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Reasons to Give Thanks<br />
for Our Animal Companions<br />
Thanksgiving will soon be here – a time for family, food<br />
and football and the day set aside to give thanks for our<br />
blessings. Although world events may try to interfere with<br />
our feelings of thankfulness, it’s necessary that we focus<br />
on all things good, and as always, what our pets add to<br />
our lives is good.<br />
Here are just a few reasons to be thankful for your pet.<br />
Love - If there’s one thing you know, it’s that your pet<br />
loves you. And if you love your pet, that love comes back<br />
to you ten-fold. Almost all pets show happiness when<br />
you arrive home. Your dog’s most enthusiastic face-licking<br />
moment of the day is when you walk through the front<br />
door – even if you’ve just been to the mailbox. Your cat’s<br />
enthusiasm may be more subtle, but even the fact that he<br />
is in the same room with you for a change really says<br />
something. Your bird chirps, your ferret comes alive and<br />
your fish swim to your side of the aquarium. All because<br />
they love you.<br />
Companionship - Your pet keeps you company, and that<br />
company helps you to feel less lonely and isolated,<br />
especially if you live alone. Coming home to your pet<br />
gives you something to look forward to. As an added<br />
benefit, if you leash up your dog or cat and stroll through<br />
the neighborhood, more than likely someone will talk to<br />
you. Studies have shown that people walking with a dog<br />
talk to new people far more often than if the dog wasn’t<br />
with them.<br />
Physical Contact - When your purring cat sits cuddled in<br />
your lap, all is right with the world. This goes for your pet<br />
bird perching on your shoulder, your puppy licking your<br />
face and your horse nuzzling you as you stroke his mane.<br />
What Not to<br />
Feed Your Pets<br />
on Thanksgiving!<br />
All animals show affection, not just dogs and cats!<br />
Studies prove that cuddling and stroking your pet is good<br />
for you. It makes you calmer and can even lower your<br />
heart rate and your blood pressure.<br />
Someone To Talk To - Talking things out relieves a lot of<br />
internal pressure. But having someone to talk to makes<br />
a difference, too. It makes you feel less lonely. Talk<br />
about anything – your pet will listen. Even better, he won’t<br />
disagree, interrupt or tell anyone your secrets. And<br />
maybe by talking things out, you may come up with your<br />
own solutions.<br />
Motivation To Exercise - Most pets need exercise every<br />
day. Whether it’s walking your dog, riding your horse or<br />
playing with your cat, you’ll be getting some exercise, too.<br />
Physical exercise helps you to deal with stress and<br />
sometimes gives you the opportunity to get outside and<br />
breathe some fresh air.<br />
Security - Some pets promote a feeling of safety. Your<br />
dog barks when he hears or smells something out of the<br />
ordinary, and your cat wakes you if there is smoke in the<br />
house. But sometimes just having your pet nearby is<br />
enough to make you feel less anxious and more secure.<br />
Thanksgiving is a special holiday for<br />
family and friends, but it also can<br />
carry some hazards for pets. For the<br />
health and well-being of your pet<br />
companions, please keep holiday<br />
food away from pets.<br />
This Thanksgiving, as we show gratitude for our<br />
blessings, let’s not forget our devoted pets …<br />
those faithful companions who love us<br />
unconditionally and enrich our lives daily.<br />
CRITTER MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2021 • PAGE 9
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