J'AIME April 2021

H E A LT H
Your health’s best friend
THEY’RE MAN’S BEST FRIEND, BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT DOGS CAN ALSO HELP IMPROVE OUR
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH? JENNY AMPHLETT HAS BEEN FINDING OUT MORE
When Cheryl Beaumont’s husband was
left disabled after an accident their GP
made a surprising recommendation to
improve family life - getting a pet dog.
Cheryl, who was in her mid-20s at the
time, had recently lost her mum and was
in the midst of grief as well as dealing
with her husband’s health issues.
“Our doctor recognised that we both
needed something else to focus on,” says
Cheryl.
“My husband suffered a back injury
and still has a lot of pain from that. The
advice was that a dog would give him
something else to focus on, that it would
get him out of the house and help to
keep him active.
“I needed something else to focus on too,
something that would bring a little bit of
happiness and joy back into my life.”
Fast forward nearly two decades and
Cheryl, now 43, and husband Simon, 49,
are devoted dog owners.
They have two dogs, a patterjack called
Ozzy and a jackapoo called Star. Cheryl
says she and Simon both feel the mental
and physical health benefits of being dog
owners.
“My husband is able to work full time but
he still suffers with a lot of pain and his
condition is progressive. Having the dogs
gets him out of the house to walk them.
When you have dogs you don’t really
have a choice in the matter.”
Cheryl’s job involves delivering health
and social care training at care homes across the East
Midlands.
She was furloughed for four weeks at the beginning
of lockdown while key worker Simon left the house
each day to work in mental health. Cheryl says the
dogs helped to get her through that difficult time.
“Having dogs gives you a focus and a reason to get
up and get dressed in the morning, because the dogs
need a walk.
“Having dogs forces you to get out and about, to get
exercise and to see people.
“Then there’s the unconditional love you receive
from dogs. They’re always happy to see you - you
can’t be in a bad mood when you come home and
see your dogs.
40 www.jaimemagazine.com