This past week we had some workmen at our house. Home maintenance is always so “fun”. One evening before they went home one of the men was petting and admiring our dog Belle. “You know,” he said. “Dogs can sense a person’s emotion as much as people can. When we were younger, we had a dog, he was just a mutt, but he was a member of the family. Whenever my wife and I would argue he would put his tail down, look sad, and hide under the table. It was usually enough to make us stop arguing.”
“Kind of like kids,” I replied. They, like dogs, are afraid someone will get hurt, or get upset enough to leave. They both know they need us, so this frightens them.”
“You’re right”, he agreed.
Pets are more than barometers of our emotions. Having a pet helps us stay healthy. Studies have shown what pet owners have always known; having a pet helps us stay healthy. Doctors have discovered that adult pet owners live longer, recover faster after an illness or injury, and are happier than adults who do not have a pet. Kids who have a close relationship with a pet have an easier time coping with the stresses of life. Infants who are exposed to dogs and cats have fewer allergies as children. This new finding is completely at odds with the “old doctor’s tale” that families with a history of allergies should not have pets, but it has, in recent years, been shown, over and over again, to be true.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says, “Owning a pet can make children with chronic illnesses and disabilities feel better by stimulating physical activity, enhancing their overall attitude, and offering constant companionship.”
Pets get us to exercise, show more emotion, and generally make life better. If you don’t have a family pet think about getting one. It will open a whole new world for you to enjoy and maybe help you live longer to enjoying it!
The above taken in part from Messengers in Denim.