10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine.
12 "If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness.
We can rejoice in our Creator's handiwork, and that even includes the, well, other inhabitants of the earth, of the animal variety, including those who reside in our households. Proverbs 12 states:
10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal, But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.
On this Survey Thursday, I thought I would share, by contrast, a bit more lighthearted survey today. But, the practice examined here might have some health implications, when it comes right down to it.
I was sent a press release that referenced a new survey by OneVet, which champions the practice that I would imagine a significant number of our listeners participate in - the fine art of walking your dog!
The website says that Americans walk their dogs just over 7 times a week. And, there are two states in our nation who actually have a double-digit average: New York, at #2, with 10.14 times a week. And, at #1, Alabama, where residents walk their dogs 10.45 times a week.
That's almost 1-1/2 walks per day!
And, yes, regarding the health of the human walkers, the survey summary says:
Dog walking is a proven method for releasing endorphins and alleviating stress in both yourself and your pup. It’s a tried and true activity for exercise, but also for boosting moods and improving mental clarity. According to survey responses, three-fourths of dog parents say owning a dog keeps them more physically active, and 69% of dog parents say their mental health has improved since getting a dog. Only 3% say it has gotten worse.
75% of dog owners, or "dog parents," according to the language of the website, say that owning a dog keeps them more physically active.
From a generational standpoint, Baby Boomers seem to walk their canine friends more frequently. The article relates:
According to survey results, baby boomers walk their dogs almost twice as often as Gen Z dog parents, which may make sense given many baby boomers are retirees with ample dog-walking hours on their hands. Meanwhile, Gen Z is comprised of busy students and college grads entering the workforce. At 8.24 and 7.12 weekly walks on average, Gen X and millennial dog parents are at least walking their dogs once per day or more.
It's important that our schedules accommodate time for disciplines. The center, ideally, what our daily schedule is built around, should be the study of Scripture and fellowship with God. And, medical professionals and health and nutritional experts will tell you that exercise is a key component to good health.
Perhaps there are other health benefits, as well. MarketWatch reported on a Mayo Clinic study a couple of years ago. The report stated:
While reports on the health benefits of caring for a dog, cat or other critter abound, a new Mayo Clinic study suggests that dogs are a heart’s best friend.
Researchers studied just under 1,800 people between the ages of 25 to 64 who had healthy hearts, almost half of which (42%) owned a dog. And those with canine companions were more likely to practice heart-healthy lifestyle habits such as exercising, eating well and having ideal blood sugar levels than those without a dog.
A pet can certainly bring joy and comfort. God uses His creatures for our pleasure, and we can be thankful for His provision. We are not a dog home, but we have two amazing cats who bring us plenty of companionship and entertainment. So, we can enjoy even the small gifts that God gives us.
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