A life with pets

There are days and there are days.

This past break from work was one of those days. Having to deal with a few work-related issues, asking an immediate boss what the best ways were to handle them, and being a person who would much rather deal with the paperwork associated with a job than discuss issues with co-workers — as is my wont — I escaped into reading. It clears the mind… it clears my mind for sure.

A topic worth reading

As I sat and began, I came across an article by the American Heart Association (AHA) on five ways pets help with stress and mental health.

A favorite topic, I thought, as Lexie, the mini-schnauzer, lay beside me, sensing the stress I seemed to be going through.

Pets can reduce work-related stress, the AHA study began. Did you know that two out of three employees say work stresses them out, and 40 percent say their job gets in the way of their health? Studies show that pets help reduce stress and improve employee satisfaction.

The study goes on to note that pets can help increase productivity.

I know this to be true because whenever a dog joins a virtual meeting, not only does the meeting perk up, but the study added that group members rank their teammates higher on trust, team cohesion and camaraderie.

There is also that smile from meeting members, especially during stressful discussions. It must be true, as the study said, that pets help manage anxiety.

Now more than ever, many people are feeling anxious or struggling with mental health (I am in my 60s, and the words mental health belong to the younger generation, right?).

But believe me, pets provide a feeling of companionship and support. They are also so cute, helping a smile pause the stressful discussion.

The study adds that pets provide a sense of togetherness. The bond with a pet helps you not feel alone. When owners see, touch, hear, or talk to their companion animals, it brings a sense of goodwill, joy, nurturing and happiness.

This is true for people who are pet lovers like me, although I have encountered a few folks who don’t like pets. Just like life, we learn to deal with all sorts.

It can be done

For those of us who value physical health just as much as mental and all other health, I stood up from my reading materials as Lexie signaled it was time for a walk.

Yes, any dog guardian knows that the daily walk adds up — for both heart health and mental clarity. Did you know that dog owners who walk their pets are over 2.5 times more likely to meet the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week to enhance their health compared to non-dog owners?

Plus, studies have shown that dog walking calms your brain, activating relaxing brain pathways and reducing stress-related nerve activity.

In other words, walking with your dog may have a more relaxing effect on the brain than walking alone.

Living alone

Lexie and her brother Boris (the schnauzer), Grogu (the poodle), and the seven rescues and two exotic cats I live with eliminate the loneliness that I (sometimes) experience.

Companion animals provide routine, presence and non-judgmental companionship — which is particularly powerful for older adults and people living alone.

A study showed that among adults aged 60 and older, pet owners were 36 percent less likely to report loneliness compared to non-pet owners, and animal-assisted therapy in long-term care settings has also been shown to reduce loneliness.

I attribute the help in alleviating loneliness to the creation of a daily routine for my pet companions.

Feeding, walking and pet care create a structure — something especially protective during stressful life periods.

Pets enforce routine in a way no alarm clock can: their needs are immediate and emotionally compelling, giving owners a daily sense of being needed.

A life alone

I come from a big family. We were nine when I joined my family in the 1960s.

The year is 2026 — my parents and two siblings have gone to the next life. My other siblings have families of their own, and another brother is in the religious life.

And me? I have chosen single blessedness.

And yes, pets have often provided quiet stability during times of loss, offering routine, comfort and a non-judgmental presence when words feel hard.

Sometimes all I need is the look of pure love a pet gives.

“My dog was the person who was with me all the time. I think just having that soul there who can’t say anything so it’s like you know they’re not saying the right or wrong thing, they’re just there.”

That quality of presence, uncomplicated and completely consistent, is something even the most well-meaning humans often struggle to sustain.

Back to now

Animals are by nature creatures of the immediate — they live in the now.

I have often been brought back to the present as I watched the furbabies so engrossed in the present.

I watch Lexie investigate a scent trail or Mr. Gizmo (the long-haired exotic cat) stretch into a patch of sunlight, and it gently draws me into the present moment.

This matters because the human mind tends to do the opposite — it drifts…

So here I am, back in the present. Tasks to do.