With all the talk out of Washington about physical fitness and new food labels, we want to go on record that we are extremely disappointed that this discussion has not included the health benefits of having a dog in your life. Ok, maybe not just the having a dog part but more specifically the health benefits of walking your dog! A study at the George Washington University School of Public Health evaluated 900 people in three different groups (dog owners who walked their dogs, dog owners who didn’t walk their dogs, and non-dog owners) and found some remarkable results. Dog owners who did not walk their dogs and non-dog owners were 2.5 times more likely to report having been treated for diabetes. They were also almost twice as likely to report having high blood pressure. The results of this study are supported by a study at Michigan State University which found that people who walked their dog got an extra hour of walking per week compared to their non-dog owning/walking peers.
Now we know that simply walking your dog is not going to solve the obesity crisis in this country, but every day you hit the snooze button on your alarm clock and miss going to the gym you still need to walk your dog (or bring your dog to Pet Camp for day care or better yet both!). So we call on our elected officials to get over all this bickering about the tax code and the size of the national debt. Start focusing on some important issues – like amending the Affordable Care Act to subsidize dog ownership as a health benefit! Walking your dog is good for both you and your furry friend!
Thanks for reading!