The Saturday Seven: Reasons Why Dogs Make Life Better

For those of you who read this blog regularly know that I am an animal lover. I love my dog and cat and consider them to be my own "kids". I cringe whenever I hear someone say "It's just a dog". It actually makes my skin scrawl when I hear it. Being a pet parent has may tangible benefits that people fail to consider. Having a dog in one's life can help a person attain a healthier life, both physically and mentally. I started thinking how much better the world is because of dogs, which led me to another scintillating edition of:
The Saturday Seven: Reasons Why Dogs Make Life Better
#1 Dogs Create a sense of family. Dogs help foster a sense of love, closeness and well-being for the entire family. In fact, children who grow up with a dog at home often have greater self-confidence and self-esteem.

#2 Dogs help avoid loneliness & depression Owning a dog gives isolated people a routine, a sense of purpose, and a sense of fulfillment that helps prevent depression and loneliness.

#3 Dogs help reduce blood pressure. Petting your dog has been proven to help lower your blood pressure and reduce your heart rate.

#4 Dogs help Reduce Stress. Having a dog as a companion can help you deal with stress and relax more easily. It's a medical fact!

#5 Dogs can help us Lose Weight. Studies show that people who walk with their dog loose more weight than people who walk alone or even with another person. Powerful, huh?

#6 Dogs help us cope with loss or tragedy. Dogs help us deal with and adjust to serious illness, sadness or even death

#7 Dogs provide public safety. Dogs are good at search & rescue of missing persons, working on crisis response teams and can comfort people who have suffered a traumatic loss. Police dogs help find bombs, sniff out drugs, and protect the public.

Bonus entry. Some dogs can detect cancer in people and can also detect when a person with frequent seizures is about to have one.

So go out and adopt a dog from a shelter and improve your life. It will make all the difference.
-Rick Rockhill