Connect
What Pets Can Do: Health and Healing
I was visiting a community hospital recently, waiting in line for a coffee. Across the lobby was a large, beautiful dog. As visitors and patients stopped to pet the dog and talk with the owner, you could literally see how their faces lit up with smiles and their bodies relaxed.
In the week leading up to exams at my daughter's school, they bring in therapy dogs for the students to interact with. It helps reduce anxiety at a very stressful time for students. For many people, animals provide countless health benefits.
Cats, dogs, birds, fish, hamsters: How have animals comforted you, helped with recovery or promoted good health for you?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.
Connect
@merpreb Knew I could count on you!!! I am now wanting to do one with only crows. I think they oft get a bad rap. They are the watch dogs!!!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsMe thinks I also see a hummingbird ☺
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@parus o.k, take another look in eastern USA they are different then in Calif. We where in the Mts. onetime and my son had to tell me what kind of a bird that was , it was blue but no toppy
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@parus o..k. now I see it also a pigeon I didn't see before
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@parus your artwork is so beautiful! And you are so talented!! Thank you for showing us
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 Reactions@colleenyoung Well, this may not be such a good story in the end, but... We rescued our dog, Peaches, the year that my dad, my MIL, and a friend were all at the same end of life point. Peaches needed so much from us, so really, she added to the stress. But she gave us a lot of joy, too, wanting to go to the park and snuggle. My dad, MIL, and friend all died that year, so Peaches was our stressful comfort. For the past 18-20 months of my illness, she has been a super-Velcro dog. Her anxiety levels were out the roof if she couldn’t find me. But she always wanted me to sit on the sofa and cuddle. She became deaf and blind but could still find her way around. She was incontinent and wouldn’t eat. So Sunday we decided we had to put her to sleep. She’s in a better place and I’m in a safer place because she can’t trip me anymore. RIP Peaches
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
7 Reactions@becsbuddy So sorry for your loss, her death must carry memories of the other deaths you encountered after she became part of your family.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 Reactions@becsbuddy I'm so sorry for your loss a member of the family . I had to put my dog down he was my buddy. When I was sick he stuck like glue to me same with my husband . When I fractured my back he fell of my bed and fractured his hip. He couldn't hear anymore 15 yrs. old and I couldn't take care of him so had him put to sleep so emotional isn't it .
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 Reactions@becsbuddy Becky, I think they let you know when it's time. I've been there too and took care of my lab until he was 18 and he gave up. I'm sure he had Lyme disease and the vets missed it as that was a while ago before they were treating dogs for it. I used to have to hold him up by the tail because the back end was spastic and carry him outside. Even though it was hard, I took care of him as long as he was happy to be there. My lab was a rescue too. Hugs to you.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 Reactions@parus Beautiful! Not being in color, the only bird I recognize is the blue jay by the crest on its head. I really do not know that much about birds despite there being many around me.
@johnbishop I really do not understand why we never see rabbits here! I have never seen one in the yard at all. Maybe the fox, bear, fisher cats, etc., eat them. 🙁
JK
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions