[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bmhjf0rKe8&w=420&h=315]  
There is a lot of evidence out there that pets are a great way to relieve stress in our lives.  That’s not to say they are stress-free.  As anyone who has ever blotted desperately at Grandma’s hand tied-wool rug or stared despondently at the back of their once pristine leather sofa knows, pets can certainly be the cause of stress as well.  But there is more and more research linking pet ownership to lower incidence of heart disease, better stress management, lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure.  One study indicates that people who owned cats were 30 percent less likely to have a heart attack.

So my little chicklettes, here’s my prescription for stress relief: spend some time with some four legged critters.  If you already own them, spend a little more time loving on them.  And if you can’t own a pet, why not spend a little time volunteering at your local animal shelter?  There are lots and lots of wonderful dogs waiting for walkies.  And you get a 3-fer the price of one: exercise, stress relief and making the world a better place, all in one go!

Love,

The Fat Chick