I know many of you have been through this same scenario, maybe even many times, as we have, but each one hurts and leaves an empty spot in your heart. But today is the day and I can tell you it’s painful. I mentioned to Dr. Ferguson, our vet that we were not getting any more dogs (we still have a 3 year old lab) because it’s just hard when they leave. Dr. Ferguson gave me some great advice. She said “Remember the good times, and all the fun you had with him and how he enriched your family”. She said “Don’t dwell on this one moment in time, but remember all the other thousands of moments, and recall the funny stories and the things that made Drake special”. Wow, that was profound! Her words brought peace to us.
I guess you are wondering how I am going to tie this into wellness. Well, I can do that very easily because pets are indeed good for your health.
According to a recent article in the Harvard Health Publications, a growing body of evidence suggest that having a dog may help improve your health. Pet ownership especially having a dog is probably associated with a decrease risk of cardiovascular disease.
WebMD (WebMD Feature Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD on October 24, 2013) also summed it very nicely with an article by Lisa Fields titled, 6 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Health.
A Healthier Heart- Research shows that dog owners walk more and have lower blood pressure than people who do not have dogs
Stress Soothers-Petting your cat or dog helps you release a relaxation hormone, and relieves stress
Social Magnets- Pets, especially dogs can help you connect with other people which is very healthy
Better Mood, More Meaning- One reason may be that your pet gives you a sense of belonging and meaning says pet researcher Allen R. McConnell, PhD. He is a professor at Miami University.
Benefits for Baby’s Immune System- Babies raised in families that have pets may be less likely to get allergies and asthma studies show. A study published in the August 27, 2016 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that, contrary to many parents’ fears, owning cats or dogs does not increase a child’s risk of developing allergies, and in fact, may actually protect them. The study’s lead author, Dr. Dennis Ownby of the Medical College of Georgia, says that even he was “very surprised” by the results.
Social Support for Autistic Children- Kids tend to relate better to their classmates who have autism when pets are in the classroom, says Alan Beck, ScD, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University. “Animals change the classroom environment and help to integrate those who are a little less typical,” Beck says. “Once the children get involved with animals, they view each other more positively and work together better.”
If any of you have experienced this you know exactly what I am talking about! We love our pets and they give us much more than we know.
Drake… run, run home big boy! We will miss you!
