Over 60% of households have a pet. Why do we love pets? We have all heard stories of people who went overboard spoiling their cats and dogs. What is it about these animals that pull on our heart strings?
Some research indicates that pet owners have less trips to the doctor than non pet owners. Some scientists even suggest that pets can lower blood pressure and help heart patients recover faster. There is very little research to support that theory. Owning a pet may reduce stress and help us live longer. How? Pets keep us laughing and it is well documented that laughter helps us heal! For more information about the healing power of laughter, click here. Owning a pet can also ease the pain of loneliness and lessen depression. This seems to have something to do with stroking and touching the animals. We also tend to exercise more when we have pets.
Pets can help us emotionally, spiritually and physically. Dogs have been trained as seeing eye dogs for many years. Now dogs are being trained to detect (smell) cancer and some can even predict epilepic seizures and episodes of hypoglycemia. But the main way that pets can help us is through their unconditional love.
Dogs and cats can be very intuitive. They can sense our moods and know when we need nuturing. (My dog can tell the difference between real tears and fake tears. He ignores the fake tears, but gets very upset if I'm really crying.) Communication is 85% nonverbal. Animals are very good at picking up on our nonverbal cues. But dogs are capable of learning a variety of words. Some pet specialists say that we should talk to our animals. We should tell them when we are leaving how long we will be gone and that we will be coming back. Perhaps on some level they do understand.
Pets can even help us spiritually. Dogs are the best example of unconditional love on Earth. It may be this unconditional love that help some people experience the unconditional love of God. When we have been so hurt by past experiences that we vow never to love again, we shut down emotionally and spiritually. We build walls and barriers around our heart. What we may not realize is that in shutting the door to human love, we are also shutting the door to God's love. Loving a pet can slowly open the door to all forms of unconditional love (God's love) again. A pet's love can be the first step to healing emotionally and spiritually.
Benefits of Pets:
I was watching a show years ago about dogs. It mentioned that dogs were among the first animals to be domesticated. But it went a step farther. This show suggested that people had not trained dogs, perhaps dogs had trained people to take care of dogs. When I thought about this I realized that my dog has trained me. When my dog wants to go outside, he walks to the door and waits. I know what that means and I get up to let him out. When he needs water, he throws his water bowl across the kitchen floor. I know what that sound means and I get up to get him water. These movements were his idea, not mine. And just like babies, we take care of them, feed them, water them, buy toys and sometimes even clothe them. 24% of Americans even include their pets in their wills.
Pets can be like children. Dogs are toddlers--playful, loving and they like to snuggle. Cats are like teenagers--moodly, picky, and more independant than we would like. They may leave home a lot but they come back when they need something!
Click here to visit www.parentingwithwisdom.com
Click here to visit www.healingwithwisdom.com
Click here to visit www.teachingwithwisdom.com These sites are linked for easy navigation.