Welcome to Day 6 of our Giving Thanks project. Yesterday we talked about the impact of a sunny day on our mood, our energy, and our overall health. I was surprised to learn that there are fewer sunny days in Pennsylvania (on average) than I thought, so I want to be mindful and thankful for every single one. Do you feel the same about a sunny day? If you missed that post, you can find it here: Sunny Days.
I’ve been seeing so many posts on Facebook and Instagram of everyone’s pets. Dogs, cats, birds, turtles, fish, hamsters, horses, chickens, goats, you name it, we really love our pets. According to the 2019/2020 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, 67% of U.S. Households own at least 1 pet. Our pets are members of our families. Some folks even refer to their pets as their 4 legged children or fur babies.
With COVID-19 forcing many of us to stay at home over the past 7 months, transforming our kitchen tables into home offices and classrooms, our pets have become our coworkers and our classmates.
If you already own a pet, you probably already know that pets can help:
- Buffer stress
- Lower heart rate
- Lower blood pressure
- Give social support
- Help you stay in shape
- Prevent certain sicknesses
- plus so much more!!!!
So here is the million dollar question:
Are you a cat person or a dog person?
According to a WedbMD survey, there are definite differences in the personalities of dog versus cat owners. This online survey found that:
- Dog people were 11% more conscientious than cat people (self-disciplined, sense of duty, planners)
- Dog people were 15% more extroverted than cat people (outgoing, enthusiastic, energetic)
- Dog people were 13% more likely to be agreeable than a cat person (trusting, kind, sociable, affectionate)
- Cat people were 11% more likely to be open (creative, curious, artistic)
- Cat people were 12% more neurotic than dog people (easily stressed, anxious, worries a lot)
I am a CAT person – all the way. And for the record, I disagree with most of the above statements…..hmmmm.
Whichever animal you love, let’s all be grateful for the companionship, joy, and love they bring into our lives.
If you are thinking about getting a pet, I hope you will consider adopting one from your local shelter. According to the Humane Society, millions of loving animals are euthanized in U.S. shelters each year. Please ADOPT don’t SHOP.
Until next time, keep looking for the goodness around you.
With gratitude –
Denise 🙂