When it comes to pets, all is well

A registered nurse who also holds a master's
degree in public health, Bagalio is director
of Risk & Emergency Management at Mercy
Hospital, where she has worked for more than
10 years. She lives in Yarmouth.

My husband and I adopted
two cats from the HART
shelter in Cumberland
two years ago. Maya and
Jay-Jay (renamed Gi-Gi) are
black and white, domestic
shorthair cats that, out of
the many beautiful felines
we petted, nose-butted,
belly scratched and picked
up, ended up winning our
hearts over.

Rudy, our Springer
spaniel, was in for a bit of
a shock when we brought
them home, and our house
has been rather lively
since, but everyone is
settling in quite nicely. All
have found their place in
our expanded family.
As a nation of pet lovers,
we share our homes with
7.5 million cats and 6.1
million dogs, according
to the Pet Health Council.
Half of American households
own a pet, and
these animals can play an
important role in people's
lives. It should come as
no surprise that scientific
research shows that pets
are good for our health.
They become one of the
family, providing a source
of enjoyment, friendship
and fun to many household
environments.

Contact with animals
can bring real physiological
and psychological
benefits, such as reducing
stress, lowering blood
pressure, aiding in recovery
and boosting chances
of survival after a life
threatening illness. Owning
a pet has considerable
health benefi ts, as well.
One of the more obvious
benefits is exercise walking
the dog or playing with
a cat is a great way for
people to burn a few more
calories.

Pets provide their owners
with unconditional
love and companionship.
The U.S. Department of
Health concluded that pets
increased the survival rate
of heart attack victims.

The study revealed that 28
percent of heart patients
with pets survived serious
heart attacks, compared
to only 6 percent of heart
patients without pets.
Another study revealed
that cholesterol levels of
pet owners were 2 percent
lower than the levels
of people without pets.
The risk of a heart attack
among pet owners was
reduced by 4 percent.

Nursing homes that use
companion animal therapy
have experienced a signifi-
cant reduction in the
use of prescription drugs
among residents.

Companion animals
also provide psychological
benefits. Pets are sympathetic,
supportive and
non-judgemental listeners.
Pets provide us with
a distraction from our
worries, encourage social
interaction and provide a
soothing presence. They
make us laugh.

And, for men reading
this column, listen up:

Many women believe their
pets are more sensitive
than their spouse or children.
A recent survey of
pet owners revealed some
interesting information
about how people relate to
their pets:

• Nearly 50 percent
of women relied more
on their pets for affection
than their spouse or
children.

• More than 40 percent
of women said their pets
understood their emotions
and moods better than
other family members.

• When asked if they
were more likely to lose
their temper with a family
member or a pet, 67
percent of women said a
family member.

• Nearly 90 percent of
senior citizens claimed
that the presence of pets
in their household had a
positive impact on their
health.

• Pets reduced stress for
70 percent of the survey
respondents.

So, while pets also
come with financial
responsibility and add a
bit of extra work around
the house, the results are
irresistible. In return for
properly taking care of
your pet and giving it love
and attention, you get a
long list of health benefits
plus unconditional love
in return. There's nothing
like it.