More Evidence Of Pet Owner Health Benefits

WCCO's Dennis Douda reports on the growing body of evidence that having a pet has positive benefits for your health. That concept is no mystery to cat owner Nancy Eickoff.

"They know you're having a bad day and just sit next to you and it really just creates a calmness," said Eickoff, owner of an 11-year-old cat named Nala.

"It's the human-animal bond," said Veterinarian R.K. Anderson, who helped to found CENSHARE at the University of Minnesota more than 30 years ago.

CENSHARE (Center to Study Human Animal Relationships and Environments) is a center dedicated to supporting and collecting research on the many positive effects pets have on people.

Anderson believes "It's [how animals are] non-judgmental and always being there for you."


Here's the story and video:

Local Video from WCCO in Minneapolis/St. Paul

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[mdalerwill]

He is pretty smart, opens doors.....
Posted by wvu74621 at 2:39 AM : Mar 11, 2009

Finally, someone else who has had this experience. I could never convince people that my college roommate's Irish wolfhound was opening the doors. It was especially easy for him as the doors had handles instead of knobs and he had already met AKC regulation height for a showdog at something like 6 months old (they grow until about age 3). He also knew how to turn on the hose. I caught him watching me more than once...studying me...while I turned on the hose to water the backyard. It wasn't long before we'd come home to find the backyard flooded every few days.

[cheetah-man7]

Animals are amazing! I can be very stressed out by a bad day or something and my two cats have an uncanny way of calming me down almost immediately. Listening to them purr and petting them really allows me to center myself better and I find that I real do feel better! I also do volunteer work at a local animal shelter and it is indeed the best part of my week when I work my shifts there. I am a firm believer in the power of animals in our lives and hope that everyone who can have a pet will consider adopting a cat or dog from their shelter. The animals there are wonderful and just want to love you !

[mdalerwill]

Posted by davicar2 at 10:00 AM : Mar 10, 2009

Morning, Vic. I see your sense of humor is all warmed up. I'm hoping for a more enjoyable dialogue than all the religious arguing yesterday. :)

[mdalerwill]

I think long-term pet owners have known this for a long time. What is even more interesting is the research being done in Britain on the ability of dogs to sense cancer in their owners. So far, results have found that most dogs can do this, but some breeds are better at it than others. I also recall a story about a cat here in the States that lives in a nursing home. He does his rounds and gets his attention. However, he also seems to be able to sense the approach of death and will go to the person near passing and stay with them until they are gone. I would assume he is sensing something a little too fine for human senses, perhaps a smell from altered body chemistry.

[mjvwsr]

"Growing Evidence Of Pet Health Benefits"

doesn't anyone at cbs read before they post a story? somehow I don't think we're talking about your pets health benefits

[fideoo]

"...having a pet has positive benefits for your health.", unless you have allergies like me xD