Truly AMAZING Facts about dogs

I am so glad that I've had the opportunity to do some real research about what I already knew. Dogs have an amazing healing power. Here are a few more facts about dogs.
A Japanese study of pet owners stated that pet owners made 30% fewer visits to the doctors. Many experts believe that companion animals lower stress. Another AMAZING fact in the following link that I have attached is that dogs can be cancer detectors by smelling a persons breath!!!
Well I am convinced. What a blessing blessing blessing a dog can be!
Here is the article I am referring to.

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http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/08/the-healing-power-of-dogs/

Helping Paws

Check out my Post from May 11 about Micah the miraculous Maltese. A doctor fell and hit her head. She suffered some brain damage in the process. She got a Maltese named Micah who helped her to stay "alert" when she wasn't. For example he would nudge her when she was roller blading if she was about to bump into someone. Pretty amazing huh? any thoughts? Jump right in! Don't be shy.

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Hello Is Anyone Out There?

Hello, is anyone out there who loves dogs as much as I do? Speak now or forever hold your peace.

Agreeable Friends

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. -George Elliot Every day I am still in awe over this Maltese. Some people may be bored by it. I am not. I look at him every day and I know that he is my little miracle and meant for me. He was a gift from God to me. And since I do not have children. He is my "kid" in a coat and I love him.

Happy got a Monkey

As I continue to work on my Master's degree and work part time, Happy is there when I have errands to run, when I am cleaning the house or cooking. Oh, and Happy got a new toy. It's a monkey that makes a sound when you squeeze it's mouth!

One of my Facebook friends seems to agree wholeheartedly about animals being great friends. One of her latest posts was "Perfect companions never have fewer than four feet!". I really feel the same a lot of the time. Of course it's nice to be able to have meaniful human relationships too! But I can alway count on my faithful little friend. Bless his little dog soul.

Aren't You Done Yet?

This puppy is so wonderful. He gives me a great reason to get up in the morning!! Aside from that he is a wonderful companion who "nudges" me to keep going. What a blessing it is to have him as a companion in the car. I have never had such a wonderful companion in the car. I have had demanding back seat drivers, annoying passengers, or just lumps on a log next to me. Happy however is so excited to be getting into the car! He jumps into my lap, wraps his arms around my left arm so that he can stand and feel the breeze against his face as he looks out the window. This may not seem like a big deal to some people, but as I mentioned before I have never had a dog! So to me it is an amazing experience.

He came just in time too middle age! I can take care of him and do the things I need to do. Life is good. They say, "when you are down to nothing, God is up to something" I truly believe this! So now, as Happy looks up at me, it's time for some fresh air and a walk! " A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" -Josh Billings

Micah Matisse the Miraculous Maltese

In the summer of 2004 a phenomenal article was published in The Newsletter of the Memory Disorders Project at Rutgers University. Claudia Osborn a hard-driving D.O. from Grosse Point, Michigan was struck by a car during a bike ride near her home. Dr. Osborn suffered brain damage, a condition called adynamia. The frontal lobes of her brain which perform executive functions such as decision making, abstract thinking and planning was damaged when her head hit the pavement.

Since the accident Claudia has needed help from family, friends and caretakers. For brain injury patients however, it is important to have people who foster independence so that they do not stay dependent on people.

Claudia has one pair of helping hands that takes the form of "helping paws". His name is Micah Matisse. Micah is a service dog trained to help Claudia to function independently. She can carry him around in her backpack. Because of her adynamia she tends to shut down and not be as alert in specific situations. Micah "turns her back on" Micah makes sure she is alert and ready to board her flights on time. He reminds her to take her medications and unfailingly returns her to her hotel room after her daily walk. Micah is "copilot" rather than "codependent"! Micah rides shotgun in her backpack when she is roller blading and gently nudges her if someone else approaches the path. Claudia's tendency to become inattentive would sometimes result in collisons with other people.

My Maltese Happy is the same way! If I become unfocused during errands or checking rituals before leaving the house he barks or grunts as if to say "hurry up!" What a helpful companion. This is a miracle that I am in awe of every day since I had never seen a Maltese before in my life! Until about 2 years ago. They have however been bred for centuries as companion dogs.

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