Poll: Pet Ownership and Costs

[ken_sylvania]

For some people, dogs, or other pets, can really play a therapeutic role in reducing trauma, ptsd, and other anxieties. They are very calming. Dogs also, some, are very good at predicting seizures prior to their occurrence.

Yes.

If my wife were to die before me, I might get a cat. Human affection is much more important, but if it's unavailable, having something to show affection to physically is probably better than nothing.

Yikes! How does your wife feel about ranking only one step better than a cat in your scale of affection.

[JohnL]

I saw an article on therapy dogs for former military with PTSD. The man started to have an episode and the dog pressed into him until he lay down and then the dog laid across him. It shortened the panic attack. I thought that was really cool.
Even for people without obvious outward symptoms I seen pets help them cope with emotional stress. There’s a couple of assisted living facilities that lets folks keep a pet to care for. The residents have less decline in memory and are more social.

[JimFoxvog]

Yikes! How does your wife feel about ranking only one step better than a cat in your scale of affection.

MUCH more than one step! How could I have phrased it better?

My wife has had serious health issues lately; by God's grace, she has survived. But I can't help thinking about what I would do without her.

[Grace]

Yikes! How does your wife feel about ranking only one step better than a cat in your scale of affection.

MUCH more than one step! How could I have phrased it better?

My wife has had serious health issues lately; by God's grace, she has survived. But I can't help thinking about what I would do without her.

I am sorry to hear about your wife's health issues.

[barnhart]

Yikes! How does your wife feel about ranking only one step better than a cat in your scale of affection.

MUCH more than one step! How could I have phrased it better?

My wife has had serious health issues lately; by God's grace, she has survived. But I can't help thinking about what I would do without her.

I had forgotten about this Jim, thanks for mentioning it so I can celebrate with you.

[JoyE]

My two dogs perform multiple duties. They guard the house and property. They walk as bodyguards with me (34 miles last week), thus keeping me healthy; and while we walk, I listen to my audio Bible (which was a little embarrassing the other day when a city worker's truck stopped to talk, and my reading was in Song of Solomon ). My dogs notify me when someone is at the door, as our house is large and sometimes knocking and the bell aren't heard. And last but not least, they make me laugh often.
Oh, and by the way, dogs are supposed to bark--see Isa. 56:10.
A friend liked to say that cats were smart and dogs were stupid. Then one day he was backing out of their yard, and his wife yelled that their cat was behind the truck. "Oh, she'll move." She didn't.