I totally agree with you on this. Pets are great friends and they provide a lot of comfort. They are stress buster too. So everytime I am sad or stressed, I give a treat to Noori. Treat is like a chocolate for her. She loves to eat it and runs behind if she finds it in my hand. Feeding her the treat gives me immense pleasure.
Also, I've noticed that when I am in an off mood, she gets to know somehow and comes and sits besides me, doesn't do anything but just sits next to me. That feeling in itself is so comforting.