Pets Cure Winter BluesCHARLOTTE, N.C.- Our cold snap already has some people thinking about the winter blues. For some who battle seasonal depression, pets can do a whole lot more than just keep them company. Pets can help fight anxiety through the fall and winter seasons. "Yeah, they definitely help when you're down or depressed, " says Colleen O'Sullivan. She says seeing her dogs' wagging tails lifts her spirits everyday, "When you come home at the end of a bad day they're there to greet you." Tucker Summerville has been a pet volunteer at Carolina's Medical Center for 12 years. She says just walking her dog Wendy into a patient's room can have a big impact, "It's therapy for all of us. They just seem to be happier and I have actually watched the monitors and seen the blood pressure go down." Pet Therapy dog Fred is a show stopper walking through the hospital halls today. The golden retriever puts smile on everyone's faces. Meredith Thompson is the co-owner of Canine Cafe. She says pets can help fight depression by giving you a sense of responsibility, "Having loving animals around the house definitely makes you feel needed and it gives you a little bit of a purpose." Some common prescriptions to fighting seasonal depression are taking more vitamin D and bringing in artificial sunlight by switching to UV lamps. In this case, snuggling with a pet can cure winter blues. |
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