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The Power of Pets

Posted by On 22-03-2022
A picture of Christy & Scully for the power of pets post


The Power of Pets animal paws shapes
The Power of Pets

Anyone who has a pet knows about the power of pets. They are mood boosters, help keep us healthy, and they hold us accountable. 

 

Mood-Boosting Pet Power

Having pets around can lower stress, heart rate, and blood pressure. They can increase the presence of the feel-good hormone oxytocin, offer unconditional love, companionship, and lots of fun.

You have no doubt felt the joy of being greeted with a wagging tail, or a loving leg nuzzle. The pleasure you experience with such a greeting boosts your mood and changes your body chemistry.

These interactions additionally have the benefit of lowering the blood pressure of your pet too. So, it’s a win, win for both you and your pet!

Companion Health Benefits 

While a pet is an irreplaceable companion, your dog or cat can also be one of the best motivators for getting you out and living an active, healthy life.

For this reason, research studies have found that people who have a pet have healthier hearts, stay home sick less often, make fewer visits to the doctor, get more exercise, and are less depressed.

Dogs need to be walked, and most cats need to be stimulated. So, get out and walk Fido. Make him your exercise buddy. Jogging, hiking, swimming, playing fetch, and even biking are all fantastic activities to do with your dog.

Fun Fact: Mental stimulation from exercising helps quiet dogs who woof, yap and yowl excessively to communicate.

Similarly, get Mr. Whiskers moving too. Although tossing around a catnip mouse is not cardio for you, any time you spend standing instead of sitting is a plus!

Pet Accountability

Even if you’ve had the worst day in the world, your pet still expects you to greet them, pet them and feed them. It might seem like they are being selfish, but you’ve trained them to respond to you at certain times of the day. So, you are accountable to them regardless of how awful your day was.

To tell the truth, being held accountable to your pet can set your day right again. Routines and commitment are as beneficial to you as they are to your pet.

Lastly, your accountable for your pets’ health and well-being. Our pets cannot drive, nor can they use a phone so it’s our responsibility to plan their vet visits to keep them healthy and pawfect!

A Ponder from the Author about, ‘The Power of Pets’ 

When writing this post, I thought to myself wouldn’t it be great if I could interview a pet to get their perspective on themselves and their humans!

Sadly, I could not so I did the next best thing, I asked Christy from the Canadian Career Academy on behalf of her feline, Scully. 

And so, here are the answers to my burning pet questions. Enjoy!

An Interview with Scully the cat

Q. If you were a celebrity, who would you be and why?

Scully
Taylor Swift. I am a bit of a DRAMA QUEEN! I also like to sing a lot… any problem, good or bad I like to sing it out. Plus, I know everyone worships me. Some have the opinion that I can be a little annoying at times, but I just block out the haters.

Q. How old are you Scully, and what breed are you?

Scully
I am a five-month-old orange female short-haired tabby.

Q. Did your owner choose you or did you choose him?

Scully
As a matter of fact, I chose them. I was the only one out of my siblings who was friendly and brave enough to come out from under the deck to greet my owners. The power of pets

Q. What emotional support do you provide your owner, Scully?

Scully
Ugh, my parents are SOOO needy! They never give me any time alone or personal space. They even force me to take up their entire bed when they sleep at night. But I’m glad I can be there for them

Q. Where do you think your owners go when they leave the house?

Scully
The outside freezer?

I do worry about them when they leave, I always think they will never return. Sometimes I scold them by meowing ‘never leave again’. But so far, it hasn’t worked.

Q. When you’re alone at home, what is your favourite pastime?

Scully
Above all, I like to get cozy under the couch and create a list of the things I would like to do. Mostly things I get scolded for… like eating plants or going on the counter.

 

This Interview for ‘The Power of Pets’ post is going great!

Q. Do you look away when your owner wants to take a selfie with you?

Scully
My parents don’t take selfies with me. Is that because they don’t love me??? I need to go ask them… they just showed me what a selfie is, but all I saw was my reflection, or is that ANOTHER CAT WITH MY OWNER!!  I am so completely hurt. I must get this other orange cat…

Q. By the way, why do squirrels distract you?

Scully
They tease and chatter at me from outside. I need to tell them off, that this is my domain, and they better watch out…. I will get them one day.

Q. Scully, is there anything your owners do that you wish you could?

Scully
Yes, I would love to open the fridge. My paws don’t do that, and my mom just put a wonderful piece of salmon in there. Indeed, if only I had hands as they do, that salmon would be mine…

Q. Long days on a sunny windowsill or playing with catnip, which do you prefer?

Scully
Oh, the windowsill. Actually, my mom just bought me a bed that she placed on her desk by the windowsill. I get to see the neighbours come and go, and it’s so warm and cozy from the sun. My parents say I am crazy enough, so I haven’t even tried catnip!

Q. Finally, on a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your animal-human bond?

Scully
It could be better… I think if they just let me sit on them for a few more hours a day we could be happier. But we are getting close to a solid 10 out of 10.

 

Post Contributors – Christy Thurgood and Scully, the cat.

 

“Pets do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.” – Orhan Pamuk

 

For some professional insight into pets, please follow the link to The Frequency Podcast Network ‘How 2 Dog’