| It is common knowledge that laughter is healing, that | | | | sadness, frustration, loneliness and depression. Several |
| beauty uplifts us and that nature elevates our spirit | | | | studies indicate that people over 65 who have pets |
| and brings us a sense of calmness, comfort and | | | | pay fewer visits to the doctor and spend less time in |
| well-being. Did you also know that our animal | | | | hospitals that their non-pet-owning peers. In addition, |
| companions are natural born healers who, with their | | | | pet owners have fewer minor health problems and |
| playful antics, spontaneity, purity of spirit, vulnerability | | | | better overall psychological well-being. Dogs and cats |
| and unconditional love and forgiveness offer us a link | | | | are preventive and therapeutic measures against |
| to the natural world from which we have all evolved | | | | everyday stress. |
| and reconnect us to a world beyond technology and | | | | As we grow older, losses of loved ones; friends, |
| full of spirituality and grace? | | | | colleagues and companions become more frequent |
| In a world that is often impersonal and technologically | | | | and common. Loss is an inevitable part of life. We |
| oriented in which we too infrequently have gratifying | | | | may face illness and infirmities that accompany age. |
| and fulfilling relationships with other human beings, an | | | | Animal companions help us to cope with and recover |
| animal companion offers us true friendship, | | | | from grief. They seem to empathize with our feelings |
| companionship, loyalty, devotion and an opportunity | | | | and comfort and support us. They teach us so many |
| to be ourselves - to be genuinely who we are | | | | profound lessons as well -including "living in the |
| without pretense, affectation or facade. They offer | | | | moment"(not dwelling on the past or the future but |
| us a "safe haven" as it were, where we can let | | | | living in the here and now. ) They teach us grace, |
| down our guards, breathe a sigh of relief, let go of | | | | dignity, stoicism, and offer their own unique brand of |
| anger and stress and get down on our knees and | | | | wisdom. They teach us to "Keep On Keeping On." |
| "play" with them with childlike abandon and without | | | | Those of us who have observed our pets age learn |
| fear or worry of being judged or misunderstood. It | | | | so much about life and death and the circle of life... |
| seems our pets understand us better than almost | | | | The unconditional love of a pet can be of great |
| anyone else - for they know us as few, if any | | | | comfort when we are grieving and struggling with a |
| others, do, accepting us just as we are... | | | | roller coaster of emotions. Animals fulfill our basic |
| There have been many scientific studies conducted | | | | need to nurture and care for others. They are |
| which indicate that having a pet improves the quality | | | | dependent upon us for adequate food and shelter, |
| of our lives and increases our longevity. There are | | | | exercise and playtime and interaction. This interaction |
| many physiological as well as psychological and | | | | with our pets diminishes our pain, worries and |
| spiritual, health benefits associated with pet | | | | loneliness, provides us with a sense of purpose and a |
| ownership including improved heart rate, lower blood | | | | reason to wake up in the morning. A pet also helps |
| pressure, heightened resistance to illness and disease. | | | | us from feeling alone and isolated. |
| In addition, pet owners have lower triglyceride and | | | | If you haven't given thought to adopting a pet, you |
| cholesterol levels than non-owners. The | | | | may wish to reconsider. Sharing life with a pet is one |
| companionship of pets (dogs in particular) affords pet | | | | of life's most joyful, rewarding and enriching |
| owners a higher one-year survival rates following | | | | experiences. |
| coronary heart disease. Pet help decrease anger, | | | | |