[FriarTuck]

I enjoy taking our family dog for a walk. And both she and the cat are good company around the home.

I saw in the news not long ago, that some college had a room with a dog or two for 'stressed' students to visit during exam time. The dog was an experienced 'pet therapy' dog who had helped patients at the hospital too.

[TheExplorer]

They're just great. It's been proven petting a dog lowers your blood pressure and relaxes your breathing. Although cleaning up their floor messes has the opposite effect on me.

[FriarTuck]

Originally Posted by TheExplorer

They're just great. It's been proven petting a dog lowers your blood pressure and relaxes your breathing. Although cleaning up their floor messes has the opposite effect on me.

Well, yes, there's that too

[OMEGA5]

I know petting my 11 yr old Pom calms my nerves.
If I'm sitting, he's in my lap, If I laying down, he's
laying next to me. I retire Jan. 8th, 2013 and he'll
be my constant companion then.
Dano

[FriarTuck]

Originally Posted by OMEGA5

I know petting my 11 yr old Pom calms my nerves.
If I'm sitting, he's in my lap, If I laying down, he's
laying next to me. I retire Jan. 8th, 2013 and he'll
be my constant companion then.
Dano

Our dog growled this morning, I looked up from my newspaper and saw the cat swatting over the water bowl...a little disagreement over who gets the first drink. I called the dog over to calm the situation and shared a small piece of my toast as a consolation prize.

Usually they just ignore each other. They've both done good work; barking to let us know when someone comes around, and catching a mouse or two over the years, besides being family friends.

Enjoy your retirement; mine began about 6 months earlier than yours, although I still work the odd shift now and then.

[NEOH212]

I wouldn't trade my cats for anything in the world. They are more human in my eyes than many people and I'd do anything for them.

Their love is unconditional. If only we could be more like them.

God blessed us with them for sure.

[DustyJacket]

Originally Posted by FriarTuck

Usually they just ignore each other. They've both done good work; barking to let us know when someone comes around...

Yeah, that barking cat really gets the bad guy running..

We lost both of our dogs this year.
I now know the route to the pet cremation business by heart.

But we now have our daughter's dog and it is a sweetie. And big.


Dogs are an inconvenience for travel, and their passing makes for a rough time. But all the other times make it worth it. And they do calm things down unless it is playtime.

[FriarTuck]

I'll admit our cat's never barked and never scared away anybody. But like a cowboy's horse whose ears may turn toward some danger that the human failed to notice, observing your cat get up quickly and go hide may assist you in 'being prepared', as the Boy Scouts advocate.