Get healthy! Get a dog!

It is a proven fact now that having a pet is good for your health... If only Ponce de Leon had stopped by a local animal shelter or rescue, he could have easily found the 'Fountain of Youth' he was searching for!

We consistently hear about how having a pet keeps our senior citizens young and engaged... 

This week's story about a dying man and his last request - to see his beloved Chihuahua - was granted by the hospital which had a strict 'No Pets' rule... 

As you can see from the video and information - CLICK HERE , James and his BFF, Bubba, were reunited and James is now doing MUCH better... 

It does not take much... Unconditional love and devotion from a dog or cat... And you realize life is precious and our four-footed friends enrich our lives... 

This does not show up on a life profit and loss statement, ya know?... And for those senior citizens that are pretty much house-bound, their pets are the source of companionship, keeping them from being as lonely when their children and busy lives diminish the number of visits... 

But pets are not just healthy for senior citizens... They are healthy for all of us...
  

LAUGHTER... Our pets are forever doing something that makes us giggle throughout the day... Or we are doing something to them that causes us to laugh... 

We share our funny pet stories and photos with others at work or in our lives... Ask someone if they have a dog or cat - or a pet - and you are likely to see them whip out their cell phone and start showing you pictures and videos they have taken... 

Whether it is some quirky behavior or us dressing them up at Halloween, any pet is going to bring laughter into your life and this is very healing and brings joy!  

COMPANIONSHIP... Many of us that are pet owners will tell you that we like dogs (or cats) better than people... Doesn't mean that we are introverts and isolationists... You can have a really bad day at work, dealt with road rage coming home and that door opens up?... Your dog doesn't care about any of that - they are just ecstatic that you are FINALLY home!... Attitudes are contagious and a few pets and kisses?  The day doesn't seem that bad after all, ya know?... 

And because dogs can read our body language MUCH better than we can read theirs, they do almost seem like they can read your mind at times... You can tell them anything and you know they will keep your darkest secret, will lay aside of you when you're not feeling that well and while they cannot talk back to us in English, they get their message across... 

Dogs exist in the here and now... They are situational creatures... They are social animals... They don't care if you are fat, ugly, old, young, male, female and so on... They are not judgmental and can turn the dullest day into one filled with the sunshine of love... 

STRESS RELIEVER... When dealing with stress, touching and petting is an effective stress reliever... As much for dogs as it is for us...

There is something about that cadence of petting your dog which brings back rhythm and a sense of peace to us as humans... Ever notice while you are petting your dog, they reach a point of a DEEP sign and it seems like their whole body just does an instantaneous relax?... 

It works the same way with us... And also why doctors recommend autistic children have a pet... There is a lot to be said for having a pet that loves you, understands you when you are stressed and enjoys being part of 'de-stressing' you... 

BLOOD PRESSURE REDUCTION... One of the physical ways doctors measure the effects of stress on a human body is by taking our blood pressure... 

There have been countless studies done on the effect of pet ownership on high blood pressure... Whether you are sitting and watching fish swim around in an aquarium or just enjoying watching your dog fall asleep, you will experience a decrease in your blood pressure... 

This is another reason more and more assisted living facilities are bringing in dogs for mascots... It has proven to be beneficial to the residents both in lowering blood pressure, reducing stress and providing uplifting mental attitudes... 

EXERCISE... Having a dog will cause you to get out more and exercise... Even if it is a short walk around the block, every little bit helps to get us up and out of couches and chairs, not positioned in front of a TV or computer monitor... 

There are groups that meet up in dog parks now... Like the new version of 'coffee clutchers' from the 50's or leaning over a neighbor's fence to have a conversation... 

It is a good way to get to meet and know your neighbors (as long as you pick up after your dog) and a great way to exercise yourself!... There are just so many places now that allow you to bring your dog and even if it is a run to Lowe's to pick up something for the house, you will enjoy it as much as your dog does!

These are the ways we thought of living a healthier lifestyle by having a dog... How about you?  Does your pet keep you healthier?