The aim here is not that the pet should replace the contact to other human beings. But the objective is that older people do not become isolated but rather remain interested and active and thus also are ready to establish contact to other people and to stay in contact with them.

Surveys show that occupants of homes for senior citizens explain over and over again that their pets give them the "feeling of being useful", of "being able to look after somebody", of "not being alone and isolated". Moreover, a dog, for instance, would help to "forget oneself and ones problems" and to "live one's free time in a meaningful and interesting way".

All these arguments are of great importance for people reaching later chapters of their lives.

Since then numerous scientific investigations regarding the interactions between the senior human being and his pet have been carried out all over the world. These not only confirmed over and over again the results of that "budgerigar study" but also showed additional positive effects of pets on older people:

• Pets help to fight against apathy and indifference. Older people start to get interested again to a greater extent in events in their vicinity and in their surroundings.
  
  
• They help to get over sad events by representing for instance a living role model to a passed away person or by becoming a new objective for affection.
  
  
• They prevent or reduce absent-mindedness or bewilderment by communicating the sense of time and by maintaining a rhythm of the day.
  
  
• Depressions can be avoided because the pet owner has to take care of other things than only of himself and his own problems.
  
  
• Psychological and physical inadequacy can be borne much easier if a pet shares one's life.
  
  
• Pets encourage their owner to physical activity. Be it by playing with them, feeding them, cultivating hygiene or going on a walk with them.
  
  
• Pets give safety, this particularly to persons who are living alone. Already the barking of a dog helps to to keep unwelcome visitors away.
  
  
• And last but not least: Pets amuse us, make us laugh, improve our moral.

If you know of a senior that could use a friend, please consider adoption. These pets need love, companionship and attention no different than the rest of us. They are there in most cases because either no one wanted them any longer, or were dumped having been through a horrific ordeal.

Did you know that when a dog is rescued from the pound (instead of purchased from breeder or pet shop), he/she knows its been rescued? You will never find a more loyal friend then that who knows you just rescued him/her! Isn't just this one fact alone enough to make you want to rescue/adopt instead of purchasing that cute puppy in the window who will surely grow up into an adult dog anyway?

1) About chaining or tethering your dog: Well you say "my dog is an outside dog and prefers to be outside 24/7 he has a dog house and food and my parents always did that no matter the weather conditions outside, dogs for thousands of years have been ok with that, and I work all day so what should I do?" None of these are legitimate excuse. Just don't get a dog if you plan on doing that. If you get one as a cheap alarm system, please consider investing in an alarm system that doesn't feel pain, heat or cold. They aren't that expensive and not cruel to an animal. The fact: we have domesticated dogs over thousands of years, so they are no longer as able to dealwith harsh weather conditions such as cold or heat as muchas you think. This is an old school mentality, and from many instances in history, old school mentalities must change and have changed in other areas, so why not in this one?

Google the words: "chaining your dog" to get REAL facts about this horrible and cruel practice.

2) 99% of pets in this country should be spayed/neutered: Your pet is no different! Think of the misery and cruelty you will be preventing.

-Some 70,000 puppies and kittens are born every day in the U.S.
-Between four million and six million pets are euthanized every year because they are homeless. -That means between 11,000 and 16,000 pets are euthanized every day simply because they are homeless.
-An animal in a shelter is killed every 1.5 seconds.
-Only one animal in 10 born in the U.S. gets a good home that lasts a lifetime.

These alarming statistics present a good enough reason, all by themselves, for preventing more pet animal births. Simply put, the widespread failure to spay or neuter dogs results in homelessness, misery, cruelty, and death.

3) Why adopt instead of buying from pet store OR breeder:

Pet stores: Dogs come from puppy mills, often with degenerative diseases that don't come out till years down the road bread in horrible conditions, mom and dads have their vocal cords cut so owners of puppy mills don't get annoyed by"annoying barking" often the barking is due to pain. New born pups are in wire cages, sometimes have their paws ripped off. Those are the pups that don't make it to the pet store. Most die in agony, and select few end up at the pet shop.

Breeders: Well you say "I buy from reputable breeders" even so by buying a dog from a breeder, you just sealed in the fate of 1 dog you could have saved from a local shelter. "Well I want a pure breed dog" you say? want into any local shelter, breed rescue, on any given day and you will find a pure breed dog that was abandoned, or abused, save this pure breed dog!

-"Well I want a puppy because puppies are so cute, and i want the puppy to know me from a young age..."Plenty of puppies at shelters who are put to sleep every single day because you just bought one! And don't forget, puppies grow up very fast, so if you are not in it for the long haul, if you only like dogs when they are puppies, please spare the dogs any future torture, and just don't get one. Its the hard, but responsible thing to do if you are deep down inside a good person.

Did you know that when a dog is rescued from the pound (instead of purchased from breeder or pet shop), he/she knows its been rescued? You will never find a more loyal friend then that who knows you just rescued him/her! Isn't just this one fact alone enough to make you want to rescue/adopt instead of purchasing that cute puppy in the window who willsurely grow up into an adult dog anyway?

I'm very passionate about caring for animals and why, along with my neighbor Sharon, formed the Pet Awareness Committee for our neighborhood.

Adopting from an animal shelter is a great idea. All pets are thoroughly examined by a licensed Veterinarian,  neutered or spayed, and given all necessary shots making them healthy, happy little animals who just need a good home, with LOTS of love!

If you're looking for a special friend for yourself, or for someone else, or would like to donate your time or badly needed supplies, please consider visiting P.A.W.S. (Public for Animal Welfare, Inc.). To locate a P.A.W.S shelter in your area click here: www.paws.org

Thank you!

P.A.W.S. Public for Animal Welfare, Inc. Shelter and Humane Society www.paws.org