Folsom El Dorado Hills, July 2018

Photo © PETER KIM/fotolia.com.
“It allows people to have nonjudgmental
love,” he continues.
3 Let’s Get Physical
Susan Garlinghouse, DVM, a
veterinarian at Goldorado Animal Hospital
in Cameron Park, says dog owners, on
average, tend to walk almost twice as
much per week as non-dog owners, and
are 54 percent more likely to meet the
recommended levels of physical exercise.
4 Allergy Alleviation
Having a family pet will benefit the
health of your kids, too. “In young families,
according to a study published in Clinical & Experimental Allergy, children exposed to pets in
their first year are less likely to suffer from allergies and eczema as adults,” Garlinghouse says.
5 Bonded for Life
According to Garlinghouse, “Studies have indicated that young adults with deep
bonds to a pet feel more connected in relationships and to their communities, and are
more likely to take on leadership roles than those without pets.”
6 No Judgement Zone
Garlinghouse says pets don’t care how you look, how much money you make, or what
kind of car you drive—they’re just happy to be with you and to have your attention. “A good
portion of these feelings of higher self-esteem probably stem from that. It’s hard not to feel
better about yourself when your dog thinks you’re terrific just the way you are,” she says.
7 Creature Comforts
And it’s not just dogs that help our well-being. “A lot of these benefits come from
caring for almost any pet,” Garlinghouse says. “In one study, stressed adults decreased
their anxiety levels when they stroked a rabbit or a turtle but not when they handled a
toy rabbit or turtle.”
8 In Sickness and in Health
Facility dogs Henry, Penny, Marty, Feather, and Glimmer are graduates of Canine
Companions for Independence who, along with child life specialists at Sutter Children’s
Center, help make life in the hospital a little less stressful by providing joy and comfort
to pediatric patients and their families. [Studies show that] pain reduction is four times
greater in children undergoing animal-assisted therapy compared to those relaxing for 15
minutes,” says Amy Medovoy, child life coordinator at Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento.
“Patients feel less lonely, less depressed, and enjoy the change in routine. For inpatient
adolescents, the presence of a dog on the unit improve outcomes by redefining the inpatient
environment and providing unconditional acceptance.”
9 Mood Booster
Forming an attachment to animals is a combination of both biological and social needs.
“Those endorphins released when we have a positive interaction with an animal just makes
you feel good,” Garlinghouse says. “No matter how rotten your day has been, no matter how
judged or criticized you might feel from people around you, no matter how lonely or isolated
you might be feeling, it’s a great feeling to come through the door and know your pets are always
delighted to see you and think you’re absolutely wonderful.”
JULY 2018 // stylefedh.com 37