Thursday, March 12, 2009

The Re-Energizing Power of the Pup! (and the purr)


Just back from my weekly volunteer time ay my SPCA. One day a week I walk dogs for a couple of hours and twice a month I host their TV Show called "Making Friends." Some days I have to drag my butt in there but I always leave with a spring in my step and my heart.

According to Dr. Stephen Post, author, Why Good Things Happen to Good People: How to Live a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life by the Simple Act of Giving, "Stress related health problems improves after performing kind acts. Helping reverses feelings of depression, supplies social contact, and decreases feelings of hostility and isolation that can cause stress, overeating, ulcers etc. (like fatigue.) A drop in stress may, for some people, decrease the constriction within the lungs that leads to asthma attacks."

Whew. That is a lot of good that comes out of doing good.
To locate your neighborhood shelter, go to PetFinder.com and click on the "Animal Shelter" Tab. For more information about the healing power of pets and purrs, click here: http://www.dogcaptions.com/page4704.html
For more health benefits of hugs, smiles, friendship, laughter and gratitude, click here!

2 comments:

52 Faces said...

This is so true! I'm so glad you posted this - I also worked with the ASPCA in NYC (where I'm from). I'm an "expectant foster mother" right now; we're thisclose to getting a foster dog and I'm so excited :)

Anonymous said...

My own dog makes my life so much better than it otherwise would be. Just watching her play with a toy fills my heart with joy.