Pets, Especially Dogs, Help During Quarantine
2020-04-14
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1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
2Throughout human history, we have used animals for food and for work.
3But thousands of years ago, we began using them for something else - companionship.
4They became our pets.
5Pets are a source of comfort and happiness.
6They give their owners good feelings and a sense of purpose, especially during stressful or difficult times.
7And we are, indeed, in stressful times.
8In many parts of the world, people are under stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.
9Stuck indoors, many people may feel isolated and lonely.
10Having a pet - especially a dog - can help.
11Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States say pets can help ease "loneliness and depression by giving us companionship."
12They make special note of the helpful effects of dogs.
13The CDC says that dogs can have many helpful and healthy effects on the lives of their owners.
14Dogs, the health organization says, can: influence social, emotional and mental development in children; help make their owners more physically active; provide companionship; and reduce people's stress and anxiety.
15The CDC estimates that around 38 percent of American households have one or more dogs.
16Cats are the other most common pet in the United States.
17Of course, cats can provide affection and companionship.
18But they also are known for sometimes being selfish and a bit distant.
19I myself am a cat owner.
20My cat sleeps a lot, has no interest in exercise and gives a limited amount of affection.
21If I pet her too much, she will walk away.
22The coronavirus stay-at-home orders have led to many pet memes online.
23In them, dogs appear very happy that their owners are home all the time.
24The memes show dogs saying things like, "Yay! Another walk! That's 14 for today!"
25In the coronavirus cat memes, however, cats are saying things like, "Why is this human in my house so much?" and "Don't you have a job to go to?"
26Dogs are known for being extra affectionate and loyal toward their owners.
27They like to go on walks, and they like the company of humans.
28And most experts agree that dogs became pets before cats.
29So perhaps they have simply had more time to perfect the art of being a pet!
30Evan MacLean is a biological anthropologist at the University of Arizona.
31Biological anthropologists combine biological and social studies, often to better understand human evolution.
32MacLean says that dogs may provide welcome emotional support during the current worldwide health crisis.
33He says that owning a dog not only makes a person feel good emotionally -- dogs also appear to help control "heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol - a hormone involved in stress responses."
34MacLean adds that simply petting your dog in a soft, slow way may help you both feel more at ease.
35On its website, the CDC lists some health benefits of pet ownership (including cats!) They include:
36Decreased blood pressure
37Decreased cholesterol levels
38Decreased feelings of loneliness
39Increased opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities
40MacLean says dogs can give us support and help us "weather the storm."
41In other words, they help us get through a very bad time.
42Dogs may provide support and be beside us "through thick and thin."
43If a pet or a person is with you "through thick and thin," they are with you through good times and bad.
44In other words, they are loyal.
45And this loyalty can be very comforting.
46Let's not forget that there is work involved in keeping a pet.
47Taking care of our pets may help give us a sense of purpose.
48A dog always needs to walk outside.
49In our current situation, this gives dog owners a reason to (safely) leave the house and get some fresh air.
50And, it makes them get a little exercise.
51All of that is important and helpful.
52"One thing we know is that sitting around worrying doesn't do much good for our mental health. So, refocusing our mental energy on something positive could bring relief at a time like this," MacLean says.
53And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo.
1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. 2Throughout human history, we have used animals for food and for work. But thousands of years ago, we began using them for something else - companionship. 3They became our pets. 4Pets are a source of comfort and happiness. They give their owners good feelings and a sense of purpose, especially during stressful or difficult times. 5And we are, indeed, in stressful times. 6In many parts of the world, people are under stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. Stuck indoors, many people may feel isolated and lonely. 7Having a pet - especially a dog - can help. 8Health benefits of dogs 9Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States say pets can help ease "loneliness and depression by giving us companionship." 10They make special note of the helpful effects of dogs. The CDC says that dogs can have many helpful and healthy effects on the lives of their owners. 11Dogs, the health organization says, can: influence social, emotional and mental development in children; help make their owners more physically active; provide companionship; and reduce people's stress and anxiety. 12The CDC estimates that around 38 percent of American households have one or more dogs. 13Dogs versus cats 14Cats are the other most common pet in the United States. Of course, cats can provide affection and companionship. But they also are known for sometimes being selfish and a bit distant. 15I myself am a cat owner. My cat sleeps a lot, has no interest in exercise and gives a limited amount of affection. If I pet her too much, she will walk away. 16The coronavirus stay-at-home orders have led to many pet memes online. In them, dogs appear very happy that their owners are home all the time. The memes show dogs saying things like, "Yay! Another walk! That's 14 for today!" 17In the coronavirus cat memes, however, cats are saying things like, "Why is this human in my house so much?" and "Don't you have a job to go to?" 18Dogs are known for being extra affectionate and loyal toward their owners. They like to go on walks, and they like the company of humans. And most experts agree that dogs became pets before cats. So perhaps they have simply had more time to perfect the art of being a pet! 19Evan MacLean is a biological anthropologist at the University of Arizona. Biological anthropologists combine biological and social studies, often to better understand human evolution. 20MacLean says that dogs may provide welcome emotional support during the current worldwide health crisis. He says that owning a dog not only makes a person feel good emotionally -- dogs also appear to help control "heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol - a hormone involved in stress responses." 21MacLean adds that simply petting your dog in a soft, slow way may help you both feel more at ease. 22On its website, the CDC lists some health benefits of pet ownership (including cats!) They include: 23Decreased blood pressure 24Decreased cholesterol levels 25Decreased feelings of loneliness 26Increased opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities 27MacLean says dogs can give us support and help us "weather the storm." In other words, they help us get through a very bad time. 28Dogs may provide support and be beside us "through thick and thin." If a pet or a person is with you "through thick and thin," they are with you through good times and bad. In other words, they are loyal. And this loyalty can be very comforting. 29Let's not forget that there is work involved in keeping a pet. Taking care of our pets may help give us a sense of purpose. A dog always needs to walk outside. In our current situation, this gives dog owners a reason to (safely) leave the house and get some fresh air. And, it makes them get a little exercise. 30All of that is important and helpful. 31"One thing we know is that sitting around worrying doesn't do much good for our mental health. So, refocusing our mental energy on something positive could bring relief at a time like this," MacLean says. 32And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo. 33Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 34________________________________________________________________ 35Words in This Story 36companionship - n. the good feeling that comes from being with someone else 37comfort - v. to ease the grief or trouble of 38stressful - adj. making you feel worried or anxious 39isolation - n. the act of separating something from other things 40anxiety - n. fear or nervousness about what might happen 41meme - n. an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture 42loyal - adj. having or showing complete and constant support for someone or something 43evolution - n. the process of development of an animal or a plant 44focus - v. to direct your attention or effort at something specific : refocus - to again direct your attention or effort at something specific 45relief - n. the removal or reducing of something that is painful or unpleasant