Puppy Snuggles are the Best Snuggles

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Fall is here and so is all the stress of first semester, so let’s be honest that also means that our self-care is going rapidly down the drain. But did you know that according to helpguide.org interacting with dogs could actually improve your overall health?

On October 28, 2016 there will be Puppies for Pediatric Cancer on the Festival Lawn from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. There will be a required $5 donation to play with all the puppies, and the money will go towards JMU's Relay for Life event held in the spring semester.

Information on helpgudie.org says that dogs understand what we desire through our language and can actually sense a person’s tone of voice, body language and gestures. Then they will adapt to either match or improve a person’s emotional state.

According to the American Heart Association, those who own or regularly interact with animals—especially dogs—have a reduced risk of heart disease and greater life longevity.

Here are a few more facts:

1. People who own a dog are less likely to struggle with depression.

2. People who own a dog typically have lower blood pressure in stressful situations.

3. Interacting with dogs releases higher levels of serotonin and dopamine into our systems, allowing for calmness and relaxation.

4. People who own a dog increase their exercise levels, leading to weight loss without a change in diet. On average, someone who walks their dog for 20 minutes five days a week lost 14.4 pounds over the course of a year.

5. Heart attack patients with a dog survive longer.

6. People over the age of 65 who own a dog have 30 percent less doctor visits than other people in the same age range.

7. Prisoners show long-term behavior change after interaction with a dog.

Now you may be thinking, "I can't make it on Friday." Not to worry.

If you can’t make it to this Friday’s event, you can find the puppies at the famous puppy farm nearby, which is actually Gap View Ranch and Kennel, located at 13445 Cooley Spring Lane, Broadway, Va. 22815. The kennel was started in 1984 by David Liskey, and has grown rapidly ever since. The kennel’s goal in breeding golden retrievers “is to make sure that the best possible genetic characteristics are passed from generation to generation.”

Visits to the puppy farm can be made Friday through Sunday between 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., by appointment only. To make an appointment, just call and if you are planning on visiting be sure to check out this message to JMU Dukes.