Top Dog
The late Charles Schultz Peanuts comic strip character, Snoopy is not the only famous and beloved beagle.  The top dog, Miss P won best in show at the 2015 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The 15-inch beagle reached the pinnacle of the dog world as the second beagle to take to win the prestigious dog show recently held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Wearing H & M Scuba-look stripe top over Lafayette 148 grey wool dress, Seychelles suede shoes. Jewelry: Daivid Yurman charm bracelet/cable bracelets and Stella and Dot silver lariat necklace.
Wearing H & M Scuba-look stripe top over Lafayette 148 grey wool dress, Seychelles suede shoes. Jewelry: Daivid Yurman charm bracelet/cable bracelets and Stella and Dot silver lariat necklace.

Did you know there are health benefits to owning a pet?  The American Heart Association has linked the ownership of pets, especially dogs with a reduced risk for heart disease and greater longevity.

“A pet is a medication without side effects that has so many benefits. I can’t always explain it myself, but for years now I’ve seen how instances of having a pet is like an effective drug.  It really does help people.”  Dr Edward Creagan, Oncologist at Mayo Clinic

Miss P, 2015 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show winner
Miss P, 2015 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show winner

Research has shown time and again that there are positive benefits to having a pet in the home when you’re going through a health crisis, dealing with a chronic disease or just companionship.  The positive benefits are true for all age groups, from young children through adults. Pets are a source of comfort and unconditional love.  A true companion at any time you might need it!   Having a pet can also give you a sense of safety and security. Be reminded of some of all of benefits of pet ownership on the info graph below:

Benefits of Pet Ownership: Include health benefits, companionship, home security,increased social interaction, responsibility, entertainment.

Photo Credit: The Dog Training Secret The Benefits of Owning a Dog
Photo Credit: The Dog Training Secret
The Benefits of Owning a Dog

I know I don’t need to remind you of how intelligent our canine creatures are. Assistance or service dogs serve such a wonderful purpose in assisting people with disabilities. The following quote sums up very nicely, what they represent “Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.  Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people whoo are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during ann anxiety attack, or performing other duties.  Service animals are working animals not pets.  The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability”.

An example of how our pets love us:  According to a September 13, 2012, article by the New York Daily News, Michael Guzman died in 2006 and was buried in Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina.  Shortly after the death of its owner, the family dog disappeared. Capitán, a German Shepherd mix, was given to the family by a fired about year earlier. A few days later the dog went missing, the family went to visit Guzmán’s grave, and to their surprise.  Capitán was spotted by the family next to the father’s  grave.  The family had no idea how the dog found the grave.

 

For the past 6 years, a German shepherd called Captain has next to the grave pf his owner every night at 6 pm.
For the past 6 years, a German shepherd  mix called Capitán has slept next to the grave pf his owner every night at 6 pm.

Aren’t dogs amazing? Guess you can tell I am a dog lover? Have you heard about the dog that rode the bus by himself to go to a dog park?  That was a black Labrador from Seattle named Eclipse.  Eclipse became a regular fixture on the city’s D-Line after she figured out to ride the bus alone to the dog park. According to Lindsay Cohen’s article, the two-year old doesn’t always ride the bus alone.  She visits the dog park a few times a week, sometimes with and without her owner.

Based on the two dog examples, here we see dedication to the dead owner and determination to get to that dog park.  The character of our fury friends continue to remind us that dog’s truly are “man’s best friend”.

Seattle Labrador learned how to ride bus solo to dog park.
Seattle Labrador learned how to ride bus solo to dog park.

Oh how we love our pets.  I recently saw on Instagram, National Love Your Pet Day. Another unofficial national holiday that is set aside to give extra attention to and pamper our pets that we love everyday.  I say, we don’t need an unofficial day to recognize our pets. The love our pets provide, I know we show them love every day.

When I learned about National Love Your Pet Day on Instagram I couldn’t help but notice pets especially dogs have a presence on social media. Dogs have their own hashtages, for one, the dogs of Instagram with 1.3 million followers…need I say more.

My beloved Elmo, an English Springer Spaniel passed away in 2005.  I still have Elmo’s pedigree papers from the American Kennel Club.  My top dog was my third child that I missed even now, nine years later. Even if you are not a dog lover, I hope the enjoyment of owning a pet brings tremendous joy to your life.

My English Springer Spaniel, Elmo "Spot" Hargrove 1992 -2005
My Top Dog, English Springer Spaniel, Elmo Spot Hargrove 1992 -2005

Have a great week!

eugenia_siggy