Why Dogs Are Better Than Therapy

Petting dogs has been proven to be good for health.

It was one of those days in our house where an argument was hanging in the air like a gas leak — just waiting for a spark.

Like most houses, the combustion — when it inevitably came — was not the kind that lifts the roof off. More like a sustained rumble of muttered asides and one-word answers.

Then my daughter walked in and asked a question that changed everything: “Where’s Polly?”

Polly is one of the two yellow labs who share our home with us — the other is her brother, Stuart. Unlike Stuart, who knows a good thing when he sees it, Polly tends to heed the call of the wild. All it takes is an open door, and the wolf-voice says, “Go for it.”

After a quick and fruitless check under the table, we scrambled like fighter pilots to find Polly. Check the upstairs; check the yard; get the leash; call the neighbors; grab the dog treats. Move, move, move!

My last snappy comeback in the ebb and flow of our suspended argument was shelved. I made a note to save it. It was good.

As usual, Polly turned up an hour or so into our frantic search, not too far from the house. She bounded up to us with great surprise and joy — “It’s so cool that we would run into each other like this.”

It’s amazing how these limpid-eyed, flop-eared creatures change a family.

What is it about the light snoring at the foot of the chair, the chorus of alarm that a squirrel has breached the perimeter, or the clip, clip, clip of paws across a kitchen floor?

I have my own theory.

As a parent with a son on his own and a daughter tumbling into her teen years, dogs are like having eternal two-year-olds around the house — everything is love, everything is great, and every toy — even one with the squeaky long ago ripped from its innards — is a wondrous discovery.

Of course, there are more scientific thoughts on the matter.

Perhaps it’s simply biophilia — an oddly scary term for an interesting idea: We are genetically programmed to interact with nature. It’s an instinctive search for connection with other living things. It’s the reason we run back into a smoke-filled house to save the hamster.

It might explain the soothing effect of a dog in our lives: why petting them has been proven to lower blood pressure and elevate moods; why a major study showed that heart-attack patients with dogs were eight times as likely to be alive a year later than patients who are dog-deprived.

Maybe it also explains why dog slobber is not as disgusting as it should be and why we trail dutifully behind them, plastic grocery bag at the ready. It’s all part of the natural order of things.

With Polly safely back under the table, Stuart sprawled out on the floor, and things returned to normal, I was ready to stoke the argument with that snappy comeback I had saved for later.

The problem was, I couldn’t remember it.

For more by this author, visit PeggyDrexler.com

Originally published on HuffingtonPost.com.

Photo credit: monggoy

Animals and People, Saving Each Other

I watched a stirring video on YouTube last month. A team of whale advocates and scientists in the Sea of Cortez in Mexico came across a humpback whale hopelessly entangled in a gill net, disabling the animal so severely that she could not have survived much longer without intervention. One member of the team swam over to her and tried to disentangle her. Eventually, the team pulled the boat beside her, and everyone labored to cut away the net and free her, fin by fin— celebrating after more than a half-hour of cutting and straining to finally allowing the leviathan to swim. The whale was gentle during the ordeal, even though she was in a life-threatening situation with people she did not know. She quickly learned these people were friends, and they were trying to help.

The team stuck around to bask in the wonder of the encounter and soon got a second surprise – a display worthy of any July 4th celebration. It wasn’t a fireworks show, but a display of breaching and splashing that signaled to the team that this whale was not only euphoric but deeply appreciative. You can judge for yourself by watching the full video here. (If you come across an injured marine mammal or other wild animal, your first response should be to contact personnel with a marine mammal stranding or rescue center).

In our field, there are people who save animals every day, though not that often the biggest animals who have ever lived on the planet. But what many people don’t realize is that animals exhibit some mighty acts of altruism toward us, too. It’s not uncommon for us to read in the papers about dogs fending off an intruder or alerting a family to a fire in the middle of the night.

But wild animals have also been known to come to our aid. In “The Bond,” I wrote about several of these stories, such as a pod of dolphins in New Zealand who protected a group of swimmers from a great white shark in 2004. The dolphins herded the swimmers together and formed a circle around them, slapping their tails and keeping the shark at bay until a rescue boat arrived.

Another rescue that captivated people around the world took place at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago in 1996, and I open the second chapter in the book with this story. A 3-year-old boy climbed a fence and tumbled nearly 20 feet into a pit, hitting his head and falling unconscious. Not only was he injured, but he had fallen into an enclosure with seven lowland gorillas — powerful animals who can grow to be more than 400 pounds. But as the crowd watched, a mother gorilla named Binti Jua gently picked up the boy and carried him to the door of the exhibit, where zookeepers and emergency personnel could reach him. The child received treatment and recovered, and Binti Jua was hailed as a hero.

You can find many other accounts of dolphins saving swimmers, dogs and cats alerting their families to danger, and other animals such as parrots and horses helping people in trouble. These acts of bravery and selflessness are another reminder of how much we have in common with animals, and how much people have often underestimated the intelligence, emotions and altruism of other creatures.

For more on the special relationship between animals and humans, visit http://hsus.typepad.com/.

Photo credit: Tim Vreiling

Dairy Industry Cruelty: One of Agriculture’s Best Kept Secrets

The cruelty inflicted upon calves in the dairy industry is one of agribusiness’s best kept secrets. Many consumers might assume that because cows are not slaughtered directly for their milk, dairy products are somehow less inhumane. What many consumers aren’t aware of is that when they purchase milk, cheese or other dairy products, they are contributing to a brutal cycle of suffering for countless calves. In order for a cow to produce milk, she has to have a calf, and those calves are taken away from their mothers immediately after birth. Half of those calves are male, and they’re often used in veal production.

More and more Americans are beginning to understand these realities of factory farming and are taking a stand. Earlier this month, we were excited to report that after thousands of citizens in Ohio spoke out against the cruel confinement of veal calves, livestock officials voted to reverse an earlier decision and give calves more room to move.

But following on the heels of this important step forward for calves, comes a shocking new investigative video by Mercy for Animals. Reminding us that there is still much work to be done, the video depicts workers at a dairy calf farm in Texas subjecting young cows to horrific abuse, bludgeoning them with pickaxes and beating and neglecting them. The video is a poignant look at the horrific lives of calves born into the dairy industry.

Over the years, Farm Sanctuary and others have documented the cruel conditions of factory farms, including at a veal farm in Wisconsin. Our “Behind the Mustache” video gives a behind-the-scenes look at the California dairy industry. It’s videos like these that have helped create change in laws and policies for farm animals and inspire citizens to reconsider their diets and take action. We’re confident that Mercy for Animals’ powerful new video will help further the animals’ cause.

Since Farm Sanctuary’s inception, my colleagues and I have conducted numerous visits to farms, stockyards and slaughterhouses to document conditions. Exposing animal abuse through photos and videos is a powerful tool and agribusiness is well aware of that fact. I recently wrote about two state bills, in Florida and Iowa, which would criminalize the documentation of “animal facilities.” Since then, similar legislation has been introduced in Minnesota.

In light of these videos and photographs, the agriculture industry is fighting hard to keep consumers in the dark about where their food really comes from. That’s why it’s important that we use these investigations as tools to educate our communities and show lawmakers the importance of revealing abuse. I hope you’ll use these resources to help create change.

Photo credit: NDSU Ag Communication

“Vegan America” is Closer Than You Think

Thousands of years ago, Hippocrates, the founder of western medicine, said, “Let food be thy medicine.” Tragically, the way most Americans eat, food is more like poison, making us sick and killing us prematurely. Heart disease and cancer are the nation’s top killers, and the risks of both can be reduced by eating plants instead of animal products. Removing meat, milk and eggs from the menu also prevents animal suffering and goes a long way toward lightening our environmental footprint. People are finally recognizing the profound impacts of their food choices, and we are now in the midst of a burgeoning food movement.

We read about it daily – more and more people are eating local and organic, going vegetarian and even vegan. I want to see it for myself, so I’m out on a three week, cross-country adventure to explore “vegan America.” It’s called the Just Eats Tour and you can follow along daily here.

The Just Eats Tour is part of Farm Sanctuary’s 25^th anniversary. We were founded in 1986 to combat the abuses of factory farming and to promote plant based eating. In the early years, we funded the organization by selling veggie hot dogs out of an old VW van at Grateful Dead concerts. Farm Sanctuary is now America’s leading farm animal protection organization, supported by more than 230,000 citizens across the United States.

We work to educate people about the animal cruelty and other abuses of factory farming, and believe that most people, when provided with information, will make healthier, more humane and environmentally sustainable choices. We also advocate for legal reforms, and although the laws are still grossly inadequate, we have been able to pass groundbreaking legislation to lessen the suffering of animals exploited by the food industry. And, we operate sanctuaries in New York and California where we care for nearly 1,000 chickens, turkeys, pigs, cows and other rescued farm animals. Once they come to Farm Sanctuary, the animals are treated like our friends, not our food. We encourage people to consider adopting vegan lifestyles, and we disseminate information like this fun video we recently released to expose the environmental impacts of animal agriculture.

I’ve been vegan since 1985, and it is great to see a growing interest in this lifestyle, especially in the past couple of years. People are coming to it for diverse reasons – health, spirituality, a desire to live gently on the earth or to prevent animal suffering. Among those who have moved toward eating plants instead of animals are: Bill Clinton, Natalie Portman, Woody Harrelson, Mike Tyson, Lea Michelle, Steve Wynn, Mary Tyler Moore, Alicia Silverstone, Russell Simmons, Ellen DeGeneres, Jesse Eisenberg, Biz Stone, John Mackey and Prince Fielder. Vegans still comprise a small percentage of the U.S. population, but our numbers are growing.

The Just Eats Tour began at a black tie gala in New York City at Cipriani’s on Wall Street on May 14^th and three weeks later we’ll arrive at Farm Sanctuary’s shelter in Orland, California for our annual Hoe Down on June 4^th. Along the way, we’ll visit big cities and rural communities. We’ll speak with chefs, business owners, entrepreneurs, fitness experts, celebrities and everyday heroes who are exploring vegan living. We’ll be posting recipes, videos, photos and other resources. We also want you to share your recipes on our website, and we encourage you to take the Vegan Challenge.

We hope this tour will help Americans better recognize the impacts of their food choices, learn about positive alternatives, and ultimately, choose healthier, more humane and sustainable options. You can keep up with the Just Eats Tour daily by checking our website at www.justeatstour.org.

Lessons Learned From a Feline Friend

by Djanira Cortesão

Three years ago, Shani was born on the streets: homeless, struggling for food, with no one to take care of or love her. She was dirty, cold and faced scary obstacles every day. Her luck turned when she was picked up by a cat rescue shelter and lived there, still not knowing if she’d find a home of her own or what her future would hold.

Despite this inauspicious start to life, she has grown into a confident, healthy and very wise cat. I’ve had the pleasure of her company for almost three years now, since I adopted her from the shelter.

In that time, Shani has taught me so much about how to look after and love myself. Cats, like all animals, are great teachers because they are deeply tuned in to their intuition, they trust their instincts and they don’t overanalyze things.

Here are six key lessons Shani has taught me about living well.

Sleep is a Beautiful Thing
We’ve all heard that sleep is essential for optimum health and well-being. Yet millions of people do not get enough sleep and many suffer from lack of sleep. In addition to getting at least eight hours sleep each night, Shani makes sure to take plenty of cat naps throughout the day. I’ve followed her example by making sure I get my eight hours at night and the odd siesta when I need an extra boost. I’m happy to say that it’s made a big difference in my energy levels.

Stretch Throughout the Day
Stretching provides multiple benefits to the body, from improved circulation, posture and relaxation to decreased muscle tension and soreness. I often failed to stretch regularly, thinking that it was only worthwhile if I did a long stretching session. Watching Shani, I noticed that she stretches out every time she gets up or changes position. I’m sure this is what keeps her so flexible. I’ve copied her and made stretching a habit that I practice throughout the day. When I get up from my computer, for example, I stretch up and then stretch out my wrists and shake my hands. It’s stopped me from feeling so sore at the end of the day.

Have a Healthy Curiosity for Everything New
Shani loves to explore and is super curious about everything that comes into the house. She takes a good old sniff of any bags I bring in, and shoes are another of her favorites. I try to constantly challenge myself to learn new things and try new experiences. For instance, I wanted to improve my communication skills so I could improve the marketing workshops I give. So I joined my local Toastmasters club. I have gained confidence and my students report that the workshops are more fun and that I make hard concepts easy to understand. Plus, I’ve made lots of new friends at Toastmasters.

Make Life More Fun
This is my favorite lesson of all. I noticed that Shani is constantly playing and makes everything into a game. When she doesn’t have a toy to play with, she’ll chase her tail. Now, Shani is a smart cat; she knows it’s her tail. But she’s willing to pretend just so she can have fun. I thought about how I could incorporate this sense of fun into my own life.

Live in the Moment
This is the most important lesson that I have learned. We’ve all heard of this concept, but how do we achieve it? Shani does it by living life on purpose and doing everything with vigor. From playing with toys to chasing birds to sleeping soundly, she gives it her all. She never tries to multitask and sneak in some exercise or playing while she’s munching on her biscuits. I used to be the queen of multitasking, and I believed it made me more efficient. I’ve now been practicing the art of being present and focused, giving every moment my all. I work on one task at a time. I’ve found that this focus has actually made me more productive and produces better quality results. It’s also more motivating, because once I finish one task, I can move on to the next with a feeling of achievement, rather than having several unfinished tasks that I’m working on at one time.

Don’t Let Your Past Hold You Back
Shani never gave up on life and love, even when it seemed like no one wanted her. She instead immediately accepted my love and never dwelled on the past. So many of us have pasts that hold on to us and make us feel like we’re not good enough or deserving of great things. But if we instead accept our past, and thank it for the gifts and life lessons it has given us, we can move forward and know that we are deserving of amazing, wonderful things every single day – just like Shani!

So What’s the Big Picture?
What do I want you to take away from this? It’s that no matter what happened in your past, it’s the way you live life now that matters. What you do today is creating your future, and if you can follow these key lessons I’ve learned from observing Shani – sleep well, stretch often, be curious, have fun, live with vigor and let go of the past – then you’ll be well on your way to a happy and healthy life.

Djanira Cortesão helps extraordinary service providers reach their ideal clients, unlock hidden revenue streams and grow their businesses organically. She offers group workshops and one-on-one mentoring, as well as insightful marketing newsletters and articles.

Photo credit: alternakive