For thousands
of years, animals & humans have played a significant role
in humans lives. This has often been a symbiotic relationship
where we have something to offer the animal & in return
the animal has something to offer us. Both practically but
also for companionship too. There's many benefits to owning a
pet both physical & emotional.
There
have been many studies which have concluded the following...
-
Lower
blood pressure.
-
Lower
Triglyceride levels.
-
Lower cholesterol
levels.
-
Lower
rates of depression.
-
Higher
survival rates after a heart attack have been found in pet
owners.
-
Pets
offer companionship, thus reducing feelings of loneliness.
-
Pets can
offer the opportunity to meet other people either via
online forums, pet shows or other hobbies related to your
chosen pet.
-
Dogs
require exercise, which is also of benefit to dog owners.
Interestingly, surveys have shown that cat owners are as
active as dog owners.
-
Pets
require love and attention. Pet owners enjoy having
somebody to care & look after. Pets give lonely owners
a sense of purpose.
-
With
correct supervision from parents, pets can teach children
about the responsibility of caring for a living
creature.
-
Children
growing up in a home with dogs or cats have been shown to
have lower rates of allergies to children from non pet
households.
-
There is
nothing sweeter than coming home from a stressful day at
work & being able to unwind by stroking your pet.
Stress is known to have a detrimental impact on the immune
system.
-
Elderly
people who live alone are often isolated, pet ownership
reduces feelings of isolation & loneliness. Pets can
offer a sense of purpose & responsibility in the
elderly. They also are more active than non pet owners.
Which provides an obvious health benefit to them.
-
Pets can
help reduce sadness in owners.
Below is a
beautiful story which highlights just how important pets can
be in a person's life.
After speaking
to my Dad a few weeks ago on the phone, I knew I had to jump
on a plane and fly down (he lives in country Victoria) to see
him. He is so depressed, sad and lonely without Mum (passed
away 11 months ago). To see my Dad cry, telling me in a
quivery voice how empty his life is now broke my heart. Dad
has shrivelled up on the inside, and it shows on the outside
..his hair has gone white, he has lost weight and looks old,
frail and so sad. He is 83. Their 60th wedding anniversary
would have been in a few days time.
As I drove away to come home, I watched through the rear view
mirror my very sad and lonely Dad standing on the nature strip
watching me, without waving, drive away. I could feel his pain
and had to drive through buckets of tears for nearly an hour
as it just broke my heart...
But..
Dad asked to have a little dog as a companion! He wanted a
Female Jack Russell, no objections to a JR cross (as long as
it is short haired) from a pound. Not a puppy - an older girl
would be ideal.
At the Animal Shelter here on the Gold Coast I found this
gorgeous little 6 year old girl - Emma. Her previous elderly
owner was deceased and no family could take her. I picked her
up and fell instantly in love with her - rang my Dad and he of
course was so excited! I picked her up last Monday - and after
a few days decided to fly down with her and deliver her in
person to Dad staying with him again for a few days. To hear
my Dads joyous laugh was just wonderful!
I had a good
flight down with Emma, I felt so sad leaving her at the
Freight Dept. when I was flying down, her little face looked
so unsure.. she watched me walk out the door, I'm sure she was
thinking "oh, are you leaving me too now"? She was 5 hours in
her crate and boy was she excited when I picked her up in
Melbourne. She slept all the way in the car to Dad's ( 2.5
hours drive).
The flight really knocked her around, as for the next day all
she did was sleep, tho eating and drinking normally. The first
night Dad put her bed beside his and as I slept in the next
room, I could hear him talking soothingly to her during the
night, so sweet to hear.
Of course I had
to buy her a nice snug jumper for chilly Victoria - she
happily modelled it for me.
Dad & I went shopping and bought her a little kennel (Dad
insisted Emma come with us, so pleased Dad loves her) and the
pet barn gave us a sample pack of goodies. Inside was a tennis
ball - well didn't Emma go crazy over that - she LOVES chasing
it and brings it back to you - what a great discovery!. She is
also had a kennel - as she hopped inside and curled up
straight away. Dad is keeping the Kennel inside the house for
a few weeks until she is settled enough. Emma often would hop
off our laps, preferring to sleep in her kennel.
Emma had become very attached to me in such a short time, she
spent almost a week with me 24/7 and started to bond with me,
(she never let me out of her sight and followed me everywhere
- including the toilet lol) so leaving her was hard. Dad took
her for a walk and I quietly drove away. Dad told me Emma knew
I was gone, she ran straight to my bedroom and looked
everywhere for me. She has barely been eating, Dad cooked up
some chicken for her and she ate that at least, but choosing
to sleep all day.
Today Dad tells me Emma is very perky, so he took her for his
usual morning walk to get the paper (he'd previously left her
asleep) and she had a wonderful time sniffing the whole way.
Dad tied her up at the shop, went in and bought the paper...
was telling the shop keeper all about his new dog - when Emma
came shooting in through the shop door as if to say "here I
am" LOL Oops, Dad hadn't tied her up properly - but, how great
she knew to go to him! He lives in a very quiet small town
(pop 3,000) so Emma has met lots of the locals already and she
has stolen every ones heart!
Dad gave her a tiny bowl of porridge this morning (whilst he
ate his) and she apparently gobbled it up happy as Larry.
Hmmm, who thinks she will be spoilt?
Visitors came yesterday (to see the new dog, of course) and
Emma ran to the door letting out little barks as they walked
up the path. So a great little watch dog! She didn't do that
whilst she was here with me - perhaps she knows Dad is more
vulnerable and could do with some protecting! Dad's also got
her a little mat and puts it in the sun in front of the
window, and she apparently loves to sun herself there.
I'm so happy for my Dad and Emma.
Special thanks
to Pam for this heart warming story.
