet ownership and better overall health, thus leading to less visits to the doctor and therefore, lower health expenses.

10. Pets help improve relationships: So you still love him/her. You're not yet ready to exchange the ups and downs of human love for the equally exciting prospect of pet devotion. No problem. Your pets can also help you become a better person and thus improve your human relationships. British researchers found that owning a pet can help develop self-esteem. Pets have also been found to help lessen family tension and bring fun and love back to the homes they live in. According to Alan Beck, pets also encourage social contact between people. Pet owners are likewise viewed as being nicer and better people.

At the end of the day, pets, for all their wonderful qualities, may never really truly replace the love and companionship of another human being. But it is always good to know that whenever there seems to be no one to turn to, we can always look down and find love from our furry four-legged pals.