Prefer animals over people? This is what science says about you

[caption id="attachment_6960" align="alignleft" width="361"] Veronica Sturman and her pet[/caption]

Editor--- When you reject human relationships, do you usually become more attached to animals and more supportive of animals in general.    Scientists tell us that many  people say they prefer animals to people.   Is that a healthy behavior and what do people say about their feelings with respect to humans vs animals?

Leona Helmsley favored her animals over people.  She was referred to as the “Queen of Mean” after making remarks about her employees, that only the “little people” pay taxes.  She was convicted of  tax fraud and died of heart failure in 1987, according to a biography of the woman many Americans came to hate after reading about her and how she was said to have treated her employees  .   In her will, she left her dog, Trouble, a Maltese $12 million, significantly more than what she left her grandchildren, raising public consternation and questions at the time.   The questions about those who prefer animals over people became prominent at the time her bequest was revealed.

Yet despite the play given by the press to the negatives of the Helmsleys, both Leona and her husband Harry, few, if any members of the media looked at what other charitable contributions they made, for example, the Helmsley Trust,  that is said to provide financial assistance for “effective nonprofits in health and medical research, human services, education, and conservation.”

The New York Times quotes Joel Gavriele-Gold, a New York psychotherapist, saying,  "There are whole segments of the population that prefer being in the company of dogs than people, and I'm not sure that's such a negative thing."   In fact his statement sums up the findings of many psychologists, that the attitude about animals relative to people is one that is shared by many and not especially a negative thing.

A survey of people’s attitudes toward everything from  the Loch Ness Monster to pets, found that about 20% of people report they prefer their pets over people.  A random conversation with a group of seniors brought the observation that when a person grows old and can’t get around much anymore, the closeness of a pet is important.  In fact that closeness has been found to have medical benefits in aging.  In fact it has been found that having a pet lowers depression, provides a sense of security and can actually help prevent a heart attack.

Are you sleeping with the enemy?

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Carol Forsloff - She’s saffron blonde, has a great figure, is a good bit younger than I am; and he told me he knew in a dream she was right for him.   Now she sleeps between us, and I have to wonder if that’s a good thing.

How many people sleep with their animals?  It turns out a lot of people do.  In our case, both cats find their way into the bedroom almost every night.  The luscious saffron blonde just described is a tabby named Mandy, almost seven years old.  She is a quiet sleeper, hardly making a mew in the middle of the night.  Jack, our male cat and two years old and counting is the restless one, taking his place at the foot of the bed and making sure we know he’s there by biting a toe now and then.

But what happens with everyone else when it comes to nocturnal habits of pets and people?  I set out to find the answer in a world where cats are the kings and queens of domestic pets, taking over from dogs because of those time and work factors that interfere with people time.  In other words dogs are far more trouble, requiring walking, much attention and not easy to teach responsible bathroom manners.  Cats, however, bathe themselves, can walk unaided thank you, and the nearest litter box becomes the sacred place for taking care of business.

The names of the participants in this survey have been changed, as many old people said they sleep with pets because they feel lonely; and pets make them feel they still have a mate.

Molly G is one of those folks.  At the age of 75, she has lived alone since her husband died six years ago.  She says, “We didn’t have animals much when my husband was alive.  Actually he was allergic to cats.  But after he died, the bed seemed empty.  I had adopted a cat from the Humane Society, and that cat soon became a real companion around the house.  Suddenly there was another living creature around, so when the cat decided to sleep with me, I thought, ‘Why not.’

Bill is in the same boat, only his reasoning is a bit different as his wife is still alive.  He said, “We stopped cuddling much in bed after my wife finished menopause and said she was all dried up years later.  That doesn’t mean we don’t have our moments, but since the cat started sleeping with us, my wife seems easier to love.  In fact, she has those baby names for the cat she makes up almost every day and tells me she almost feels like a young mother again.  For an 82-year-old, if I get a little, well that’s a lot.”

But here’s the negative in a news selection from CNN, “The risk of contracting something is rare, but if you’re that person who gets a disease from a pet, rare doesn’t matter that much,” says the paper’s co-author Bruno Chomel, a professor at the University of California-Davis school of veterinary medicine and an expert in zoonoses, the transmission of disease from animal to human. “I know this will make me unpopular, but pets really don’t belong in your bed.”

Still, experts tell us that catching a disease from a pet is rare; and those most at risk remain the elderly and those with diseases like diabetes.

What do the veterinarians think about sleeping with animals?  The American Veterinary Medical Association tells us folks need to use common sense.  In other words, if Fido or Fifi live outdoors, what indeed might they drag back?

One veterinarian puts it this way.  “I’ve been in practice for 40 years and I see the bond between people and their pets and the positive effects pets can have on humans, which I believe outweighs any risk, whether you sleep with a pet or not,” says Larry Kornegay,  a veterinarian, who admits to the fact that the family’s miniature Schnauzer sleeps with his own teenage daughter.

Would you take the risk and believe in doing so you are “sleeping with the enemy?”  With the medical news stretched to include everything from dust mites to sugar lumps in our food and the environment we share with our felines (and other animals as well), it gives a person pause.

Betty L answers the question firm enough for the rest of the folks around, “If the chances of getting a disease are rare, well I’ll just take my chances.  Besides it doesn’t seem like the people talking made a distinction between those animals who live exclusively indoors and those who wander outside.  I’ll keep my dog and cat around until I’m not around, and that’s enough for me.”

FEEDING PETS OF THE HOMELESS LAUNCHES NATIONAL PET FOOD DRIVE

PR.com and News Editor, GHN.   August 8-14 has been declared the first National Feeding Pets of the Homeless Week, which is important given the crises animals are experiencing in the recession.

Some cities are actually disposing of pets since they can no longer maintain pet shelters.  This is especially true in small towns like Natchitoches, Louisiana.  So the help to agencies to feed animals in shelters is especially critical these days.

The national organization, Pets of the Homeless, asks the public to locate a collection site in their community by visiting . Donations of pet food should be taken to one of the identified, local collection sites.



Homelessness is on the rise and between 10-25% of homeless have pets in need of food. There are over 200 collection sites in over 33 states and 3 in Canada. Donations of pet food and supplies are received at member collection sites and distributed to food banks, soup kitchens and homeless shelters which then give the pet food and supplies to their clients.

Genevieve Frederick, Executive director of Pets of the Homeless said, "Since 2008, collection site members have taken over 52 tons of pet food and over $8,000 worth of supplies to homeless shelters, food banks and soup kitchens across the country. It is a combined effort to continue year-round collections of pet food. We applaud the caring, member volunteers who have reported their contributions. The need is great for communities to continue to donate to this on-going effort."

As an outreach to the homeless who own pets, Pets of the Homeless, also uses cash donations to provide veterinary care to pets of the homeless at free clinics across the country. Grants are given to veterinarians who go where the homeless congregate.

"Most shelters do not allow animals, so rather than give up their beloved pets, many homeless stay on the streets." Ms Frederick explained, "We provide pet sleeping crates, free of charge, to homeless shelters that allow refuge to the homeless with pets."

Feeding Pets of the Homeless provides assistance to pet business owners who wish to give back to their community by becoming a member collection site. Helpful start-up information is available on the website.

For more information about Pets of the Homeless, visit www.petsofthehomeless.org