Tag Archive for snake

Pets & Your Health

February 20, 2020 Comments Off on Pets & Your Health

If you don’t own a pet, maybe you should get one. A pet offers a whole bunch of health benefits to you:

  • Buffer stress
  • Lower heart rate
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Give social support
  • Help you stay in shape
  • Prevent certain sicknesses

And to your children:

  • Cognitive stimulation
  • Improved behavior in children
  • Heightened understanding of others
  • Increased immunity
  • Lower anxiety levels

You can read why pet ownership gives you these benefits by reading this Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center’s short article Health Benefits of Pet Ownership.

By the way, Feb. 20 is National Love Your Pet Day. So, love your pet…or get one.

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Can Your Comfort Snake Fly?

August 15, 2018 Comments Off on Can Your Comfort Snake Fly?

 

Not any longer. Not if you’re flying on Southwest.

What? A snake could be in the cabin? Yes. Or a pony, pig,goat, spider, or maybe even a peacock. If they’re a “Comfort Animal” (AKA “Emotional Support Animal”). That’s because, unlike Service Animals (for the blind and physically disabled), there are no FAA regulations covering them. But, also unlike Service Animals, airlines have had incidents with a Comfort Animal biting or scratching passengers or leaving little brown “gifts” in the aisles.

Since the FAA won’t do anything–and people are taking advantage, claiming their pet is their “Comfort Animal”–major airlines are taking matters into their own paws, er, hands. Southwest now limits Comfort Animals to cats and dogs only, requires a letter from a physician certifying that it is necessary to their patient’s health and well-being, ensures that they are in a crate or on a leash.

As a person with a physical disability myself and friend to a couple of people who have either a Comfort Animal or Service Animal, I don’t think these small rules are too much to ask.

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A Day for Our Spouse

September 4, 2017 Comments Off on A Day for Our Spouse

Today is Labor Day.  We might have relaxation and a BBQ with friends in mind.  Maybe we’ll  even give a passing thought to all the workers we meet daily where we work or eat lunch.  But what about those closer to home?  Do we show appreciation for the work our spouse does around the house or for our family? Who labors over the gardening, laundry, cooking, planning, driving, finances, or myriad other tasks that keep a family running smoothly?  Probably us or our spouse.  Take a moment today—and often—to say “thank you” for something he or she does on a regular basis.  Simple words of gratitude, especially when spoken frequently, remind people that what they do is noticed and drives off that slithering snake of resentment, whose bite poisons relationships.

 

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Happy St. Pat’s Day, Even if You’re a Snake

March 17, 2015 Comments Off on Happy St. Pat’s Day, Even if You’re a Snake

My Irish heritage causes me to think, this time of year, about St. Patrick.  I know that he didn’t chase the snakes out of Ireland.  He couldn’t  as there were no snakes to chase out of this land that was underwater fifteen thousand years ago and then had glacial conditions.  Even hearty snakes that might have been able to swim the frigid ocean waters would, literally, freeze their tails.  But it’s a charming legend, based largely on his converting so many people to Christianity from religions that revered snakes.

Oh well.  At least I know that leprechauns exist.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

St. Patty's Day Kick

 

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