Furman University

Going to the Dogs May Be Good for You

A recent trip to a pet store prompted me to reflect upon our national passion for animals. People were buying everything from gourmet food to jeweled collars to wool sweaters for their pets.

These doting animal lovers are not alone. Americans own about 240 million pets. Our spending on pet supplies and food is soaring, from about $4 billion annually 20 years ago to about $17 billion today. The Upstate, by the way, has one of the highest percentages of pet ownership in the country.

But these statistics hardly convey the emotional investment we make in our pets. Consider these examples: Among people who have pictures in their wallets, nearly half carry pet snapshots, while only 2 percent have photos of their mothers-in-law. (Of course, I carry both!) Well over half of the 54 million dog owners buy Christmas gifts for Fido or Fluffy. Some people even purchase "get well" cards for their pets after being at the vet. The most popular reads: "Sorry to hear that you got fixed."

As for me, I went to the dogs early in life. From the time I was a toddler, I have always enjoyed canine friends. To be sure, not all dogs are saints. But those of my experience have been the embodiment of loyalty, courage, and forgiveness. Our household now has two: an elderly golden retriever named Dena and a frolicking young yellow lab named Shasta (we also have two aloof cats and a surly iguana).

When I return from the office each evening, Dena and Shasta greet me in a frenzy of affection. Shasta is especially comical. She behaves like a jack-in-the-box, hopping up and down on all fours, ecstatic at the prospect of a reunion with her human friends. I usually respond in kind, not really hopping so much any moreI have a bad kneebut showering the dogs with demonstrative hugs and saccharine praise. My wife Susan often watches in bemused disbelief as I cavort like a child with my four-legged playmates. But as I remind her, the great thing about dogs is that you can act foolish around them and get away with it.

For me, dogs are ideal companions because they never display any bitterness or pretensions and are endlessly forgiving. They exude a wholehearted acceptance of life; they greet each moment with interest and energy. Their zest for life is exhilarating.

The consistency of dogged devotion is also appealing. Whatever my mood or degree of exhaustion at the end of a day, I can count on Dena and Shasta offering an ecstatic greeting as if I were a long lost friend. They yank me out of my self-absorption. Their effusive welcome is always the same, rain or shine; their reservoir of love is unlimited.

The craving to be appreciated is one of our most basic desires, and

canines readily accommodate our needs. When youre at the end of your leash or feel hounded at work, a dogs affection can be immensely therapeutic. Occasionally, I may be in the doghouse with my wife or children, but I am always on good terms with our retrievers. "The one thing that a pet does for you is love you no matter what," says Ginger Hamilton, a psychologist who works with people and their pets.

Pets also help lower our blood pressure, increase survival rates of heart attack victims, enliven the outlook of the elderly, reduce doctor visits, and lift the spirits of the disabled and mentally ill.

While providing such benefits, dogs make few demands. All they require is food, affection, an occasional grooming, and a willingness to throw their favorite toy until ones arm collapses.

The simple needs of dogs reveal the futility of our own overcomplicated lives. They also remind us of age-old virtues such as simplicity, acceptance, caring, cooperation, and trust. As an African proverb explains, if people lived up to the reputation of a dog, they would be saints. So if you are looking for companionship, love, and entertainment in 1998, turn off the television and visit the humane society kennels. They have four-legged orphans eager to be adopted. In fact, they will greet you with open paws.