Society wins when children taught to respect animals
Special to the Star-Herald
Children learn by example. Have you ever stopped to listen to yourself? Do you ever refer, even in jest, to your pet as a dumb animal? It is so very important to live by and teach the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” That isn’t just about people; it includes all other living beings. Studies show that a disregard for an animal’s life can possibly lead to a disregard for life in general, even a human life. Margaret Mead, Ph.D stated that “one of the most dangerous things that can happen to a child is to kill or torture an animal and get away with it.”
We must teach our children kindness by setting a good example. Don’t yell hurtful things to your animals; never hit animals; show that you value the lives of animals by being patient with them and being responsible pet owners; and include animals in your life as a part of the family.
“Children trained to extend justice, kindness and mercy to animals become more just, kind and considerate in their relations to each other. Character training along these lines will result in men and women of broader sympathies; more humane, more law-abiding, in every respect more valuable citizens.” ~ National PTA Congress
Animals require a lot of time, care and attention to do it right. Being a responsible pet owner means taking into consideration the needs of your pet. Dogs can live 8-15 years on average and cats can live up to 20 years. Are you prepared for this long-term commitment? Do you have time to train and raise your pet properly so that they don’t develop bad habits? Is your living situation stable or is there a chance that you might move somewhere that won’t allow animals? Will you have time to spend with your pet on a daily basis for its entire life? Are you willing to spend the time it takes to keep your pet properly groomed and trained? If you have other pets, will you have the individual time to spend with each of them? Who will look after your pet during vacations or business trips?
These are all very important questions to ask yourself before bringing home a pet. They take time, money, exercise and training. It costs money to properly feed and have your animals vetted. So many animals come to the Central Aroostook Humane Society because their owners are moving, it is heartbreaking to watch the crying owner leaving their confused pet behind. Is that really fair? I know that sometimes it is unavoidable and that things happen in our lives that are unpredictable. We at the shelter have to look into their sad little faces and try to comfort them after the owner leaves. It is a huge transition. I will say that we work very hard in re-homing the animals at the shelter. Our number 1 goal is to find a loving, responsible home for each and every one of them.
If pets are good for your health, I must be one of the healthiest people I know. I just can’t imagine my life without my pets. They always listen to me, they give me a shoulder to cry on, and they never judge me. What more could I ask?
Research shows that children with pets are more likely to have high self-esteem. A U.S. study of 394 university students revealed that those who had owned dogs or cats as childhood pets were more self-confident than those who did not. One study revealed that children who had a dog present during their physical examinations had lower heart rates, reduced blood pressure and less behavioral distress than when the dog was not present. A study of 455 school children between the ages of 11 and 16 revealed that children with pets had a better ability to understand non-verbal communications. A study by the U.S. Department of Health concluded that pets increased the survival rate of heart attack victims. The study revealed that 28 percent of heart patients with pets survived serious heart attacks, compared to only 6 percent of heart patients without pets.
Another study revealed that the cholesterol levels of pet owners were 2 percent lower than the cholesterol levels of people without pets. The risk of those pet owners having a heart attack was reduced by 4 percent.
A U.S. survey of 1,000 Medicare patients showed that 40 percent of the elderly with pets sought the services of a doctor much less frequently than those without animal companions.
Nursing homes that use companion animal therapy have experienced a significant reduction in the use of prescription drugs. The overall cost of caring for seniors also dropped.
My point, well, you already know what that is; adopting a pet has wonderful health benefits for all of your family, if your family is ready for one. Pets require a huge commitment of time, money and emotion.
Another alternative to owning a pet is to donate some volunteer time at the Central Aroostook Humane Society. We love to share our lovely animals with the community, plus it is great for the animal’s health as well. Please stop by and visit, we are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, or give us a call at 764-3441. You must be 16 yrs or older to volunteer without adult supervision.
Please teach your children to be kind to animals and have your pets spayed or neutered.
