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Caregivers, What Are The Therapeutic Benefits of YOU Owing A Pet?
The therapeutic benefits of owning a pet or spending times with animals has been shared and discussed many times within the forums – but usually from the patients perspective. It has been my experience that animals can provide just as much emotional support to caregivers.
I discussed this in my recent column. Click the title to read: “Pets Can Help Care For The Caregiver“.
Caregivers and family members, how do your pets comfort you? Have they helped you through bad PH days and life’s ups and downs too?
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12 Replies
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I love this column in many ways, @colleensteele. You shared how your family pets rely on you and the benefits and love between a pet and its owners.
Sasha has been such a calming part of our lives. She missed me, and I missed her unconditional love and support, too. I remember walking in the door after my COVID hospitalization and Sasha crying and almost knocking me down.
In one of my early columns, I shared how Sasha saved me. I will link that here in case anyone wants to read it, too.
Pets are used in nursing homes and hospitals as therapy. I’ve seen them work wonders on patients of all ages.
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Thank you @Jen. I am so happy that you have your sweet little Sasha. Think about what else our fur babies do for us…they give us something heartwarming to write about!
@jenc forgot to add the link to the column she wrote about Sasha. Here it is:
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Aww, thanks again, @colleensteele, for adding that important link. You are such a saving grace. What would I do without you?
Yes, they give us plenty to do, including loving them and writing about them, that’s for sure.
I thought of @traceyaustralianmigration-co-za when I was typing just now and her love of her fur baby.
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@jenc it is such a heartwarming column so I wanted to make sure everyone gets a chance to read it. I love the bond you and Sasha have!
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I adopted a 3 year old cat last week from a shelter! It was a very spontaneous decision. I have never lived without a pet and when I moved from WA to NJ I had to leave my (really my youngest son’s) dog and cat with him in WA. I’ve felt lonely without a fur baby in my life. I woke up one day, got dressed and said to myself, “Go adopt a cat,” and so I did! (I did ask my parents permission first since I am living with them and they were all for it!)
No regrets! She is a pretty tuxedo cat named Madison (Maddy for short), and I think it’s up for debate who needed who more. On stressful days just petting her for a few minutes can lower my blood pressure and calm my nerves.
Caregivers…tell us about your pets!
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Aww, I’m so happy to hear about Maddy. I know you had several dogs and your cat. It’s painful not having them.
When I was struggling hard before my most recent hospitalization, Manny rehomed our Zoe. I was so upset, but he didn’t tell me because he knew I would find all the more reasons to keep her. That hospitalization was the first not coming g home to a fur baby in years.
Unfortunately, Manny was right. He was so scared that I would be walking her and pass out. He noticed how much I struggled after shorter walks. She went to live with a nice family with a big yard and now has a younger brother to play with.
Does your parents also enjoy her? I know cats are often kept in Alzheimer’s units as support animals.
How are things going this week? Did you and Maddy girl bond and get some rest over the Memorial Day weekend? She is too cute! I love the picture. Will she be joining our calls like your cat before? 😏
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@jen-cueva I can relate to how emotional you must have felt rehoming Zoe but I also understand the necessity of it. I didn’t bring my Husky out here for similar reasons. My Husky remained in WA because she is too large a dog and has too much energy to be around my parents. I worried she would be tripping or knocking them over. I also left the cat back in WA with Aidan because her and the dog are best friends and I didn’t want to separate them.
Maddie is doing great! She is so affectionate and well behaved. My parents are enjoying her as much as I am!
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Aww, I know you relate, @Colleen. Our fur babies become our children. They are so great at comforting us when we need them most. Speaking of comfort, I hope you have the day off next Wednesday and have some self-care or something special planned.
It is great to hear that your parents are enjoying your Madiie girl. My neighbor’s 3-year-old daughter is Maddi, and I call her our Madi Girl! Hearing her innocent laughter, energy, and smiles makes any day better, too.
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@colleensteele Mandy is precious- love the picture. She us so alert. So happy for you and your parents that you adopted her. It is impossible to replace a fur baby – you cannot, you can only add to your home and your life if it is possible.
Dick snd I were both so lost when our beloved Golden, Spirit, died. Spirit gave Dick a purpose outside of caregiving, he gave Dick such peaceful love. Whenever my health issues got worse or I was in the hospital, Spirit was there for Dick – right next to him giving him love, showing Dick he was not alone.
After Spirit died we knew we wanted to add more love. I thought it would be better if we got an older dog as I was going to be 80 and Dick 85! YIKES! Well Dick won out and we got a puppy, a white Golden we named Cloud.
Like Jen’s and Manny’s Zoe Cloud was/is a hand full and if Dick hadcto be at work every day, I would not be able to handle this tornado. It turns out we did not have to rehome Cloud and he has calmed down and is a loving soul who brings us such joy and laughter. That is what our fur babies do.
If anything happens to us Cloud does have a home with my cousin who is a vet.
Our fur babies do so much for the patient and for the caregiver! 🐕🐈⬛🐶🐱❤️
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Aww, Cloud is such a handsome young fellow. I am happy to hear that some of his tornado energy has calmed down. I bet daycare and getting him out and active a few times per week help. But yes, it is such hard work with a puppy as we must train and wear them down. Zoe wore me down much faster than I could wear her out. Hehe.
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@Carol Volckmann I remember when you adopted Cloud and your concerns with her puppy energy. It sounds like she turned out to be the perfect dog after all! I’m so happy for the 3 of you!
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Sorry Colleen, I meant Maddy! I love that name! 😊
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