Pets

Did you know that dog walking is an extreme sport? That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but according to the Centers for Disease Control, almost twice as many people get injured in falls that involve pets than they do from snowboarding! We found this on a website that’s dedicated to keeping those of us who are over 30 in top shape. It’s called ThirdAge.com:

Dr. Thomas Cavalieri, dean of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, says that most pet related injuries happen because of love. Pets are so devoted to their owners that they sleep at their feet or jump up when they come in the door – which inevitably leads to falls. Cavalieri isn’t anti-pet. In fact, he’s just the opposite. He emphasizes that people with pets get more exercise and are less likely to be depressed. However, he does suggest these common sense tips for keeping you and your pet safe:

• Make sure pets - especially dogs – are trained to not jump on people, and are taught to walk calmly on a leash.
• Discourage pets from lying next to beds at night or snoozing at the foot of chairs.
• Don't leave pet toys in the middle of the floor.
• If you have an older friend or relative with a dog, offer to go along on walks so that you can handle the leash.
  
  

If you follow these tips, this last benefit of owning a pet won’t be as important: Studies show that people who own pets heal faster than those who don’t.