Pets Boost Our Health

Anyone who has a pet can tell you that the joy they bring is immeasurable. For me personally I only have to look at the sweet face of my Airedale, Lucky, to immediately feel pure happiness.

Now science is weighing in with studies that identify the particular benefits we receive from our pets. James Serpell Ph.D, director of the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society ( great job) at the Univ. of Pennsylvania found that sharing your life with a pet can prolong survival after a heart attack, wards off depression and reduces the number of visits to the doctor. ( As reported in Prevention, Sept. 2006)

As for stress reduction a study of stockbrokers by the State Univ. of New York, found that when the stockbrokers faced stress with the aid a pet, their blood pressure was half as high as those who didn't have a pet.

I know that when I'm feeling stress out, I sit with my dog on our deck in the backyard and pet her. I can feel myself relax while feelings of frustation quickly turn to love I have for that dog.
I only hope I can give her half of what she has given to me and my children over the years.

As a friend of mine signs says in her email signature -- Try and be the person your pet thinks you are.