Anyone having had the good fortune to experience the joy of caring for animals understands how much they enrich our lives. Teaching through example, speaking out, educating others, or volunteering time for the care of those being abused, we become a voice for the voiceless, and help others recognize and appreciate what a wonderful gift they truly are.

It has been said that we can learn so much just by watching animals. One lesson that I have found most valuable is "mindful living". By living in the present moment they are not plagued with the anxieties nor the animosities we allow to invade our lives and dictate our actions.

Pets and Well-Being

Most pet owners are happy , when asked, or volunteer if not asked, to list the virtue or many positive aspects thier pets have to offer. Recent scientific studies confirm that they offer something even more priceless than we may have imagined. That is the gift of good health. Pets can help lower blood pressure, prevent depression and give us a higher self-esteem. And more specifically: “A 1999 study in New York, Missouri and Texas found that medication costs dropped in nursing homes that allowed pets. In another study, 70 percent of the families surveyed reported an increase in happiness and fun as a result of acquiring a pet. In 2000, the American Heart Association's study of stockbrokers found that those who had the companionship of a dog or cat experienced a calming of the "stress response" that can contribute to high blood pressure. After learning the results of the study, many of the pet-less stockbrokers decided to invest in a pet of their own.”