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Wednesday, March 25, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Animals help us in times of crisis
By Jodi Schneider
Correspondent
The Centers for Disease
Control and the American
Veterinary Association have
recently stated that pets
are NOT a risk for spread-
ing COVID-19. The World
Health Organization has also
recently reported that there is
<no evidence that companion
animals/pets such as dogs or
cats can be infected with the
coronavirus.=
The virus is believed to
have originated from exotic
animal food markets in China
3 but domestic dogs and cats
themselves do not appear to be
carriers.
Pets are the unsung heroes
for many of us amid the
COVID-19 pandemic. We are
being required to work from
home and to self-isolate dur-
ing the pandemic to prevent
further spread of the corona-
virus. Take advantage of the
time that you have at home to
establish a bond with your pet
or pets. Social distancing is an
important step to curbing the
virus, but you don9t have to do
it alone.
Research suggests pets can
make you happier and health-
ier. Other studies have shown
that having a pet in the home
helps you respond better to
stressful situations. It9s not
only safe to have pets in your
home but also beneficial as
they can serve as a source of
comfort during any crisis.
The outbreak of coro-
navirus COVID-19 may be
stressful for people. Fear and
anxiety about the virus can
be overwhelming and cause
strong emotions in adults and
children. The companionship
of pets has been shown to
lower anxiety, helping people
to feel calmer and more secure
when the news from the out-
side world is distressing.
Jeanette Pilak, volunteer
coordinator for Harmony
Year-round
Farm Sanctuary, a nonprofit
dedicated to rescuing and
rehabilitating farm animals,
had several therapy dogs over
the years and knows firsthand
how animals can help people
feel better.
She said, <My work with
therapy assist animals started
when I adopted a retired guide
dog for the blind from their
campus in Boring, Oregon, in
1998. While I was well aware
of the studies done about the
physiological changes humans
go through when they pet a
dog (decreased blood pressure
and breathing, etc.), I wit-
nessed this particular dog seek
to calm crying babies or agi-
tated elders. I became trained
as a Pet Partner with my ther-
apy assist dogs, and for years
I heard from family members
of nursing home patients that
they could always tell when
the dogs had visited because
their family member was so
much happier and calmer.=
Pilak and her therapy dog
Sally were also R.E.A.D.
(Reading Education Assistant
Dog) partners and assisted
more than 200 children to
relax and to practice reading
aloud to her dog.
Pilak noted that children
too shy to speak in class would
gladly read a story to a dog.
She added, <Animals
are comforting and
nonjudgmental.=
Sisters resident and animal
trainer Monica Rendon is a pet
You meet the
nicest people…
parent and understands how
companion animals help calm
humans.
<Petting a dog releases
oxytocin, and that in itself
promotes a sense of bond-
ing, love, happiness, Rendon
said. <Having a pet to care for
takes some of the focus off of
what9s going on and redirects
it towards behaviors that are
incompatible with sitting by
ourselves and feeling lonely
and despondent. Our pets are
oblivious to the fears of the
pandemic, they teach us to
seek joy in the moment and to
be calm and carry on.=
Dogs can help you keep a
routine and stay active, which
is important to your mental
and physical health during
these trying times. There is
a lot of evidence that daily
exercise can also help pro-
mote feelings of well-being
and boost immunity, so walk-
ing your dog is a physical
activity that can protect you
against symptoms of stress
and anxiety.
Harmony Farm Sanctuary
founder Robine Botts created
a safe place for rescued farm
animals and humans to con-
nect and heal. She told The
Nugget that she knows that
this is a stressful, isolating and
unprecedented time for all of
humanity.
She said, <We are being
asked by our government
and medical professionals to
stay at home as an attempt
…at The
Hair Caché!
PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER
The touch of an animal companion is soothing, especially in tough times.
to flatten the curve against
the coronavirus. As a mental
health therapist who practices
animal assisted therapy, I have
witnessed how animals can
help heal our hearts. I have
noticed a lot of my clients, and
my friends, have experienced
increased stress, fear, confu-
sion and isolation. I9ve noticed
folks reporting an increase
in symptoms of depression
and anxiety. All animal lov-
ers know that animals pro-
vide companionship, joy and
unconditional love.=
<There is also a plethora
of scientific evidence regard-
ing the psychological and
physical health benefits from
having two- and four-legged
animals in our lives during the
best of times and especially
now. Playing with an animal
can boost levels of serotonin
and dopamine, which calm
and relax. They also encour-
age exercise and playfulness
which reminds us to enjoy
the simple things in life and
be mindful of our beautiful
surroundings.=
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