This month we celebrate pets: how they become family members, love and support us with unconditional devotion, make us laugh with their silly antics or frustrated with their naughtiness, give us a sense of purpose … in short, how they evolve to be so much more than just animals.
My family has always had pets: many cats and dogs – and even a turtle that lived to the ripe old age of 19 – have shared our home over the years. Animals have always been near and dear to us: My mom was on the Board of Directors at the West Vancouver SPCA and won a B.C. Humane Education Award for her work that included bringing our cat and dog into classrooms to talk about the responsibilities of pet ownership.
Many can’t imagine not owning a pet. We all know that the comfort and companionship they provide is a boost to our emotional health, but I recently learned that pet ownership can benefit your physical health as well.
According to www.animalplanet.com, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institute of Health have conducted studies that found that pet owners experience decreased blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels – all of which can ultimately minimize their heart attack risk. For those who have already suffered a heart attack, research also indicates that patients with a dog or cat tend to have better recovery rates. These benefits are thought to be connected with pets’ tendency to help reduce or at least control their owners’ overall stress levels.
When an animal combines that ability to help both our emotional and physical health, such as therapy dog Cajun in A Dog That Inspires, that’s when the real magic happens. Hans Tammemagi shares his story on page 27.
Things I Learned This Month
The “Don’t Let it Loose” campaign aims to educate the public on the environmental impact of letting aquatic plants, invertebrates, reptiles and
fish free in our environment. (p. 21)
The stems of rhododendrons, a common sight on the Saanich Peninsula, are toxic to dogs if ingested. Learn more about what plants are pet-safe in this
month’s West Coast Gardener. (p. 43)
May is skin cancern awareness month. Skin cancer is the most common cancer and can largely be prevented. (p. 48)
