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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2017)
March 1, 2017 The Skanner Page 9 News Less Stress Begins with Pets pets give us each day can not be measured. So next time you’re feeling wound up, unappreciat- ed or down, take a deep By Jasmine Streeter, DVM Special to The Skanner News T he 45th president has had a tumultu- ous start in the last 30 days to say the least. A sense of uneasi- ness, fear, and stress has encroached itself upon the hearts and minds of many Americans be- cause of recent actions taken by the new admin- istration. According to an Amer- ican Psychological As- sociation survey which was released Feb. 15, two-thirds of Americans reported being stressed about the future of our nation. This month, I wanted to spotlight the benefi ts of pet owner- ship for reducing stress. Hopefully you are comfy, cozy and cuddled next to “ SHOWTIMES Dr. Jasmine Streeter, Veternarian relaxes with her dog Sheba In addition, animals have the ability to in- crease positive social attention from others. If you don’t believe it, try walking down the street with a puppy in Portland and see how far you get without someone engag- ing you and your dog in conversation. Pets have been shown to decrease anxiety, stress, fear and lower blood pressure when they were Staying on task and creating goals were shown to be easi- er when pets were present a warm happy fur ball while reading this arti- cle. Not many people will dispute the positive contributions that hu- man-animal interactions have on society. See- ing-eye dogs giving sight to the blind and therapy dogs helping children with autism are just a few examples of how pets enhance our lives. Take a moment to think about your pet, does a fond memory come to mind? Hopefully it does because pets have the ability to make us feel great. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that interacting with animals can infl u- ence you in a positive manner. Staying on task and creating goals were shown to be easier when pets were present. breath, pull your pet in close and whisper, “It’s going to be OK.” I bet your furballs with their wet little noses, present during a stress- ful situation. Aquariums are commonly placed to reduce anxiety in doc- tor’s offi ces because of their relaxing eff ect on patients. (Have you ever watched a scary movie with your cat or grabbed the dog while checking out a weird sound you heard in the bathroom? Don’t feel embarrassed, I have too.) Regardless of their size, just knowing your pet is there with you in that moment can make you feel like you can handle anything that comes your way togeth- er. Loneliness and de- pression have also been lessened by interaction and ownerships of pets. Elderly residents in as- sisted living and nursing homes that owned pets or participated in dog-as- sisted therapy reported Make The Skanner part of your daily routine Grab a headline on your mobile device. Enjoy an in-depth read on your desktop. Receive Breaking News in your inbox. Page through the print edition online. decreased loneliness and less depression than their counterparts with no animal interaction. In addition, survival rates of pet owners who had previously had a heart attack were higher than non-owners. If the potential to lower stress, fi ght depression, and live longer haven’t convinced you to cher- ish your pet, then I don’t know what will. The love and loyalty that our TONI ERDMANN (R) Fri-Thur: 1:15, 9:10 PASSENGERS (PG-13) Fri,Sun-Thur: 11:50, 7:15/Sat: 11:50 JACKIE (R) Fri-Thur: 11:05, 7:00 MOANA (PG) Fri-Thur: 12:15, 2:15, 5:05 whiskers and sweet kiss- es will be glad you did.. Send your pet questions to drjasmine@theskan- ner.com. The Week of Friday, March 3 through Thursday, March 9, 2017 FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM (PG-13) Fri,Sun-Thur: 4:30 ARRIVAL (PG-13) Fri-Thur: 2:40, 7:30, 10:00 HEAVENLY CREATURES (R) Fri-Thur: 4:40, 9:45 $4.00 adults, $3.00 senior citizens (65+), $3.00 for kids (12 & under) 7818 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215 503-252-1707 • AcademyTheaterPdx.com Babysitting: Available for children 2 to 8 years old. Fri: shows after 3:30pm and before 8:00pm. Sat - Sun: all shows before 8:00pm. $9.50 per child for the length of the movie. Call to reserve a spot, no drop ins.