March 19th

By Mutt Mulligan

Consider fostering a pet – it’s good for them and you!

If you have ever thought about fostering (or adopting if your shelter is currently open to the public) a pet, there may be no better time than the present. With families spending more time at home and fewer people visiting their local shelters, many pet organizations across the country are encouraging people to foster an animal that is awaiting its forever home.

One of the TurfMutt Foundation’s initiatives is pet adoption and advocacy. Each October, the TurfMutt Foundation hosts the Lucky’s Mutt Madness event at GIE+EXPO in Louisville, giving attendees the opportunity to adopt a furry friend from the Kentucky Humane Society.

Fostering or adopting a pet gives that animal a much-needed break from a stressful shelter environment. It is also good for your own health and well-being. Here are just a few reasons why.

• Playing with or even just petting a dog lowers blood pressure, slows heart rate, regulates breathing and relaxes muscle tension.
• Exposure to household dogs and cats in childhood has been linked to a reduced risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
• Dog owners are more likely to engage in moderate physical activity than non-dog owners. In fact, dog owners walk an average of 300 minutes per week, while those without a dog walk 168 minutes per week on average.
• When dogs and humans interact with one another they get a dose of oxytocin, a.k.a. the “cuddle hormone.”
• Dog ownership is linked to a 21% reduction in the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
• Having a strong attachment to a pet makes people feel more connected to their communities and to their human relationships.

Click here to find your new best friend: https://theshelterpetproject.org/.