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Barking Mad? |
| Posted on Jun 06 2009 |
Barking Mad? Maybe not.
By Gillie Sutherland
I often worry that I have an unhealthy attachment to my pet, and when I get called the Crazy Cat Lady, it does cause me to question myself.
So when I heard this latest statistic, you can imagine how relieved I was. Apparently, 70% of pet owners sign their pet’s name in the greetings cards they send. There was me thinking it was just myself and my friend Jess, whose new kitten Harvey has become as talked about in our circle of friends as any newborn baby. Quite rightly so, I think.
I’ve always suspected that I owe a great deal to my cat in terms of my health. Is there anything better for you than smiling, having a positive state of mind? Nothing makes my day like walking in the door and being greeted by a friendly, albeit slightly manic, furry face. Indy is a constant in my life, another being who depends on me, and who appreciates me no matter how irrational, pre-menstrual or grumpy I’m being. OK, I accept, it could just be because she wants fed, but still, I’m suddenly important, needed, loved.
Having done a wee bit of digging, I discovered that there was a lot of evidence to support my theory. There could be a lot more to this "pets for health" campaign than I originally thought.
Compared to non- pet owners:
people who own pets typically visit the doctor less often and use less medication
pet owners, on average, have lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure
pet owners recover more quickly from illness and surgery
pet owners deal better with stressful situations
pet owners are less likely to report feeling lonely
(Ref: People and Pets Survey)
This is only the quantifiable evidence. The reasons behind these health benefits are still unclear. There are the obvious ones, like dogs needs walking, and that keeps you fit and active. I suspect it’s something more than that.
To me, a pet is there to give us one of the things we are all, consciously or subconsciously, looking for. Unconditional love. When the chips are down, when there’s no-one else around, your pet is always there for you.
I know, I know. With my life coaching hat on, what I would be saying is that we should love ourselves unconditionally, and we shouldn’t need a pet for that. But, as a "real" person, let’s face it, there are days, and times in our lives, when we wake up and just want to hide under the duvet until it all goes away.
There are days when you’re just not going to manage to say to yourself "I’m great!" in the mirror twenty times, or see the positive in the situation. There are days you will just want to burn every self-help book you’ve ever bought. Life is tough sometimes, that’s the reality.
It’s those days when your pet comes in handy. The little mutt isn’t going to leave you alone until it gets fed. The wee moggy needs some attention and is there to remind you that "it’s not all about you, you know". Your pet gives you a reason to get in the morning, no matter what is happening – to me, that beats most motivational exercises any of the "gurus" have come up with.
So are we really mad for thinking that our beloved, faithful friends deserve a mention on our greetings cards? I think not.
Gillie and Indy
Last changed: Jun 06 2009 at 5:16 PM
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