Parkview Hospital recently made a donation to the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County.
“We are thrilled to be the recipient of this donation from our new community partner-Parkview Hospital,” said Darla McCammon, executive director of the Animal Welfare League. “When Parkview saw the list of the many health benefits our organization provides to our community, they were impressed and offered to assist us with our capital campaign to obtain a new facility.”
McCammon shared some statistics and information that showed how pets can improve health, according to a provided press release from the AWL. Senior citizens and others are relieved of depression through pet ownership, they also obtain more exercise than others because of the activities of the pet. Walking a pet is great cardiovascular exercise. Stroking a pet has been shown to lower blood pressure. Children raised in a home with pets have a much reduced chance of developing allergies. Pets have a calming effect on their owners.
Recent studies show that a second heart attack is less likely when the patient has a pet at home, the release states.
“There are many more such studies and a huge correlation between having a pet and improving health,” McCammon said. “We are glad we are contributing to our community in this beneficial way, and we are grateful to Parkview for recognizing that fact.”
