Many, many households in the United States have at least one pet. It has been recently estimated that approximately 65 million homes have a dog in the USA today, and there are about 47 million USA homes that have a cat as a pet.
Why do people have pets? There are many reasons, and having a pet in the home has been clearly shown to offer significant health benefits.
Consider these proven medical facts:
-Having a pet in the home has been shown to decrease blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, relieve depression, and reduce feelings of loneliness.
-Pets can increase opportunities for exercise, outdoor activities, and socializing with others.
-People with dementia or Alzheimer’s have fewer anxious outbursts and appear to be more calm when there is an animal living in the home.
-Kids growing up in a home with “fur-bearing” animals, whether a cat or dog, will have less risk of developing certain allergies. This research showed that if a dog lived in the home, infants were 14 percent less likely to show evidence of pet allergies.
-Children who grew up in a home with a pet were also found to be more likely to have developed a strong immune system.
I was fortunate to grow up with both cats and dogs in our home. We had a cat that lived 17 years, and I do not remember a time growing up when our family did not have a pet dog.
As has been said many times, the love that a pet dog shows for his/her family is a wonderful demonstration of what we refer to as “unconditional” love. I love both cats and dogs, and they generally have a very positive impact of the homes where they are blessed to live with loving caring family members.
Many hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities welcome dogs into their facilities. With their happy tails wagging and their owners smiling, these visiting dogs are helping patients and residents of hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living centers feel better and get better. Sharing the unconditional love and acceptance that dogs offer provides a very satisfying and enjoyable experience for those who bring the animals into the facility.
Here’s my favorite list of the wisdom we can all learn from dogs.
1. Have a great attitude.
2. Greet everyone with enthusiasm.
3. Explore everything.
4. Loyalty is a virtue.
5. Protect those you love.
6. Be yourself.
7. Love unconditionally.