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A Dog Is a Kid’s Best Friend Too
By Christina Quick | March 26, 2008
No wonder Lassie’s boy Timmy always looked so rosy. A new study from Israel suggests dogs may make children healthier.
The medical benefits of animal ownership have long been recognized in adults. But not much has been said in the past about the effects of pets on children.
Researchers in Jerusalem recently found that kids who have dogs are generally healthier and react better under pressure than those who don’t. In one portion of the study, children were subjected to a stressful test situation as their blood pressure was monitored. Those whose families owned dogs maintained the lowest blood pressure.
Our six-month-old Sheltie, Buddy, is so popular the kids argue over who gets to play with him. I don’t know what that does for their blood pressure, but my husband and I are pretty sure it doesn’t help ours. Still, there is something about the unconditional love of a dog that makes life a little nicer.
How do pets enrich your life?
Topics: In the news |
