Opinion: Our precious family pets and the many health benefits they bring

For those of us fortunate enough to have a beloved pet, they are our constant companions, showering us with unconditional love. 

While the work and commitment involved in keeping a pet healthy and happy is not to be underestimated, the rewards are huge.

From improving emotional well-being  to giving us reasons to get out in the fresh air, there is no end to the health benefits of having a pet.

The last census showed that more than half (52%) of the households in Ireland include at least one pet. Of the respondents who were pet owners, 87% said that it had a positive impact on their health and well-being. 

We have several in our house. We started with two cats after I spotted a rat in the garden one day. I got kittens from a farm cat mum, and they lived mostly outside. They were friendly and affectionate but definitely outdoor cats - right up until the day we got the dog. 

Dogs are known for being expressive, but if you’ve ever owned a cat, you’ll know that they too can have a full range of facial expressions and body language. 

And when our cat Scarecrow looked in our sitting room window one day and saw the new dog - Lacey - lying on the couch getting loads of attention, her expression could only be described as deeply indignant. 

After that, our cats started to spend a lot more time indoors, and the current generation are most definitely house cats. Though as we are surrounded by forest, farm and river, they certainly earn their keep keeping the rodents at bay.

Our dog came into our lives not long after we had a major bereavement in the house. We were fractured, each coping as best we could in our own way.

I’d had a little bit of a scare when I got up one morning to find that the lid was lying beside my oil tank. I had no oil to steal at the time, so there was no theft but the fact that someone had come round the back of the house to look shook me badly. I suddenly felt more vulnerable than I ever had in my life. 

The idea of getting a dog set in, but I was still at a stage where it was taking everything I had in me to get from one end of the day to the other. I was exhausted even at the thought of having a puppy in the house, a ball of energy that needed training and cleaning up after.

But not long after the oil tank incident, I saw a programme on television which I think was called Crufts for Mutts. The title speaks for itself - there were no ‘Best of Breed’ categories, this was a chance for dogs to shine just for their personalities and companionship, which after all is why we have them. 

There was one particular dog and owner whose story really stuck with me. It was a young woman who had been in a very dark place in her life and could see no way forward. On the verge of suicide, she came across a stray, frightened dog in poor condition. After attempts to find its owner failed, she nurtured it with the support of a local charity, and it became her reason to live. 

Fast forward a few years, and both dog and owner were clearly full of the joys of life, and full of love for each other.

I don’t know why I hadn’t really given much thought to getting a rescue dog before that. Perhaps it was the fear of the unknown history of the dog. 

I went to the dog pound and had a really good chat with the man there, explaining our family circumstances and that I needed a dog to be fully trained. I thought I might come across as being a bit demanding, but I know now that it is good to be clear on what you want and more importantly, on what you can manage.

There were plenty of dogs in the pound at the time, but the man I spoke to said he felt that none of them at that time were what I was needed and we both agreed that taking one for the sake of it would be a bad idea.

I kept an eye on the dogs coming in over the next month or two, and one day there was a lovely labrador on the pound’s Facebook page. I immediately rang and left a message, even though it was out of hours. I went up the next morning with the children, having warned them that we were only going for a look to see if she was right for us.

As soon as we saw her, there was no doubt that she was the perfect dog for our family. Affectionate but not boisterous, she was well-trained and absolutely adorable. 

More than six years later, she continues to bring a lot of love into our home. 

She gets us out for walk, she makes us smile every day, she enriches our lives in more ways than could ever be listed here. 

If you own a pet, you will know that already. From the comfort of a purring cat falling asleep on your knee to the joy of a dog running around in circles with excitement just because you have come through the door after a day at work, they really improve your mood and overall well being. 

Of course getting a pet is not a decision to be taken lightly, and it is something that needs to be discussed with everyone in the house.

But if you are thinking about it, take time to chat to local rescue organisations and see if you can find your perfect match there. Responsible rescues will work with you to ensure that you and the pet are a good fit for each other.