(Tralain Benner and Blu | Photo courtesy of Tralain Benner)
In a world gone awry, our furry, four-legged friends can make the difference between a good day and a bad day. They love us unconditionally, greet us with unbounding enthusiasm and sit dutifully by our sides while we work from home or do our chores. Our pets may not know there is a pandemic going on, but they do know when we are upset or anxious, and there is nothing they’d rather do than offer us comfort.
“Affection from my dog and cat are easing my soul. These have been challenging times emotionally, mentally and physically, and the animals have been my unconditional support,” said Tralain Benner, owner, president and CEO of Mama T’s Pet Products. “I have always worked from home, but the challenging part now is the extra activity in the house.” Benner is married and has two teenage sons, a dog named Blu and a cat named Charley, all of whom are home together throughout the day during this season of COVID. When the pressure gets to be too much, Benner said Blu has been her escape. “When I need a break, we go for a walk. Everyone in my neighborhood is out. Animals are definitely getting more attention.”
Benner said her pets have also picked up on the added stress in the house. “Blu requires more attention, maintenance and needs to go out more,” she said. “Before everyone was home, not so much. They sense things and pick up on our stress. They are out of their norm and this is not what they’ve known.”
Mama T’s is an e-commerce and wholesale product line of Pet Therapy CBD Oil (mamatspetproducts.com) that Benner created in 2018, and she runs the business from home. In the new scenario with everyone in the house, she said her pets rely on her for comfort, and vice-versa. “Blu had no interest in me before. He would maybe nudge me one or two times a day to go out, but that has changed. They are behaving very differently. I am having to stay more attentive to my dog. When we all leave the house, he seems to get anxiety and gets diarrhea.”
Benner said her cat has been overly sensitive during the past two months as well, and has changed his routines. “Formerly, Charley would sit in my chair or on the table next to my keyboard. He was always with me, up in my business, but he doesn’t do that anymore.” Now, Benner said her cat has started sitting with her 14-year-old son when he does his homework. “The emotional support for my son has been great. Charley is his best friend.”
On the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website (nami.org), the organization reports that dogs can reduce stress, anxiety and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and improve all-around health. The website states, “People with dogs have lower blood pressure and are less likely to develop heart disease — just playing with dogs has been shown to elevate oxytocin and dopamine, creating positive feelings and bonding for both the person and their pet.” Because dogs need exercise, pet owners are more likely to exercise on a regular basis, and socialization can be heightened by greeting others while on walks or at the dog park. The NAMI site goes on to say, “Dogs can be a lot to handle, but research shows that responsibility helps your mental health. Some psychologists say that you build self-esteem by taking ownership and applying skills to a specific task. Taking care of a dog offers reassurance that you can care for another creature and for yourself.”
Dr. Alan Kelley, DVM, owner of Alpine Veterinary Clinic in Bend, said he and his colleagues have noticed an uptick in people getting puppies right now. “It’s immeasurable the quality of life you get from pets, especially if you are single and cooped up. Dogs and cats are really helping a lot of people right now. With dogs, the only emotions they seem to know are love and fear. They are always there for you.”
Kelley, who has a cat named Chirp and also shares a home with his girlfriend’s hound dog, Walter, said he has been seeing more anxiety in pets since the COVID outbreak began. “They pick up on our anxiety. This is more of an unknown for people than pets.” To help ease stress for both humans and canines, Kelley recommends getting outside in open spaces together. “Find a place outside of a dog park that is more isolated, like on BLM land, and get out with your dog. Even a short walk in the neighborhood can relieve anxiety for both a pet and the owner.” He also recommends lots of interaction with pets, including regular brushings for dogs. “Brush you dog, and learn how to brush your dog’s teeth while you are stuck at home. It will save you lots of money in the long run. Pick up a book on how to train your dog and do it while at home. Come up with fun things to do outside of your norm; that’s always good.”
For those who notice issues with their pets, Kelley said his clinic is currently giving discounts for those who are laid off, unemployed or are front-line workers. “If anxiety in your pet becomes a problem, we can help.” (alpinevetbend.com)
Maureen Harris, a reservation sales associate for Navis Technologies, is single and lives alone, and said her pets help her get through her days. “This is my first experience working from my home. Having my animals with me provides a level of comfort that I wouldn’t have if they weren’t here,” said Harris, whose work involves providing vacation experiences for leisure travelers at hotels, resorts and vacation rentals throughout the U.S. and beyond. “Both are so well-behaved that most of the time I don’t even know they’re here, but all I have to do is look over at them and it warms my heart.”
Harris took in her Golden Retriever, Sooner, seven years ago. “He came to me from Heaven! I had just put down my 13-year-old Golden and was completely lost. A vet in Wyoming said to call this breeder and see if they had a dog that wasn’t quite as expensive, and it turns out that they had a 3-year-old neutered dog that wouldn’t bring in as much revenue.” She added, “He was trained as an Orvis hunting dog, and I soon found out that he was terribly gun shy and badly treated. I fell in love right away, and he’s been with me ever since. He’s my constant companion and best friend, and he’s filled my life with such joy.”
Harris also has a cat, Layder, who came to her as a kitten about three years ago. “Just like a cat, he could take me or leave me,” said Harris with a laugh. “There was, however, an instant connection to Sooner, and they’ve been best friends since day one. My cat is a hunter, no doubt, and isn’t shy of anything! Having my animals has made the difference between loneliness and contentment. I’m single, so sometimes I wish I had someone in my life to share my experiences with, but I never feel afraid or alone because my boys are here with me. I do have two wonderful children, but they are grown and have lives of their own.”
As is the case with many pet owners, Harris has a routine with her furry friends. “I interact with my boys all day. I work a split shift, so I start every morning with meditation in bed, and the kids have their daily wrestling match. Then I go to work until around noon, when the dog and I go for a long walk. I finish the afternoon/evening at work, and then it’s relaxing time. Every evening, the dog and I wrestle for a bit before heading to bed.” She added, “The thing that gets the most attention is when the cat joins us for a walk around the neighborhood. Sooner’s on a leash, and Layder just trots along behind us. He wouldn’t miss those neighborhood walks for anything. Life is a whole lot fuller with my four-legged kids, and I can’t imagine life without them!”
