Pets Save Lives!
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For those of us that are pet owners, we can’t imagine life without them. They are the reason we get up in the morning, and the last thing we generally see before we close our eyes. In fact, for many of us, they are our hearts, a piece of our souls, and a vital part of our daily lives. When one is taken from us we generally morn a long time as we have lost a member of our family, one who loved us unconditionally. Pets come into our lives bringing love, peace, and contentment. All they ask is good food, a safe place, and affection in return. But, have you considered, that beyond the obvious benefits of sharing your life with your furry family member, they can increase your life span and improve your quality of life as well?
“More than 60 percent of U.S. households include pets, and those pet owners pour $41 billion a year into pet care [source: APPMA]. This may seem like a lot of money. But when you consider the fact that owning a pet could very likely add years to your life, a pet can quickly seem like a wise investment.” (1). Those of us that are pet lovers can say our furry companions have seen us through the worst of times and shared great moments with us in the best of times.
They are the ones that coming running and greet you at the door with a wagging tail or a plaintive meow. They are letting you know they are so happy you are back home and ready to spend time with them. Even the most stressful day is eliminated when you are met at your door with happiness. Even the most detached person cannot help but smile when they are kissed and nuzzled as soon as they set foot inside their house. Pets don’t ask questions when you are sad, they stay by your side and rub on you or look at you just to let you know they are listening, and they are concerned because you are not yourself. They let you dig your fingers into their fur and pet them as much as you need to. They are the calm force into your household that brings balance and order back; in short they make everything seem better.
Since they are such a great calming effect, there are many noted health benefits as a result of owning a pet. “According to a study by the Minnesota Stroke Institute that followed more than 4,000 cat owners over 10 years, owning a cat can dramatically reduce a person's chance of dying from heart disease [source: Mundell]. Specifically, people who owned cats were 30 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack.” (1). It was noted that although this study did not include dogs, other studies have shown similar effects. What makes pets extend your life and reduce heart problems? As we have discovered pets are peaceful and calm, and because they are, they help reduce the levels of cortisol in an owner. Cortisol is a stress hormone that is directly linked with many heart disease issues, namely high cholesterol, heart attacks and stroke.
Our pets not only make our lives less stressful, they foster and encourage happiness. Dogs that are used for the treatment of many mental conditions are now a specific form of “service dogs”. Service dogs used to just be seen helping those with physical conditions, but now after research, it has been proven that dogs are quite successful in alleviating many psychological aliments as well. These dogs are seen to be either service or therapy companions depending on the situation. “Emotional support dogs (ESDs) orother emotional support animals (ESAs) and psychiatric service dogs
(PSDs) are additional types of canines that a psychiatrist may recommend to lend support to persons with mental health issues. The help they provide is similar to that given by dogs for the blind, deaf and physically disabled, except that the aid is emotional rather than physical…PSDs are useful for people suffering from major depression, anxiety, agoraphobia, autism, post traumatic stress disorder and other psychiatric conditions.” (3).
Pets are also known to alleviate physical health problems because they keep you moving (especially dogs). Dr.Johnson (a professor of gerontological nursing at the University of Missouri at Columbia), (2) notes: “‘For many people, pets also provide a reason to get moving,’…How many people, after all, would actually get any exercise if it weren't for their over-enthusiastic dog?” (2). It’s true, for us, even on the worst days, we know our Huskies are counting on us to get them out for a walk in town and get them exercise. Although backyards are great, they don’t provided the much needed exercise for your dog that can only come from a walk or a run. Addressing fitness needs for you and your companion are a great way for you both to stay in shape. When we are getting outside with our pets, we are effectively combating obesity, heart disease, depression, and frustration. We are getting our adrenaline pumping and getting out the pent up energy from the day (both from them lying around inside/outside, and us from sitting at a desk or doing a repetitive task throughout the day). We generally feel more energized when we see them so excited to be out and about, so it has a positive effect on both our physical and our mental state. When we feel better, we have less health issues, less health concerns means a longer life. On the flip side the more focused you are on your pet’s health as well, they longer they will live, and healthier you both will be.
As a reminder, exercising with our pets is also a great bonding tool. When we are together and having fun with each other, rapport and trust is built. The more trust means the stronger the bond, the stronger the bond mean the more you are committed to each other, and the longer life you both will share. It’s a continual healthy cycle that can last for many years. So tell your pet today how special they are and how much they mean to you, after all it could just save your life.
(1) http://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/live-longer-with-a-pet.htm
(2) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7065794/ns/health-forbes_com/t/ten-ways-live-longer/
