It's not that I don't have anything to say it's just that I never seem to have the time to say it. No wonder Bugsy decided to start his own blog. http://www.bugsythewonderdog.blogspot.com/ althought I don't think he has been blogging as regularly as he planned either.
My biggest challenge, and I'll bet it's true of most people, is time. The economy teeters between recession and disaster, gas prices have been on a rollercoaster, the housing industry is in a record funk and now icons from many of our younger days like MJ and Farrah are dropping dead around us. Who has time for anything other than survival? Sress is at an all time high and few if any of us have any confidence in an immediate solution. Where can we turn? The answer might surprise you.
Snuggle your dog. Cuddle with your cat. Heck, swing from the ceiling with your pet monkey if you have one. Research has shown us that pets are good for our health.
DID YOU KNOW?
- According to a recent study by the University of Minnesota, cat owners are 40% less likely to die from a heart attack than non-cat owners.
- The same study reports that cat owners are also less likely to die from all cardiovascular diseases, including strokes.
- A number of additional studies show that interacting with pets may help protect against allergies, asthma and even cancer.
- Smokers who are told that second hand smoke may affect their pets are more willing to quit than non pet owning smokers.
- A University of Missouri study shows that dogs are more likely to inspire older people to stick with a walking program than human walking partners.
All of this may come as a shock to the non pet owners of the world but we dog and cat lovers who can't seem to understand the concept of going through life without a wet nose waking us up every morning have known it for years. When Bugsy signs off on his blogs he always uses the phrase "Always remember your dog loves you unconditionally". It may not be scientific but I think having a pet simply makes the world a better place.
Over the last number of years there has been an increasing humanization of pets. Led by the newly empty nested baby boomers we are starting to treat our pets more like family and less like animals. Dogs now live inside more than ever before and we are the biggest beneficiaries. We always knew that our pets were basically "love bundles", now we are finding thanks to more and more research that they are also our best medicine.
Maybe as an interim phase of Obama's new heatlh care program everyone should be required to snuggle with a pet every day.
I know the day is always brighter when I do. Now if there was only a way to get Bugsy to help me with my blog.
Kiss your pet on the nose for me today.
Janice
"Always remember, Health comes from the inside out."
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