The Verdict is in: Pets are Priceless

I’m often asked how much different dog breeds are worth. It’s
funny how some people want to place a dollar value on their pet.
Truth is, a good companion’s value can’t be measured in money.
There’s so much more to it than that. Here’s why.
I’m often asked how much different dog breeds are worth. It’s funny how some people want to place a dollar value on their pet. Truth is, a good companion’s value can’t be measured in money. There’s so much more to it than that. Here’s why.

 A news report out of Southern California stated that medical research had shown that pet ownership is good for one’s health. This isn’t exactly earth-shaking news. Previous studies all over the world have reported this before. But the Los Angeles report had numbers to back up its conclusion. The numbers showed that those of us who share life with a furry or feathered friend are physically healthier.

Researchers in this study interviewed persons who had recently lost a spouse or “significant other” and divided these people into two groups. One group was made up of individuals who owned a dog or cat. The other consisted of those who had no pet. The findings were remarkable.

During this emotional time of loss, pet owners visited their own medical doctor 21 percent less than those people with no animal companion. Pet owners needed less medical assistance than individuals without pets. An animal companion in the home eased the pain of mourning. It showed that a good pet can help us through almost any emotional trauma.

Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Ask anyone with a favorite couch companion and he or she will tell you how nice it is to be greeted by a loyal furry friend at home. Pet owners look forward to getting home at the end of the day to be greeted by their dog or cat. Rumpy-the-cat is usually the first to meet me when I get home. One of our favorite moments is midday, when I can walk in the door, grab a bite to eat and then snuggle down on the couch for a quick snooze with him purring on my lap.

Pets are good for us psychologically. I say they’re even therapeutic. And even though there are different ideas as to why, pet companionship has one undeniably huge benefit. That is, pets give us unconditional love.

Sure, we’re entertained by the funny antics of a kitten or a puppy. And of course we like the security of having a dog around the house. But the biggest reward we receive from a pet is unrequited affection. Good day or bad, in sickness or in health, a pet is always there waiting, happy to see us when we come home. And dogs and cats seem to know how to calm frayed nerves and smooth over a harsh moment. Unconditional love. It’s always there with a good dog or cat.

But all this comes with a price. As much as a pet’s companionship helps us, old age changes and illness can almost be devastating, particularly when we are faced with the decision of euthanasia. We’ve discussed this before in this column. It’s one of life’s more difficult moments. And veterinarians daily try to help people decide when euthanasia is the best answer for their geriatric companion.

Euthanasia is a monumental decision for any pet owner.  There is real pain is for the family losing such a devoted pet. Each time I help someone make this decision, I’m reminded of my family’s furry friends lost over the years. Zooey, Midnight, Doc, Opie, Pebbles, Wayne. Our family misses them all. We remember how they made us laugh when we were having a bad day. They gave our family unconditional love every single day. Unknowingly, they made us all better persons by taking some of the stress out of our lives. That’s what pets do for all of us. An owner’s grief is buffered by memories. All that love. All the companionship. How lucky we are when we share life with that special kitty-cat or dog.

So if anyone ever asks me how much I think someone’s pet is worth, I have a quick answer. All pets are priceless.

On another note

The San Benito County Fair is here this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If you have time, you should get over to the fairgrounds in Bolado Park just outside Hollister. This is Americana at its best; great exhibits, lots of farm animals and all those corn dogs and caramel apples! Hope to see you there!

And finally, I visited a special friend last Wednesday in San Luis Obispo. Author and college professor Dave Congalton has been hosting an afternoon talk show for many years on KVEC in SLO. I was his guest last Wednesday, taking calls for two hours from listeners asking questions about their pet cats, dogs, llamas, rabbits and fish. We even had a caller ask about his tortoise. If you want to hear a podcast of this show, go to www.920kvec.com and click the link to podcasts. It was fun, educational and entertaining. A real petpourri!