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Pets: Good for Your Health?
Another option for kids with allergies who want a pet? Bring home a stuffed animal instead. A study in the January issue of the AAP journal Pediatrics found that a "Huggy-Puppy" doll actually eased the stress and improved outcomes for 2-to-7-year-old children in Israel who were exposed to violence during the Israeli-Lebanon war in 2006. (And stuffed pets won't make a mess on your floor!)
If you opt for a live animal, make sure to do plenty of research before you bring one home, and choose one whose personality, size and requirements fit your needs, abilities and living situation. And don't think adding more pets will bring more health benefits. Beck says that for many people one or two is plenty—more animals do not mean more health (often, just more responsibilities). Finally, as many benefits as pets bring, it's important not to become too dependent on those animal companions, cautions psychologist Alan Entin, past president of the American Psychological Association's division of family psychology. Though they make great companions, in the end pets are still no substitute for human friends and family.
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: ljc11779 @ 02/22/2008 4:34:39 PM
Comment: Some of the funniest stories I have heard, or told come from animal antics. My cats are perfect examples. They make me laugh all the time. My male cat has white on the tip of his tale. My female thought the white on the tip of his tale was a toy. If you have any imagination, you can figure out where that went. I smile thinking about it.
Posted By: SouthernNOLA @ 01/17/2008 4:05:11 PM
Comment: Animals give unconditional love and companionship. I have 2 dogs and 2 cats. Was raised with animals. I'm aslo thinking of rescuing another from our local animal shelter here in NOLA. It upsets me when I meet someone who dislikes animals- it makes me wonder what kind of person they truly are. Humans can take care of themselves, animals and babies cannot. You learn so much from your furry friends, compassion, love, empathy, tolerance, tempermant, affection, etc.
Posted By: ruPositive @ 01/17/2008 2:50:34 AM
Comment: Cleaning cat puke/spray, dog puke/poop, and fur everywhere OR fixing clawed walls OR replacing/fixing chewed up valuables OR stopping dog leg-humping (or whatever) may all be ugly/unfortunate situations; but they all give the opportunity to learn for those who are willing to absorb it and will build character and responsibility.
Listening to constant barking and meowing allows the opportunity to become assertive in correcting the issues ignorant humans believe to be "animal issues" at the same time as allowing to appreciate the fact that fortunate people have the ability to hear (which includes everything audible that an able person would normally enjoy or especially need or find comforting/useful - e.g. music, a 911 call, the encouragement/sympathy of a friend or an announcing bark/growl from the dog that there is something wrong or an intruder) and that those people who can hear, will not be deafened by the "constant animal barking and meowing", especially if the assertiveness that can correct it, is practiced.
Sleeping does not directly produce money or time or patience.
Patience comes to those who find the opportunities, given to them, to display it.
Money and Time on Earth come to an end at death.
Unconditional Love cannot be broken or interrupted by any of the above.
Pets can be loved, if the one showing love gives oneself a chance to do so.
So, take it easy and hang on because it's worth the time to show love to a pet (aka member of the family) and have it returned on the road of life.