Are dogs’ mouths really cleaner than human mouths?

Statistics reveal that almost all pet owners consider their pets to be part of the family. Given these realities, it’s no surprise that kissing animals living under the same roof as their owners is common practice. But is it safe?
We at Bright Side want you to know what hidden dangers could be lurking in giving your four-legged friend a big hug and kiss.

 

 

Are dogs’ mouths really cleaner than human mouths? 

That’s a total myth. Marty Becker, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul of the Dog Owner, dispels this popular prejudice when he says, "All you have to do is look, watch, smell, and you’ll realize that is not true. They raid the garbage can. You know, we give each other a peck on the cheek when we say hello; they give each other a peck on the rear end."

How many bacteria are there in dogs’ saliva?

 

This is what John Oxford, professor of virology and bacteriology at the Queen Mary University in London, says about how many bacteria your dog’s muzzle and mouth can carry: "It is not just what is carried in saliva. Dogs spend half their life with their noses in nasty corners or hovering over dog droppings so their muzzles are full of bacteria, viruses, and germs of all sorts."

What might happen if these bacteria get into the human body? 

These viruses and germs can cause serious health problems in humans. This is what happened to one British woman who contracted an infection from her dog’s saliva. She began to notice that her speech sounded more and more slurred. Blood tests revealed that she had an infection due to capnocytophaga canimorsus bacteria, commonly found in the mouths of dogs and cats. There were also 13 similar incidents across the UK.

 

What other diseases can you catch from your pets?

 

Ringworm infection is one of the most common diseases that you can get from kissing your dog. If your pet is infected with ringworm and you kiss them, then you’ll catch this disease too.
MRSA infection usually affects the skin, and it can be caused by just one lick from your dog.
Capnocytophaga сanimorsus is a bacterium that can cause serious health problems if it enters your body through an open wound.

How to prevent health risks associated with owning a pet

 

Always follow these rules:

• Don’t kiss your animals, don’t let them lick your face, don’t ever feed your pets at the table, and never share your dishes with them.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after having any contact with animals.
• Vaccinate your pet against common diseases promptly.
• Use special antibacterial and antifungal shampoos when you wash your furry friends.
• Make sure your dog or cat has no contact with wild or stray animals of any kind. When walking your dog, watch that they do not eat anything off the street.
• Don’t feed your four-legged friends raw eggs, meat, or fish.
• Regularly clean and disinfect your pet’s feeding bowl, and do general cleaning in the house using disinfecting solutions.
• See your vet immediately if your pet is not feeling well, if he or she refuses to eat, or suffers from digestive disorders.

HINTS TIPS HOW TO ? Aid for Pet Burns and Scalds

The thought of an animal suffering a scald or burn is hard to take, but with a little knowledge you can be prepared to take the proper course of action–and to avoid doing things that can hurt your pet even more.

First thing to do: examine the extent of the burn. Look under the fur. If the skin is intact, apply or submerge in cold water. Never use ice.

Burns are categorized by depth. First-degree burns are superficial, second-degree burns extend to the middle layer of the skin, and third-degree burns are the deepest:

• First-degree burns: Superficial, stemming from minor sunburns or hot liquids, red and slightly swollen.

• Second-degree burns: Affecting middle skin layer, from deep sunburns or flash burns from chemical, blistered and wet looking.

• Third-degree burns: Involving the deepest skin destruction, white and puffy or charred and black.

First- and Second- Degree Burns

Submerge or rinse with cold water or apply a clean cloth soaked in cold water. If blisters are closed, apply a clean, dry bandage. If blisters are open, do not cover. Do not break blisters open. Do not peel skin. Let heal naturally. If blister is large or does not heal, consult your veterinarian.

Third-degree Burns

Do not move the animal unless necessary. Do not immerse in cold water. Treat for shock (cover animal to retain body heat). Apply a clean, thick, dry dressing (don’t wrap, just cover). Do not remove burned skin or charred material. Seek veterinary attention immediately.

The Netherlands became the first country without abandoned dogs - and did not have to sacrifice any

Around the world, it is estimated that there are approximately 600 million dogs living on the streets. It is a difficult and complex situation to resolve, and the vast majority of governments lack public policies to help resolve this issue. But what seems impossible for many countries has come true in Holland. Without any kind of sacrifice or apprehension of the animals in kennels, the European country obtained the title of first of the world without any dogs living in the streets. This feat is part of a government plan based on four pillars: harsh laws for those who abandon dogs, fines that go into the thousands of euros, castration and awareness campaigns, and high tax rates for those who buy breed.

With this, the Netherlands managed to avoid the reproduction of the dogs that lived in the streets, besides making people give preference to the adoption of the previously abandoned animals. A beautiful and intelligent program that should serve as an example for countries all over the world!

New Law Passed: Pet Stores Can ONLY Sell Rescued Animals. This Is Genius!

Here’s an idea whose time has finally.

Rather than have pet stores obtain animals from puppy mills, why not require them to get their dogs and cats from actual animal shelters that house thousands of animals, many of which end up being euthanized? Well Arizona is leading the way as it has now made it illegal to sell dogs or cats which are NOT from an animal shelter or a rescue! Beverly Hills also followed suit, banning pet stores from selling animals who were specifically bred for commercial purposes.The Arizona ruling upholds the ordinance which was passedd in 2013 but was challenged by a pet store called Puppies N’Love. Their argument was that the ruling violated interstate commerce law which is granted by the constitution. But there are many pet lovers cheering over this law as it will do away with the horrible puppy mills for profit model and pave the way for shelter animals to not be euthanized, but to be put in homes as pets.Phoenix sells about 23,000 dogs which are bought at pet stores every year. So you can see the thousands of homeless animals who will now have a chance to be taken out of the shelter system, where they usually spend months and even years waiting to be adopted. This law finds these animals homes much quicker while freeing up the already overcrowded situation in shelters.

Here’s a good summation statement made by Thelma Williams, a Phoenix Councilwoman:

“We have so many dogs in Arizona that need homes, we don’t need to import them.”

Maureen Beyers who is a Phoenix attorney representing the Humane Society, also made a statement regarding the ruling and how it will reverse euthanasia rates and put an end to the puppy mill system:

“The ruling is a great victory, not just for the city of Phoenix, but also for the Humane Society of the United States, which has worked tirelessly to help municipalities throughout the U.S. enact these laws (and defend challenges to them) to stem the trade of puppy and kitten mill animals and decrease animal euthanasia and overpopulation.”

Shelter clears all animals available for adoption

Last dog sweet send-off

Animal shelter clears all animals available for adoption, giving last dog sweet send-off. (WPVI)

HONOLULU -- There were cheers at the Hawaiian Humane Society's animal shelter in Honolulu recently as they cleared out all their animals available for adoption for the first time in its 130-year history.To mark the occasion Thursday, staff and volunteers formed a human tunnel and applauded and cheered as the last animal adopted that day, Beauty the dog, walked triumphantly out with her new family.

"We just really wanted to celebrate Beauty's adoption and the fact that we were able to clear the shelter for the first time ever," Hawaiian Humane Society spokeswoman Suzy Tam said.

Video of the warm farewell has received more than 52,000 "likes" on the Hawaiian Humane Society's Facebook page.

Beauty, who is estimated to be about 5 years old, was surrendered to the shelter on the day after Christmas, Tam told ABC News.

Beauty the dog was the last animal adopted during the Hawaiian Humane Society's first ever shelter clear-out on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016.
"But the timing just kind of worked out incredibly," Tam said, noting how Beauty had a forever home just in time for New Year's.

"A woman named Jan found her photo on the website, fell in love and came to see her on Thursday [Dec. 29]," Tam said. "Beauty happened to have just been cleared for adoption that same day, and she also happened to be the last dog available for adoption that day, too."

Puppymills

EXPOSED Puppymills, Pet Shops

A puppymill is generally considered to be a large-scale dog breeding operation that wholesales dogs to retail establishments, or to middlemen who then sell to retail establishments. Puppymills keep animals in small cages (similar to large chicken crates) for most of their natural lives. The bitches are bred on their first heat (which usually occurs around 6 months), and on every heat thereafter, until they die naturally (or are diposed of). Conditions at puppymills vary, although even in the best of circumstances, these establishments are abusive to dogs.
Puppymills are dirty, smelly, and house dogs in cramped quarters. Because of the conditions, the dogs may fight each other, develop neurotic behavior (such as obsessive licking, jumping, spinning, cage pacing, etc), and become susceptible to illness and injury. Oftentimes, dogs with wounds aquired during kennel fights or under other circumstances, will be left untreated. The cages in which the dogs are kept have wire bottoms. The dogs are forced to spend their entire lives in these cages, with little or no human contact, exercise,health care, and training.

Mills house a large number of breeding dogs, sometimes numbering well into the hundreds. The only job of these animals is to produce puppies. The puppies are in turn sold directly to pet shops or to middlemen--called brokers--across the country. The puppies are shipped in cramped, crowded trucks, at a very young age. Many times puppies become sick or injured during the trek to their destination or even die. Damaged/ill puppies are disposed of. The ones who are lucky enough to survive the ordeal end up at the pet shops, or in the hands of brokers who then sell the animals to pet shops.

Puppymilling is big business in the United States, with annual grosses amounting to millions. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspects and licenses mills, but their standards for licensing are too low for the tastes of many knowledgeable dog people, including veterinarians, behaviorists, and trainers. In addition, many times violations of code are ignored, and disciplinary action is rarely taken against those mill operators who are deemed to be in violation of code. Dead, dying, and sick dogs, filthy grounds, and cramped cages may be found even at those mills that are USDA licensed. The mills do not get inspected enough, nor are millers given incentive to clean up their act. The mills that are not licensed by the USDA are even worse, as hard to imagine as that may be.

Where do the puppymill pups end up ?

Puppymill pups ultimately end up in pet shops. Those cute, sweet, innocent puppies you see in the window had their beginnings in a mill, probably in a situation much like what is described above. Most likely, their parents are still locked in cramped, dirty crates, forced to produce still more dogs for the industry.
Pet shops claim that their dogs come from breeders, that their animals are purchased from USDA licensed producers, and that the dogs are AKC registered (or other dog registries, some not reputable). The effectiveness of these claims depends largely upon the naivete' of the general public. Ask if the animals come from mills, and you will get an emphatic, "No!". But this of course is not true. The employees of these stores are coached on what to say to customers, and many times are not even aware of the truth behind the puppies they sell.

Let's examine the claims pet shops make:

 

1) The "breeders" are actually millers and other large-scale dog producers whose main concerns are merely to pump out as many dogs of different breeds in as short a period of time as possible. Responsible breeders would never wholesale their dogs to petshops. Responsible breeders cannot meet the demand of pet shops, who sell many different dogs and breeds and constantly need to replenish their stock. The dog producers that DO meet the pet shop's stock demands are the millers who pump out hundreds of puppies of many different breeds annually. The pet shop is also able to enjoy the convenience of purchasing all their animals from one source.

2) As already discussed, USDA licensing does not guarentee humane treatment of the dogs in mills. (Please see the Links section above to view the grounds of some USDA licensed establishments). Also, remember that the USDA licenses and oversees factory farming. What the USDA considers acceptable in factory farms outrage and horrify many people who are made aware of what exactly goes on behind the closed doors of the industry. The animals in these situations are treated as product, and are not given the consideration they deserve. Humane treatment and quality of life are not factors deemed worthy of attention. The situation at puppymills is very similar. The dogs are merely treated as money-making items.

3) The sales pitch, "AKC registered" has been used repeatedly by the puppymill/petshop industry and has duped the public into believing that if a dog bares the AKC registered title, it must be of quality. The fact of the matter is that the American Kennel Club (AKC) is merely a registering body. "Papers" on a dog mean that the animal is certifiably purebred. It does not guarentee anything else. There are no requirements necessary in order for a dog to be registered other than having AKC-registered parents. Health, temperment or where a dog came from have no bearing on the matter.

Why responsible breeders won't sell to pet shops:

Pretend for a moment that you are a responsible breeder. You love your dogs, and have spent a lifetime studying your breed, genetics, and health in order to become the best breeder you can be. Your only desire is to produce top-quality animals that are a tribute to their breed, and an improvement upon past generations. You are so well known that you need not even advertise. The quality of your dogs speaks for itself, and people routinely approach you for puppies. Money-making isn't the objective for you--in fact, you barely break even after you are done with genetic testing and health certifications, and pre- and post-natal puppy care. But none of that matters, as you aren't doing this for money, you are doing it for the love of your breed. Your pups are strong, healthy, and stable. Not just anyone can purchase one of your puppies--that is why you extensively screen each and every person who walks through the door looking to buy a puppy. As a responsible person who cares about the welfare of the dogs you produce, you want to be certain that every pup's new home will treat him or her humanely, lovingly, and responsibly. You want to protect your good name, so you offer lifetime guarentees on your puppies--if any genetic faults manifest themselves, you refund the owner's purchase price. Your guarentee also states that if at any time the owner of the puppy cannot or does not wish to keep the dog, you will take the dog back. You love your dogs, and want to make sure that each lives a long, healthy, full life, so you keep in contact with your buyers, offering them help and assitance along the way. You feel responsible for your dogs for their lives--whether they are living with you, or in the homes of those who have purchased from you. 

So, ask yourself this question: why would you hand over your puppies to a petshop to sell? Why would you allow your beloved dogs to be sold indiscriminantly, to whoever walks through the door with a credit card? Why would you sell your dogs wholesale, when you barely break even selling them for retail yourself? Why would you even HAVE to rely on a pet shop to sell your puppies when people are knocking down your door to purchase one of your well-bred animals? The answer to all these questions is this: if you are a responsible breeder producing healthy, sound dogs, YOU WOULDN'T.
The very nature of responsible dog breeding prevents any significant amount of money from being made. Dog breeding should not be a business, and responsible breeders know this. In order for people to make money wholesaling their dogs to pet shops, they would have to a) stop spending the large amount of money necessary to test for debilitating genetic diseases, and b) start cranking out a heck of a lot more puppies in order to meet the demands of the petshop. They'd also have to begin breeding more than one breed of dog, and stop spending money on dog sporting activities and dog shows which help determine quality of animals. In essence, they'd have to begin breeding indescriminantly. The dogs would have to be turned into profit-making items. The adage, "You have to spend money to make money" doesn't apply to indescriminant breeders and puppymillers--for these types, the idea is to spend as little on the dogs as possible in an effort to bring in a larger profit.

Back to the pet shops, and their claims:

Still don't believe that the dogs from pet shops come from mills? Press the issue with a pet shop manager. Find out the name of the wholesaler that the shop obtains it's puppies from. Check the information obtained by going to the USDA site (link here) and see if you can match the name the pet shop gave you with one of the licensed dealers listed on the USDA site. If the name is missing, it probably means that the puppies were purchased from a non-licensed mill, or directly from a broker who acts as a middleman.
If you inquire about the supplier of the puppies in shops, you will hear a lot of double-talk, repeated phrases such as, "No, all our dogs come from breeders!" (which, if you think about it, isn't actually a lie--a breeder is merely someone who produces animals), and "Our puppies are guarenteed!". Ask what sort of genetic testing has been done on the parents to help ensure that the puppies will grow into healthy adults. What you'll hear is, "All of our puppies have been vet-checked." No proof of genetic health of parents will be offered, no assurances that the puppies are from healthy stock. "Vet-checked" means nothing more than that the animal showed no overt signs of illness at the time of examination.

Oh, but the shop guareentees the puppies, do they? Ask to examine the guarentee.

You will most likely see many loopholes, and the guarentee probably extends no more than a year. This is no accident or coincodence. Most genetic illnesses crop up after two years of age, well after some pet shop guarentee has expired.
One well known national pet shop chain boasts, "We are breeders representatives!". The breeders they are actually representing are from commercial breeders/dealers, some notorious ones, such as The Hunte Corporation (bda Honey-Dew Kennel and Sundowner) who supplies Boxers and Siberian Huskies, among other breeds, to this chain as well as the chain mentioned in the above link. This particular chain keeps collars on all their puppies, with names of the places the animals were bred at. Don't ever take the claim of pet shops on face-value. Investigate, question, and persist--what you uncover may shock and appall you.
Every time you purchase something from a pet shop that sells puppies, you support a dispicable industry. Support pet shops that do no sell dogs, and send a message to the puppymill-supporting pet shops--you will NOT patronize any shop that encourages the inhumane practice of puppymilling or indescriminant breeding and selling of dogs.

 Petshop puppies can be very unhealthy:

 

Often times, the puppies that are bought from pet shops develop debilitating diseases, temperment problems, and other ailments. The reason these puppies so often end up sickly and mentally disturbed is that no screening of breeding stock is done-sick, unsound, unstable dogs are bred to produce more ailments in the next generation; also, puppies born in mills and then transferred over to petshops do not receive the proper early socialization which may result in behavioral problems later in life.

Cat Breed - Exotic Shorthair

Exotic Shorthair

The Exotic Shorthair is a breed of cat developed to be a shorthaired version of the Persian. he is similar to the Persian in many ways, including temperament and conformation, with the exception of the short dense coat. It has even inherited many of the Persian's health problems.
The birth of the Exotic Shorthair began in earnest in the late 1950s, when American cat breeder Carolyn Bussey crossed a Persian with a brown Burmese, in the hopes of desigining a brown colored Persian. She ended up with black kittens, but she had made the serendipitous discovery that the resulting kittens were strikingly cute. She believed that cat fanciers might take to the idea of a shorter haired Persian, one especially that would be easier to groom, but that retained the same beauty and easy nature of the Persian.

At this point, the short-haired breeds had been pretty well weeded out of the cat fancy because of the surreptitious crossings that had been conducted by less than honest breeders. While American Shorthairs were being crossed with Persians to produce better coats and to recreate the appearance of the Shorthair, the Shorthair breed itself was losing most of the qualities that made it a distinct breed.
The breeders of these cats fudged their papers to make it appear as though these new physical characteristics were naturally occurring, and cat fancy associations had no option except to all but end the registration of the Shorthair.

Ms. Bussey's exacting standards on breeding brought a more ethical approach to the cross breeding, and the result of her campaign to engineer this new breed was its registration as the Exotic Shorthair. Beyond the initial outcrosses between the Burmese and the Persian with the American Shorthair, the Exotic has been limited to crosses with the Persian, so that the breed can maintain its pedigreed status.

Outcrosses have not been a part of the Exotic breeding program since 1975, when the gene pool was deemed large enough to reliably produce both vigorous and attractive cats that met the standard.

This breed was granted Championship Status in 1967 by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA). The Exotic made rapid progress from there, and was soon in demand. In 1971, the first Exotic Shorthair achieved the status of Grand Champion, and in 1991, an Exotic was the CFA's Cat of the Year.
The Persian was used as an outcross by some American Shorthair (ASH) breeders in the late 1950s to "improve" their breed. The crossbreed look gained recognition in the show ring but other American Shorthair breeders, unhappy with the changes, successfully produced a new breed standard that would disqualify ASH that showed signs ofcrossbreeding.

One ASH breeder who saw the potential of the Persian/ASH cross proposed and eventually managed to get the Cat Fanciers' Association to recognize them as a new breed in 1966, under the name Exotic Shorthair. During the breeding program, crosses were also made with the Russian Blue and the Burmese. Since 1987, the only allowable outcross breed is the Persian. The Fédération Internationale Féline recognized the Exotic Shorthair in 1986.

Because of the regular use of Persians as outcrosses, some Exotics may carry a copy of the recessive longhair gene. When two such cats mate, there is a one in four chance of each offspring being longhaired. Ironically, longhaired Exotics are not considered Persians by CFA, although The International Cat Association accepts them as Persians. Other associations register them as a separate Exotic Longhair breed.

A breed with only 50 years of history, the Exotic Shorthair, also known as the Shorthaired Persian, is a popular breed for cat fanciers who walk on the calmer side of life. This breed has its playful side, but it prefers to cuddle and relax for most of the day. Perfect for urban homes, or for country living, the Exotic is plush and beautiful to look at, with the added benefit of being one of the more affectionate breeds. A Persian without pretension, the Exotic is also easy to care for, with a minimal shedding but still luxurious coat.

Physical Characteristics

The Exotic Shorthair can be succinctly described as being a short-haired Persian, since for all intents, it meets every standard for the Persian breed, except for the coat. Where the Persian has a long thick coat that requires daily combing for prevention of mats and tangles, the Exotic has a medium length coat that is dense and plush, with a thick undercoat.
The Exotic does not require daily combing, nor does it shed heavily -- in fact, it sheds so little as to be considered a “non-shedding” breed. Weekly combing is recommended simply for the purpose of beautifying the Exotic, and for keeping hairballs to a minimum. The fur on the Exotic is so thick, that this is one of those particular breeds of cats that looks much bigger than it truly is; needless to say, it is a big cat.

The Exotic may grow to be up to 15 pounds, but in height it remains fairly short and close to the ground. The appearance is cobby with short, stout legs holding up a round, muscular physique. It is compact, not fat, with the weight being attributed to the density of the bones. Proceeding upward to the crown, the neck carries the athletic build: short and substantial, topped by an impressively sized head. Exotics are acceptable in any color and in any coat pattern, including color point (like Siamese), white, striped, and calico.
The face of the Exotic is identical to the Persian, with the same standards in place. There are two features which particularly cause the Exotic to stand out. This breed is categorized as brachycephalic, which means that the skull, and by extension, the face, is short and broad, with a flattened muzzle. The other natural characteristic this breed has, and which boosts its popularity, is its pedomorphic appearance, meaning that the face of the Exotic retains its kittenish expression, with large, round, widely set eyes, small ears, a short nose, and a large, round head. This “cuteness”, along with its ease of grooming, and its agreeable and playful nature, make the Exotic one of the top choices for companion animals.

Facts About Exotic Shorthair Cats

They’ve Only Been Around for 50 Years

The exotic shorthair breed began in the 1950s when American shorthairs were bred with Persians. Burmese and Russian blues were also bred with Persians to get the short-haired gene.

They Can Be Extreme or Traditional

Extreme exotic shorthairs have a very distinct appearance with flatter faces, tiny noses, and large eyes. Traditional exotic shorthairs have less flat faces and slightly longer noses.

Low Maintenance

Exotics are sometimes called “the lazy man’s Persian,” because they require only weekly combing (while Persians require intensive grooming). They have a dense undercoat that gives them a puffy appearance, but even still they have little to no shedding.

Love of Lounging

If you’re looking for a cat who loves to cuddle, exotics are it. They tend to follow their owners around the house and will jump into your lap as much as possible.

They Love Companionship

Exotics love the company of others, be it from their humans or other cats (and even dogs). If you’d like more than one pet, exotics are therefore a good choice as they tend to get along well with others. Exotics are also a good choice for people who are home often… but not for those who are gone for long hours each day.

They’re Playful

Persians are known for being lazy, but exotics enjoy playing with toys. While they’re still lap cats at heart, exotics can be quite playful as well.

Garfield

It’s thought that the comic-strip cat Garfield is an exotic shorthair, due to his appearance. However, most exotics are far friendlier, and not as lazy, as the cartoon cat.

They Need to Warm Up to Strangers

Exotics are very affectionate toward their families, but they shy away from strangers. If an exotic meets someone new, it will take a little time for him to feel comfortable around the person.


A Favorite Cat Breed

As mentioned, exotics are the second most popular cat breed in America, a title they’ve held for the last three years.

Pets Help People Manage The Pain Of Serious Mental Illness

Pets Help People

Any pet owner will tell you that their animal companions comfort and sustain them when life gets rough. This may be especially true for people with serious mental illness, a study finds. When people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder were asked who or what helped them manage the condition, many said it was pets that helped the most. "When I'm feeling really low they are wonderful because they won't leave my side for two days," one study participant with two dogs and two cats, "They just stay with me until I am ready to come out of it."

Another person said of their pet birds: "If I didn't have my pets I think I would be on my own. You know what I mean, so it's — it's nice to come home and, you know, listen to the birds singing and that, you know." Many people with serious mental illness live at home and have limited contact with the health care system, says Helen Brooks, a mental health researcher at University of Manchester in the United Kingdom and the lead author on the study, which was published Friday in the journal BMC Psychiatry. So they're doing a lot of the work of managing their conditions.

Brooks says, "Many felt deep emotional connections with their pet that weren't available from friends and family."

Brooks and her colleagues interviewed 54 people with serious long-term mental illnesses. Twenty-five of them considered their pets to be a part of their social network. The scientists asked who they went to when they needed help or advice, where they gained emotional support and encouragement and how they spent their days.

The participants were then given a diagram with three consecutive circles radiating out from a square representing the participant. They were asked to write the people, places and things that gave them support into the circles, with the circles closest to the center being the most important.

Sixty percent of the people who considered pets to be a part of their social networks placed them in the central, most important circle — the same place many people put close family and social workers. 20 percent placed pets in the second circle.
The interviews with participants are poignant, and reveal the struggle and isolation that can come with mental illness.
"I think it's really hard when you haven't had a mental illness to know what the actual experience is [like]," said one participant. "There's like a chasm, deep chasm between us ... [Other people are] on one side of it, and we're on the other side of it. We're sending smoke signals to each other to try and understand each other but we don't always — we don't always understand."

People with mental illnesses often see their social groups shrink and find themselves alienated from their friends. For many of these people, says Brooks, animals can break through the isolation. They give affection without needing to understand the disorder.

"[Pets] don't look at the scars on your arms," one participant said. "They don't question where you've been."

The pets provided more than just emotional support and companionship, participants said. The animals also could distract them from their illness, even from severe psychosis.

One study participant placed birds in his closest social circle. When he was hearing voices, he said that they "help me in the sense, you know, I'm not thinking about the voices, I'm just thinking of when I hear the birds singing."

Another participant said that merely seeing a hamster climbing the bars on the cage and acting cute helped with some difficult situations.

And having to take care of pets keeps people from withdrawing from the world. "They force me, the cats force me to sort of still be involved," said one participant.

Another said that walking the dog helped them get out of the house and with people. "That surprised me, you know, the amount of people that stop and talk to him, and that, yeah, it cheers me up with him. I haven't got much in my life, but he's quite good, yeah."

"The routine these pets provide is really important for people," says Brooks. "Getting up in the morning to feed them and groom them and walk them, giving them structure and a sense of purpose that they won't otherwise have."

Many of the study participants are unemployed because of their illness, she notes. Having a pet that was well taken care of was a source of pride for them.

Mark Longsjo, the program director of adult services at McLean Southeast, an inpatient mental facility in Middleborough, Mass., says that the interviews in the study reflect his professional experiences. "We have so many patients come through, and we always ask them about their support system. Sometimes its family members, sometimes its friends, but it's very common to hear about pets."

When he does patient intake surveys, Longsjo says that he includes pets in their risk assessments. Patients with pets often say the animals help keep them from following through on suicidal thinking, because they know their pets depend on them. The social workers at McLean also incorporate pets into their aftercare planning, encouraging patients to make walking and grooming their pets a part of their routine. "I think there's significant value in considering the common everyday pet to be as important as the relationships one has with one's family in the course of their treatment," says Longsjo. He feels this study is important because, although there's a lot of work looking at the benefits of trained therapy animals, they can be expensive and out of the reach of many patients.

Brooks hopes that more health workers will consider incorporating pets into care plans for people with mental illness. Many of her participants said that sometimes it felt like their pets could sense when they needed help the most, and were able to provide it — just like the owners took care of them.

As one person in the study said, "When he comes up and sits beside you on a night, it's different, you know. It's just, like, he needs me as much as I need him."