They’ve been traveling together since day one, and Ashes is Matthew B.’s longtime companion. This gray cat is three years old, and he’s been through a lot. He and his best companion now travel the world together. Obviously, there is a connection between them now that is tough to break.
Matthew’s friend Ashes was always willing to accompany him wherever and whenever he went, until one time. Springfield, Ohio, was in the seventh month. At Love’s stop, the driver’s truck came to a halt, and Ashes fell out by accident.
At this point, the cat appears to have become extremely alarmed and fled into the woods. Matthew, the driver, was distraught and anxious. He set out to find his companion in the woods, but he was unsuccessful. He knew he had to keep going, no matter how much it hurt. In any case, he felt confident that he would return to search for his friend.
Then Matthew established some of his own goals to be accomplished by truck, only to return to the tragic location where he had lost a friend.
He was confident that he could find it; all he needed was persistence.
During their trip to New York, Kimberly T. and her buddy stopped by this station. They noticed a starving, forlorn cat while they sat in the car, and he craved a little of their attention.
According to Kimberly, the cat was attempting to keep his feet in the air since it was quite chilly.
Because the cat’s owner was nowhere to be found, Kimberly allowed him to accompany her to her car to warm up. He looked like he’d been out on the streets for a long time. It was required to visit the veterinarian and provide extensive care for him.
Kimberly knew some people who might be able to aid this poor cat, but getting to him took a long time. That location was at the end of her journey, in New York. So Kimberly decided to take the cat to Lollypop Farm in Fairport, New York, where their major aim is animal care. According to Farm Lollypop, Kimberly had no idea that this cat was not like any other because he was a seasoned traveler.
They scanned the microchip right away, as they do with every new critter they bring to the farm. Not only was the microchip present, but there was also an owner who registered the cat in Texas, at a distance of up to 1465 miles away, as they say on the farm.
Ashes, the stray cat belonging to Matthew’s truck driver, was clearly in the picture. Matthew, calling from Arkansas, answered the phone when they called one of the numbers from the registration list. He was taken aback.
In spite of everyone else’s knowledge, Sam told the workers at Lollypop Farm that he had been thinking about his pal all the time.
He reworked his route and decided to fly straight to New York City. In the course of driving, Ashes received all the assistance he required and put on a few pounds as a result.
Matthew arrived ten days after the Ashes returned. The cat immediately recognized who it was and rushed over to it.
According to the shelter, Matthew’s cat had a strong bond with him.
The truck driver broke down and sobbed as he held Ashes.
A Christmas miracle? That’s how he described it.
All this is possible only because of the microchip. Without it, you might never meet again. His life was saved by the women who saw him and took him along with them, but it was his microchip that brought him back to his family.
However, it wasn’t just the shelter that was affected by this occurrence. In addition to Kimberly and her buddy, several others in the audience were moved to tears. As they drove him to the shelter, they fell in love with this gorgeous cat and were overjoyed when Matthew and Ashes reunited.
According to Lollypop Farm, the two had a very good connection before their untimely split, although the truck driver reports that they now have an even better one. Ashes now appears to be content and presumably loves him more than ever.
We are overjoyed that this adventurous kitty is back on track.
10 Mental & Physical Health Benefits of Having Pets
Pets are family members. Like humans, they need love, health care, and attention. But pet parents’ relationships with their pets are not one sided. Pets give so much back in return, improving the health of our minds, bodies, and hearts.
The benefits of having pets are plentiful — and scientifically proven. Pets help their humans live longer, happier, and healthier lives mentally and physically. The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) gathers the latest information on the positive health effects of companion animals. These researchers help make the case for adding a pet to a household.
From reducing the risk of heart attacks to alleviating loneliness, these furry family members are contributing to healthy communities.
Let’s talk about those benefits.
Better Mental Health
Pets can contribute to positive mental health through emotional work and practical work. The emotional work can be described as alleviating worries, stress, and depression. You may have noticed that your pet wastes no time noticing and springing into action when you are upset or sad. Their intuition is what makes them great support and therapy animals, and animal-assisted therapy is effective in treating PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Then there’s the practical work that comes with caring for a pet. This means making sure their individual needs are met. Developing a daily routine of walks and feeding times can help pet parents with mental health conditions feel a sense of purpose that affects other areas of their lives.
The Data: Pets and Mental Health
A 2016 HABRI study explored the role of pets in the social networks of people managing a long‑term mental health problem.
- Pets were found to contribute to a stronger sense of identity in pet owners with mental health conditions, including reducing negative perceptions of a mental health condition or diagnosis.
- Pets provide a sense of security and routine in the relationship, which reinforces stable cognition.
- Pets provide a distraction and disruption from distressing symptoms, such as hearing voices, suicidal thoughts, rumination, and facilitating routine and exercise for those who care for them.
Better Physical Health
Every little bit counts when it comes to physical health benefits, and those daily walks really add up for dog owners. Since they are more likely to meet the criteria for regular moderate exercise, dog parents have lower instances of obesity.
Your heart is one of the biggest spots to see the full benefits of pet ownership. Just the presence of animals has significant impacts on blood pressure, with pet owners having a lower resting blood pressure than people without pet babies.
Cat parents aren’t left out of the healthy heart race. A feline friend in your home reduces your risk of death due to cardiovascular diseases, including stroke and heart attacks. According to the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), people without cats have a 40% higher relative risk of heart attack than non‑cat owners.
The Data: Pets and Physical Health
- Approximately 60% of dog walkers met the criteria for regular moderate and/or vigorous leisure‑time physical activity compared with about 45% for non‑dog owners and dog owners who did not walk their dog in a 2005 Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Survey.
- In a study of adults over the age of 50 with mildly elevated blood pressure, the presence of a pet dog or cat had a significant impact on blood pressure, with dog ownership being associated with lower diastolic and systolic blood pressure compared to people who did not own pets.
- A study of over 2,400 cat owners concluded there was a significantly lower relative risk for death due to cardiovascular diseases, including stroke and heart attack, compared to non‑owners during a 20‑year follow‑up.
Healthier Aging Process
Research has shown that older adults get social and emotional support from their pets that combats loneliness and depression. Aside from promoting exercise and reducing stress, pets also assist in the treatment of long‑term diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Pet companionship is also key for hospital and cancer patients. When coupled with animal-assisted activities, pets help patients with pain management and in interactions with doctors and nurses. Those patients also responded better to treatments and reported improvements in their quality of life.
The Data: Pets and Aging
- Results of a study of older adults who live alone suggest that pet ownership may act as a buffer against loneliness.
- Results of a one-year study that examined the impact of animal‑assisted therapy (AAT) on patients with chronic pain demonstrated that, following AAT, patients reported reduced pain, discomfort, and stress. Additionally, stress among nursing staff was found to decrease significantly following AAT.
- A study of older adults with mental illness living in long‑term care facilities concluded that AAT reduced depressive symptoms and improved cognitive function.
When we look at the data on mental health, physical health, and aging, it’s clear that pets contribute much to people’s lives in these areas, as well as being the loving companions we’ve always known they are.