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What Pets Can Do: Health and Healing

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Sep 15, 2017

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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jul 18, 2021
In reply to @jenniferhunter "This is sweet story about a kitty who helps children understand that wearing glasses and eye..." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

This is sweet story about a kitty who helps children understand that wearing glasses and eye patches isn't so scary after all and she knows just when to come in and help.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/good-news/meet-truffles-the-special-kitty-who-wears-glasses-to-help-kids-feel-better-about-wearing-theirs/ar-AAMfGDW?ocid=uxbndlbing

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@jeniferhunter A touching story. Truffles looks like she is part Maine Coon Cat, if not full blood. In my experience, that breed has a more dog-like personality and are pretty game for anything! So happy to see she has a place in making youngsters feel better about themselves.
Ginger

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Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Jul 18, 2021
In reply to @colleenyoung "@jimhd, @hazelblumberg, @marylou705, @artscaping, @contentandwell, @gailfaith, @gailg, @magspierce, @artscaping, @v1crew: in various discussions on Connect, you..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@jimhd, @hazelblumberg, @marylou705, @artscaping, @contentandwell, @gailfaith, @gailg, @magspierce, @artscaping, @v1crew: in various discussions on Connect, you have mentioned the health and therapy benefits animals have had for you. I invite you to share stories and pictures about your experiences where pets have comforted, how you've trained your companions for specific therapeutic roles, and so much more. What special story do you have to share?

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I ran across this story with a reference to Mayo about a therapy dog and thought I should share it.
https://pontevedrarecorder.com/stories/nationally-known-dog-expert-credits-son-of-mayo-clinic-co-founder-with-helping-launch-modern-era,4663

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Aug 3, 2021

I received this article via email from ANCA Vaculitis News and thought I would share it.

The Comforting Nature of Pets - https://ancavasculitisnews.com/2021/08/03/comforting-nature-pets/

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peterson | @peterson | Aug 6, 2021

I am a hospice nurse and I come home emotionally exhausted and empty. As I drive home I start to think of the two fury tails waiting at the gait for me to come home. There unconditional love restores my compassion and love for the families I help take care of!

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Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Aug 7, 2021

I can’t thank you enough for the important work you do. Be sure to give those furry babies a cookie for me. I absolutely cannot imagine my life without the ponies or the feather heads. I can just pet my horses for 10 minutes and feel my blood pressure dropping and my body and mind relaxing. If it weren’t for the feather heads giving me a laugh most days, I am sure my sense of humor would go away. They have been an unbelievable blessing over the last 18 months.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Aug 7, 2021
In reply to @auntieoakley "I can’t thank you enough for the important work you do. Be sure to give those..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

I can’t thank you enough for the important work you do. Be sure to give those furry babies a cookie for me. I absolutely cannot imagine my life without the ponies or the feather heads. I can just pet my horses for 10 minutes and feel my blood pressure dropping and my body and mind relaxing. If it weren’t for the feather heads giving me a laugh most days, I am sure my sense of humor would go away. They have been an unbelievable blessing over the last 18 months.

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@auntieoakley Animals and pets certainly do have that 6th sense of knowing when we need them. Unfortunately, not every person has that sense.

Our cat Tessie Belle climbs on my lap almost every night, and certainly during the day when she sees me sit on the couch. She purrs and positions herself for a tummy rub. Who can resist that? [not me!] I immediately relax and calm down. Anti-anxiety in a fur coat...
Ginger

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Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Aug 7, 2021
In reply to @gingerw "@auntieoakley Animals and pets certainly do have that 6th sense of knowing when we need them...." + (show)
@gingerw

@auntieoakley Animals and pets certainly do have that 6th sense of knowing when we need them. Unfortunately, not every person has that sense.

Our cat Tessie Belle climbs on my lap almost every night, and certainly during the day when she sees me sit on the couch. She purrs and positions herself for a tummy rub. Who can resist that? [not me!] I immediately relax and calm down. Anti-anxiety in a fur coat...
Ginger

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Be sure to thank that Tessie Belle for taking care of my friend.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Aug 8, 2021

Here is an article that hit my email inbox this morning, speaking about pets and the cancer journey. https://www.curetoday.com/view/pet-companionship-during-the-cancer-journey
I do believe this can be great information for anyone, in any circumstance!
Ginger

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Aug 8, 2021

A while back I posted about how my Brandywine helped me get through most of my cancers. As much as I love my husband I couldn't wait to see my Brandy after chemo or after surgery. Even with a clean house, it had her smell, and no matter how I felt I immediately relaxed. She always got up on the bed with me. Even even I was being given a chemo that had a horrible metallic taste (Cisplatin) she would be on the bed, but at the foot. lol. Brandy was my soul dog, sadly gone for about 3 years. Right now I have an almost 11-year-old gray Tabby, Amelie. She owns me and often when I am typing posts she knows when I am sad. The is was the first site that she met as a kitty.

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