Sarah's Health Notes: Love Your Pet Day
Above: Sarah with Cassie the cockapoo, now two, aka ‘the joy bundle’
Yes, I know celebrating ‘Love Your Pet Day’ sounds like a marketing opportunity – and you’re not wrong: any business that makes goodies for furry friends is jumping on the bandwagon. But, being a fully paid-up animal lover since childhood (my mother preferred animals to people, she told us quite often), I would just like to point out there’s bags of evidence that pets are good for our health. In fact, in some cases, they can change your world.
A friend credits a Cavalier King Charles spaniel with bringing her six-year-old daughter from a state of extreme shyness and anxiety into an outgoing happy child. Now nearly 30, that timid child is a vet. Having a pet is wellknown to significantly reduce feelings of depression, anxiety, isolation and loneliness – that last one of the biggest predictors of disease, more so than smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Get a dog, a doctor I know told an overweight patient with heart problems. He did, got fitter and happier, his stress levels went down together with his risk of heart disease. According to the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s not just the exercise but also the socialising that helps dog walkers. You needn’t necessarily own one, by the way, the Dogs Trust offers volunteer dog walking opportunities near you. The CDC cites other health benefits including decreased blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and better cognitive function, as well as helping symptoms of PTSD.
While we tend to think of pets in terms of cats and dogs, other types can hit the spot. I remember going into the children’s ward at a big London hospital many years back with a pet therapy team. They brought in rabbits and guinea pigs to help divert the very sick children from invasive procedures. The team was one man down that morning so I ended up being the guinea pig handler.
One of my favourite Instagram feeds is called Dinky Ponies: a team of six adorable mini-Shetlands whose owner Sarah Woodland has trained as therapy ponies. They visit care homes, hospital and schools. I defy you not to get just a bit damp around the eyes as you watch the faces of elderly people lapping up the unconditional love. Please, just look now: @dinkyponies.
My adored horses – rather big pets, not dinky at all – went off to the Elysian fields last year, at the grand old ages of 29 and 26. Since then, I’ve spent even more time being grateful for our dog Cassie, who nominally belongs to my husband – a retirement present from me to him. Not that we own her, you understand. The boots are very much on her four paws… She makes us laugh, gives us endless cuddles and kisses, thinks she’s a lap dog (surprising for visitors…) and keeps us pretty fit, tramping up and down the hills of West Dorset.
And here’s a bit of merch, just in case you really want to treat your own pooch. My brother in law was delighted at the new organic Little Beast Shampoo Bars from the Little Soap Company; he chose Smelly Dog Shampoo Bar for his brace of love-rolling-in-anything Labradors. Meanwhile, Cassie is looking pretty happy about her Caroline Gardner Spotty Ceramic Dog Bowl; well, might be something to do with the poached chicken, chopped carrot, and Lily’s Kitchen goodies in it… And my husband has stopped stuffing poo bags into his back pocket, from where they are invariably removed by Cassie (did I mention she’s a very artful pickpocket?), and instead keeps them in a Khaki Poo Bag Holder, also thanks to Caroline Gardner.
And the best toy ever for dogs is… a Faux Fur Squeaky Chaser! This came recommended by a local dog trainer and it’s a failsafe distraction or recall strategy. We give them to puppy owners, who are very thankful, as are we. (A bag of crisps is effective too, cheese-based and an upmarket brand, please… but the Squeaky Chaser lasts a lot longer.)
Finally, of course ‘Love Your Pet’ is never ever for just one day, it’s every day, forever.
