I Petcha I'll Make You Feel Better

I have 4 cats. They are like my kids. I wake up every morning and go find each one and kiss them, after of course I kiss my husband! I grew up with dogs, and went through the pets that taught responsibility due to the fact that they didn't have to be walked. These were the guinea pigs, rabbits, and fish. Although keeping a fish alive is actually very difficult. Nevertheless my sister's goldfish lived until it was 8 years old. This is not a typo, the fish lived 8 years!!!

The reason I wanted to write this blog today, was because it really touches on something important, unconditional love. It has been shown that abused animals, will still come back for affection from their owner even if they are treated poorly. What's better than a lick, or a purr to start and end your day?  As well as being so cute and cuddly, pet's sense when an owner is sad, upset, scared, or otherwise not feeling well. They have proven that pets are so therapeutic that they can help an individual feel much better. Also it's been shown that cats purrs can soothe a person, who is in pain, additionally pets have been shown to be able to predict when their owner is going to have a seizure, even before it happens!

While I really wanted to keep this blog, written by myself, I think that this subject touches on a very important topic, and decided to include some articles of interest regarding pets and their importance in individuals lives.

Can those with psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder or depression benefit from interaction with animals? The answer is a resounding, “YES!” “There are an increasing number of dogs being trained to assist individuals with a range of disabilities, including seizure disorders, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, and psychiatric disorders” (Sachs-Ericsson et al, 2002). Not only can those with bipolar disorder benefit from the love of and for a pet, but they are also permitted under the Americans with Disabilities Act to employ the assistance of a service dog. (Sachs-Ericsson, N., Hansen, N.K., & Fitzgerald, S. (2002). Benefits of assistance dogs: A review. Rehabilitation Psychology, 42, 251-277.)

Additionally I found a wonderful article called "How Pets Can Help Bipolar Disorder", below is the link:

http://www.everydayhealth.com/bipolar-disorder/how-pets-can-help-bipolar-disorder.aspx


Lastly, I would like to thank the rescue league that I have adopted all 4 of my cats from, without them the unconditional and therapeutic role I've been discussing with you would not be possible. For those who are on the fence about getting a pet, whether for yourself, your family, your kids, etc. Considering the fact that there's more than just walking a pet, picking up poop, or scooping litter. Here's the website for Fancy Cats where I aopted 4 of the best gifts of my life!

http://www.fancycats.org/


Betty