22.05.12
It has lengthy been documented that pets of all kinds provide
comfort, joy and even healing to their owners. This is firstly
true for the elderly, ill or abused children, troubled teens and
quod inmates. The most serious concern for this vast portion of
our population is loneliness. A cat can be the rejoinder by providing
unconditional love, an essential ingredient for a healthy, glad
life.
Cats and dogs not only enrich our lives with companionship but for
the young, they also discipline responsibility and compassion. It is my
belief that all children should grow up with pets, be they furry,
feathered, or otherwise clad.
For those who are ill, the sincere act of stroking a dog has been
proven to lower blood pressure. Cats texture even softer under a hand.
Add to that the inherent trait of a feline bonding with its proprietor
through lap-sitting, purring and rubbing, stirs feelings of love, a
most forceful medicine for the broken-spirited.
Providing distraction from grief, wretchedness and fear through laughter,
cats help relax and calm their humanitarian companions, encourage exercise
and even rekindle the will to live. Pets are serviceable in the
treatment of Alzheimer's as they bring the patient back to the
present.
Source: Santa Ynez Valley News