Pets To Love And Be Thankful For

Rescuing Mocha

This is our little grand fur baby, Mocha, who was found in a rural area where she had been abandoned. It was in the month of August in the intense Florida heat. You could count every bone in her body. She was dehydrated, filthy, flea-ridden and if we had left her, she would have died. My husband had a few small crumbs of beef jerky left in his truck that we fed her. We gave her a drink of water out of yesterday’s coffee mug that was rolling around in his truck’s floorboard. Extremely grateful, she followed us everywhere we went after that. I would have taken her home but we already had one dog. Thankfully, I was able to convince my oldest daughter to adopt her. Our family found Mocha to be the most loving cuddle bug ever.

These photographs were taken while we were sheltering in the midst of one of the worst hurricanes to hit our coastal town ever, Hurricane Michael. Anxiety and stress were felt among us all. Though these two had never met before, Nana and Mocha became almost inseparable while we awaited the arrival of the storm. Nana, 84 at the time, was recovering from some health issues and dealing with dementia. Mocha somehow sensed her vulnerability and stayed right by her side. The two calmed and comforted each other and no one dared to try to separate the pair. Mocha’s pet power was a blessing for both which we all were thankful for.

Seniors and Pets

Seniors often face great loneliness as they age. Health problems are a large contributor to lesser and lesser social interactions. That is where having a pet can enrich the area of deficit. Dogs especially, give love constantly, unconditionally, and faithfully. They have an intelligent level of communication and can sense the possible impending medical situations of their owners. Cuddling with one of these incredibly loving fur babies can lower anxiety, stress, and blood pressure. Pets are a viable being to care for, love, and interact with reducing loneliness. This gives the elderly a reason to get up each morning as a pet needs to be fed and given water. It also gives a fantastic excuse to get some exercise. All of these are reasons to be thankful for the pets in our daily lives and especially the lives of the elderly.

Veterans With Pets

In conclusion, the elderly are not the only ones who can benefit from pet ownership. Seeing how we just celebrated Veteran’s Day, I wanted to point out a wonderful organization that recognizes the healing power of pet companionship. Pets For Vets pairs transitioning vets with rescued shelter animals enabling both to benefit from the union. Abandoned animals need to be loved, appreciated, and have a renewed chance at having a family. God can use these incredibly sensitive creatures to help veterans suffering from PTSD. Rescued pets in return rescue us with love and companionship. Again, a loving symbiotic relationship to be thankful for! You can find more information or contribute to their cause by clicking on the following link: https://www.petsforvets.com.