Get healthy, get a dog

I don’t know if your email inbox looks like mine, but I get an awful lot of junk mail. Yesterday when I was going through my emails, I happened upon a health letter from the Harvard Medical School. The title on the letter was “Get Healthy, Get a Dog.” At last, I finally got an email worth reading. The study was published in Science magazine and it is a gem.

Did you know that owning a dog can help your heart? Pet ownership, especially having a dog, is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Owning a dog can be part of an overall strategy to lower the risk of heart disease. This is only one of the benefits explored by this study.

Several of the topics covered included physical activity, cardiovascular benefits, reduced asthma and allergies in kids, psychological benefits and benefits to dogs from human contact.

I am aware of the physical activity aspect because I have walked daily with my dog for years. It’s always a treat going out with an enthusiastic partner who views each walk as an adventure. I like to think of it as walking meditation or medication, because it really is calming and peaceful.

I have met more great folks through my dog. Nothing is more appealing than an adorable dog wagging his tail and genuinely being thrilled to see you. The folks at the dog park can attest to the social aspect of dog ownership. It’s funny how everyone knows the dogs names right away but learns the owner’s name later.

Another important benefit is the psychological aspect. Just looking into your dogs eyes increases oxytocin, the so-called love hormone in both owner and pet. This helps strengthen the bond between the two. How cool is that?

If you would be interested in looking at this report go to: http://www.health.harvard.edu and type “get healthy, get a dog” in the search box. You have nothing to lose and health to gain.

WHO’S WHO AT CAPS?

Thank you to Steve Noyes for his very generous artistic donation and to all the individuals who contributed the basket fillers for our silent auction. A special thanks goes to the Hearts of Gold Quilters for the cat and dog hanging panels. They were beautiful! For supporting CAPS by selling tickets, we also want to thank: Jeff’s Digitex Printing, Mutts, Etc, 3-Dimension Shipping; and Flower Tree Nursery. Your commitment to our no-kill shelter is awesome. It is truly wonderful the amount of caring and support our community shares. All of the two-legged and four-legged critters at CAPS salute you!

WHO’S NEW AT THE CAPS’ ZOO?

We have two adorable puppies and three playful kitties ready for new homes. Policy, however, prohibits adopting out puppies or kittens under the age of six months to a home with children under five years of age. This is to protect both the children and the animal.

CAPS’ NEWS AND EVENTS

Great news! Our 2016 Happy Endings calendar has arrived. It can be purchased at the following locations: Mutts Etc, 3-Dimension Shipping, Flower Tree Nursery, and the CAPS shelter.

CAPS will be at Walmart on Nov. 21, along with Ki and Urtle at our Kissin’ Booth. Come by and join their fan club. We have the 2016 Happy Endings calendar, shirts and caps, so please check them out before or after greeting our canine volunteers.

Flower Tree Nursery is again raffling a 15-gallon tree of your choice. The raffle tickets are available at Flower Tree, and they are $1 for one ticket and $5 for six tickets. Be sure to get your tickets soon. The drawing date will be Dec. 6, and the winner doesn’t have to be present to win.

CAPS’ mailing address is P.O. Box 5128, Fallon, NV 89407. CAPS’ phone number is 775-423-7500. Please visit the CAPS website (www.capsnv.org) and Facebook page (Churchill Animal Protection Society). Be sure to “Like” CAPS on Facebook because we are really likable.

Do you have questions, comments or a great story? Contact me jkwmil@outlook.com.

Kathleen Williams-Miller, a CAPS volunteer, contributed this week’s column.