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Pets helping area residents get through the pandemic

LAUREL — The creator of Charlie Brown, Charles M. Schulz, titled his 1962 classic “Happiness is a warm puppy.”

Schulz was writing to prove that happiness is found in the simple things, even a puppy.

Over a dozen area families have found this out for themselves as they have welcomed new four-legged family members into their homes during this pandemic.

The general consensus is that these furry additions have been a source of joy and healthy distraction throughout this seemingly never-ending season of social distancing.

Families are able to interact with pets which proves beneficial in times when human interaction is discouraged.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is data that link pets to humans’ physical and emotional well-being.

Studies show that humans have decreases in their blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels. They also show that there are increases in opportunity for exercise and outdoor activities along with increased opportunity for socialization.

Several of the families with new furry-friends have commented that the rewards for having a pet far outweighs the work. Pet ownership teaches children responsibility while providing companionship for an entire household.

Ella Hartung, Mollie Schutte, and Haley Christensen have participated in “puppy play-dates.”

It’s sort of like show-n-tell only everyone has a puppy. Schutte and Christensen’s puppies are half-sisters so perhaps their rendezvous could be considered a family reunion of sorts.

This continued rising trend of animal adoption in our community proves that “Happiness is (indeed) a warm puppy (pet).”

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