In celebration of National Pet Day on April 11, the Coalition is recognizing the furry friends who bring joy to the lives of our ambassadors. Owning a pet not only brings companionship, but can positively impact a person’s physical and mental health by:
- Reducing stress and anxiety
- Easing feelings of loneliness
- Improving blood pressure
- Lowering the risk of heart disease from regular exercise (dog walking)
Coalition Ambassador Claire Forsythe has three cats – Jimmy, Ernie and Mike – and Jimmy has become Claire’s unofficial service animal. “He can sense when I’m feeling off and he shows up right by my side, snuggles up close, and stays with me,” Claire says. “When I need some encouragement, he gives me a high five.”
In addition to learning fun party tricks (sit, stand, spin, shake, down, etc.), Claire has button trained Jimmy to assist with medical tasks. He will sit on her chest or back to help with compression and can even open doors and pick up small items (he’s currently working on grabbing her Epi pen). Like Claire, Jimmy has a chronic condition that requires daily medication. Together, they take their Zyrtec at the same time every day. “He’s truly my best friend (yes, he is a cat!),” Claire says. “He has made my life so much better with a chronic illness.”
How has your pet "pawsitively" impacted your health? Let us know by tagging @ChronicRights on social media and using the hashtags #NationalPetDay and #MyChronicCompanion.