From The Storyteller
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Hello All: A little info on dogs, our lives, and a vote about what is a good name for spring. Enjoy. Doug
Dog “Hair of the dog” first entered my life as a recommended method for reducing the effects after a big night of drinking. Being a novice in the consumption of alcohol, the older more experienced consumers told me about the “hair of the dog” (one beer the morning after) would ease the hangover. Since my lifestyle moved sharply away from “way too much”, I never established the validity of that advice. Recently I overheard two young adults use that phrase, and that led to a quick google search and discovery of its original source. It was thought that, if you were bitten by a rabid dog, taking a hair from the dog that bit you and putting it in the wound, would prevent you from contracting the disease. Thinking about these two questionable cures naturally caused me to wonder about all the positive things that dogs do for us. Again, back to Google, and I found studies showing that having a canine companion is linked to lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol and decreased triglyceride levels, which contribute to better heart health. Old saying, “Dogs don't just fill your heart; they make it stronger”. A partial list of positive benefits a dog owner receives from their pet includes keeping them physically fit and helping them lose weight by being more active - think daily walks here. The list also included the obvious benefits of reducing stress and staving off depression. Two of the not so obvious ones are improving a dog owner’s social life (other dog lovers) and, most surprisingly, preventing grandkids' allergies. With all these positives, I think it’s silly to say the hot, humid, sweat causing, sultry days of summer, should be called “Dog Days”. My vote is for springtime to be designated “Dog Days” because of all its positive, newly emerging life. Moral: Your vote? |