by Haven Logan PH.D

        
Why do so many of us choose to own pets?  The 2007 National Pet Owners Survey reports that 44.8 million American households have dogs, 38.4 million have cats, 6.4 million have birds, and 6 million other small animals. Total pet industry expenditures for 2007 are projected to reach 40.8 billion dollars. Do we decide to adopt these pets out of an altruistic motivation to care for another species? That may be part of it, but the principal reason is that pets give so much to us.

Studies have demonstrated several physical health benefits for pet owners, including lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and reduced stress levels. One study at the University of Maryland found that after heart patients left the hospital, those who owned dogs had a much better chance of survival than those who did not.

Pets provide for their owners the emotional benefits of unconditional love,
security, and warmth with no strings attached. They don’t care what physical imperfections we have, how we are dressed, or what our income may be. They greet us with great enthusiasm each time we come home. They beg us to lay aside the worries of the outside world to pet and play with them. Dogs get us up off the couch and outside for invigorating exercise in the fresh air. They sit beside us or on our laps in companionship. They listen to our stories without ever saying that they’ve heard them before. When we let them, they will snuggle in bed with us to warm a cold winter’s night.

For humans giving unconditional love to each other, or even to ourselves, is often difficult. Judgments, resentments, and expectations get in the way. A study of dog owners who had become widows in the past year poignantly illustrates how pets do give us this gift of unconditional love. “Each widow said that while she appreciated the consolation efforts of family and friends, she really wanted to be alone with her dog, especially immediately following her husband’s death. Part of the reason was that the dog had been shared by the husband, but more important was the feeling that, with the dog, no social pretenses were necessary, and no one was judging her ability to ‘bear up’.” (www.deltasociety.org)

The health benefits of pets can be seen most dramatically in their interactions with those who are ill, handicapped or elderly. Pets are now commonly brought into hospitals and nursing homes to provide consistent companionship for people who are isolated and having difficulty reaching out. The animals successfully help fight depression and can rekindle an interest in life. If you have a dog and would like to be involved in this effort, Therapy Dogs International, Inc. at www.therapydogs.com will provide information about training your dog for this important work.

I always thought of myself as being a cat lover rather than a dog lover. I grew up with cats and admired their independence. I couldn’t quite see why people were so crazy about dogs when they were so demanding of constant attention. That all changed when I met Otis. My son had been begging for a dog so we finally went to our local shelter. When my son spotted Otis, a handsome mixed breed Rhodesian Ridgeback, it was mutual love at first sight. The adoption of Otis into our family brought joy to each of us and also introduced us to the wonderful community of dogs and their owners in our town.

We were all devastated when our veterinarian gave us the news that Otis had an inoperable fast-growing cancer. She recommended that we begin to approach Otis’s daily life in hospice mode, doing the things that he most enjoyed. She said not to be too concerned about his emotional state because “animals don’t worry about the future or think about the past. They live in the moment. That’s why I try to emulate them.”

So my days were filled with walking Otis in the park and taking him for car rides. He got to see his best dog friend Tips and to eat all sorts of goodies since we no longer had to worry about his weight. He, in return, taught me another important lesson for a healthier life─to appreciate those we hold most dear each day.

As with so many other things in modern life, it is easy to rush through our days without stopping to spend time with our pets. Make sure you give yourself and your pet the gift of time together. And if you don’t have a pet, perhaps you might consider how adopting one could give you a fuller and healthier life.