Happiness Really is a Warm Puppy

Some time ago I asked for suggestions for what my readers would like to see me write a blog post about.  When you put these things out in the universe, of course you are going to get a challenge that stumps you a bit.  A friend from my Twitter page asked me to write about how pets can be a huge help with those who suffer from anxiety.  I have pondered, considered, researched because I really wanted to honor her request. If I am remembering correctly, she said for her it was a cat that provided companionship and comfort. 

I mentioned in a past blog that I grew up on a ranch where it wasn’t wise to get overly attached to pets because things happened to them. I think my first disconnect happened when my dad backed up in our driveway one cold morning and ran over our older dog who didn’t hear the car start.  Another lesson came for me when I raised a Holstein calf on a bucket because the plan for one of our cows to adopt him after losing her calf failed.  On a ranch you don’t keep steers around, you send them to market.  So my “pet” calf that followed me around like a puppy, got loaded into the stock truck with the other steers on auction day.  When I was in Jr. High my favorite quarter horse, my best friend for all my elementary years, got onto the railroad tracks and was hit by a train.  The train won.  I was devastated.  From that point forward, as much as I enjoyed pets, I kept a healthy separation.

My husband loves dogs and from the time we got married, we had a dog or two….or three.  When our kids were young we had the plethora of animal friends from gerbils to parakeets, rabbits, pygmy goats, a cat, even an iguana.  I could tell stories about the day the iguana got out of his aquarium when my husband was out of town.  We covered a lot of the animal kingdom.  With the exception of one particular female Australian shepherd that I loved dearly, most of our pets were a fun part of the family but I wasn’t totally invested.   After our kids were grown and gone, I was more than ready to be done with pets.  I still enjoy animals, but I’m pretty much all done with caring for them.

Honestly, I can’t really relate to those who have support animals to relieve anxiety.  I can’t say I never have occasional anxiety, but mostly I don’t suffer from debilitating anxiety that some people I know do.  A friend once told me about being on a flight with a “support turkey”.  I’ve had a little experience with turkeys and they would only increase my anxiety.  So I had to do a bit of research to begin to understand how pets can be just the answer for some who have anxiety issues. 

So let’s look at the research. Psychologists recognize that emotional support animals for anxiety can improve the lives of those experiencing symptoms and promote social interaction and connection that can protect against feelings of worry or fear.   Studies around pets and mental health show that petting and playing with animals reduces stress-related hormones.  And these benefits can occur after just five minutes of interaction.  Playing with a dog or cat raises levels or seratonin and dopamine.  Affection from a pet is usually unconditional which carries a large comfort factor for their owners.  I have a niece who just adopted a former service dog for a veteran who suffered from PTSD. 

The truth is that having a pet is a joy and a comfort for many people.  They value the relationship over the excess hair, muddy paw prints, occasional barf on the carpet, various potty accidents, the chewing stages, the vet bills. For them, It’s all worth it for the companionship and comforting qualities of a loyal animal friend.  For my friends who love their pets and find them completely gratifying as well as a companion who reduces anxiety, I salute you. I love your pet, too, and I am happy they reduce your stress levels. I’m just glad they live at your house.