Taking A Look Outside Our Window

By Mary O’KEEFE

August 26 is National Dog Day. It was started by author Colleen Paige in 2004 and Aug. 26 was chosen because that is the day she and her family adopted their first dog.

In my family every single day is a dog day. I did not have a dog growing up; I had a horse and a cow (for a while) but no dog. I didn’t get a dog until after I was married …. and it wasn’t by choice. My brother  was upset that I had been married for almost a decade and he did not have a niece or nephew. So he called and told me to go to LAX to pick up a “package” he sent to me. That is all he said. I went to the airport and discovered my brother sent me a perfect little Old English sheepdog with a note that said, “If you can take care of this puppy, you can take care of a baby.”

Lloyd was our first Old English sheepdog, and he was just perfect. My brother was right; we later had three kids and I am now on our third sheepdog, who was a rescue.

I cannot imagine my life without a dog. They are there in the morning to greet you and at the end of the day waiting for you. Two of my three kids have dogs; the one without a dog has cats.

Having dogs or a pet can help reduce stress and anxiety, ease feelings of loneliness, provide unconditional love and support, create a calming presence and gives a sense of purpose for pet parents, according to UC Davis Mental Health.

Now, I am not saying that it is always easy. Having a pet is a big responsibility and requires a lot of patience but the love you get in return is worth all the poop scoops and chewed up shoes.

“The Army is using dogs ‘much more’ to help soldiers recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to the former Army Surgeon General’s special assistant for mental health, Col. Elspeth Cameron Ritchie, M.D.,” as stated in a 2010 article by National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).   

In a study by NAMI, it found that about 20% of people living with depression have used animal therapy treatment with 54% finding it extremely or quite a bit helpful.

“Pets can reduce work-related stress. Two out of three employees say work stresses them out and 40% say their job gets in the way of their health. Studies show that pets in the workplace help reduce stress and improve employee satisfaction. Pets can help increase productivity, wherever you work. When a dog joins a virtual meeting, group members rank their teammates higher on trust, team cohesion and camaraderie. Pets help manage anxiety. Now more than ever many people are feeling anxious or struggling with mental health. Pets provide companionship and support. Pets can help you be more active. They give you a reason to get outside, get some fresh air and get active, which is proven to improve your mood, sleep and mental health. Pets provide a sense of togetherness. The bond with a pet helps you not to feel alone. When owners see, touch, hear or talk to their companion animals, it brings a sense of goodwill, joy, nurturing and happiness,” according to American Heart Association.

In addition to mental health, dogs get you up and moving.

“One research study found that dog owners are more likely to report regular physical activity than people who don’t own dogs. Activities associated with dog ownership, like feeding, grooming, playing and letting them outside, all increase physical activity levels. Physical activity improves blood flow, induces muscle contraction and reduces joint stiffness,” according to Mayo Clinic Health System.

There is a lot of data and research on how dogs, and in fact all pets, support mental and physical health but the bottom line is there is nothing like coming home after a really long day of work and having your giant dog, who thinks he is the size of a Chihuahua, climb on your lap and cuddle.