18 Sep Second Chance: A Pet for Your Health + Updates!
For 30+ years, the Animal Resource Center and Shops of Second Chance Humane Society have been serving Ouray, San Miguel, and Montrose Counties. Adoption hours are from Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. View shelter pets and services online at www.secondchancehumane.org.
“Connecting Pets, People, and Community While Saving Lives.”
View shelter pets and services online: www.adoptmountainpets.org.
Donate here or mail to: PO Box 2096, Ridgway, CO, 81432.
Go here for more options from Second Chance.
Pet owners know the fun and joy a dog or cat brings to a home. But can a pet also make us healthier? Can a dog or cat make us less likely to suffer from depression and loneliness? That’s a lot to ask of a four-legged friend, but there is growing evidence to support the hypothesis.
Studies have shown that interacting with animals can have physical health benefits. Stroking a dog, cat, or other animal can lower blood pressure and help promote calm.
It stands to reason that dog owners are more likely to meet their daily exercise requirements, which promotes good health. Dogs need exercise, so you’ll be exercising right along with them! Because dogs need consistency, exercise becomes a daily routine instead of a once-in-a-while activity.
Cats are good for the heart! A study of over 2,400 cat owners concluded there was a lower risk of death due to cardiovascular diseases compared to non-owners during a 20-year follow-up.
Good mental health is perhaps easier to attribute to a pet, but it may be surprising to learn the breadth. Many studies have found that pets, especially dogs and cats, can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage social connections, and promote empathy and compassion.
People with pets are more likely to have higher self-esteem. Why? Companion animals instill a sense of self-worth by reminding us of our ability to make a positive impact on the life of another. Taking responsibility for a pet’s well-being fosters discipline and accountability, which can extend to other areas of your life.
Depression might make one want to avoid other people, but pets help to open the world. Pets spark friendships, start conversations, encourage interactions, and build a support network. Back to exercising the dog: exercise increases endorphins, which fight depression.
Interacting with pets promotes empathy and compassion, enhancing the ability to care for and understand others. Then, there’s the hormones. Touching or hugging another being (pet or person) naturally releases oxytocin, the hormone that reduces stress and boosts levels of serotonin and dopamine.
Dogs especially can help with anxiety. People worry less about home invasions when they have a canine companion. Even a small dog can be an alarm when something isn’t quite right in a home.
Research has shown that older adults get social and emotional support from their pets which combats loneliness and depression. Pet owners over age 65 make fewer visits to the doctor than those without pets. Alzheimer’s patients suffer less stress and have fewer anxious outbursts if there is a dog or cat in the home.
We recommend adding a pet as soon as possible to kick-start health benefits.
No prescription is needed!
Peter Pan
Laughter is the best medicine, and Peter Pan is sure to keep you laughing. He’s a young tabby cat who is extremely quirky, moves quickly, and talks all the time. Someone with a good sense of humor will be his perfect human. He does show signs of cerebellar hypoplasia and will need to remain an indoor-only cat.
AND… To continue the Second Chance Highlights section, we want to share the following:
Our fundraiser ends this coming Sunday 9/22: https://givebutter.com/xENOlZ
We’re having a CATS ONLY TNR/Spay/Neuter Clinic
September 26-29 at the shelter in Ridgway.
$75 per cat includes sterilization and vaccines.
Appointments: (970)626-9713 or email clinic@secondchancehumane.org
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.