Judith, since you have 4 pets, were you including the last part of the last
sentence in "something we pet owners have known all along"?

> ----------
> From:         judith richards[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent:         Wednesday, September 08, 1999 8:39 AM
> Subject:      Re:      NEWS: Pets could save UK NHS £1bn a year
> 
> On Wednesday, September 08, 1999 6:07 AM, janet paterson wrote:
> 
> >Pets could save NHS £1bn a year.
> >The Society of Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) said the therapeutic
> effects of being with a cat, a dog or another animal could benefit
> patients ranging from children with cancer to the elderly and save the
> NHS £1bn a year.
> >The research showed that pet owners make fewer visits to their doctor
> each year, suffer fewer sleeping difficulties and are less likely to be
> taking medicine for a heart condition.
> >Some psychologists say pets can help disturbed children and people
> suffering dementia - although others say having too many pets is a sign
> of a psychiatric disorder.
> >
> 
>     I think this is something we pet owners have known all along.
> 
> Judith, protector and mama to 3 cats, Annie, Abigail and Molly AND 1
> noisy but cute little dog dog, Jeremy.
> --
> Judith Richards, London, Ontario, Canada
> [log in to unmask]
>                           ^^^^
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>                          \  |  /   Today's Research
>                          \\ | //         ...Tomorrow's Cure
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> >
> >Wednesday, September 8, 1999 Published at 07:49 GMT 08:49 UK - Pets
> could help cap the ever-increasing costs of the NHS, according to animal
> specialists.
> >
> 
> >
> >It has called on health authorities, landlords and the government to
> make it easier for people to own pets.
> >
> >And on Wednesday a one-day conference in London heard from specialists
> extolling the health benefits of pet power.
> >
> >They point to studies suggesting that in Australia pet ownership has
> saved the health service £900m a year while dog and cat ownership in
> Germany is said to have saved £4.9bn.
> >
> >A spokeswoman for SCAS said: "We are now doing research into the
> potential cost savings for this country but if you apply the same
> principals to the UK as people have done to other countries, it comes
> out at about £1bn a year."
> >
> >Dr Sam Ross launched a rehabilitation project in the US which uses pet
> therapy with severely disturbed youngsters
> >
> >He said doctors and politicians should realise the health benefits of
> animals.
> >
> >"Pets are a vastly under-used resource in the health care field and we
> need to change that," he said.
> >
> >"They can speed up recovery rates which obviously helps the patient and
> saves money.
> >
> >"With physically injured adults and children they can help in the
> physiotherapy and rehabilitation stages.
> >
> >"A patient may be screaming with pain on a physio bench but if you put
> a horse in front of them and get them riding they forget about the pain
> and start enjoying their treatment.
> >
> >"Patients who are disabled, for instance in wheelchairs, can benefit
> from having a dog about the house who can help them maintain their
> independence and give them something to relate to and focus on.
> >
> >"Often physically disabled people or the elderly cannot get out much
> and don't have anything to do - pets can help them to enjoy life and
> that can mean cuts in the costs of home helps and healthcare."
> >
> >Any animal could help, he said, whether it was a bird, cat, dog, fish
> or horse.
> >
> >Mary Whylam, chairwoman of SCAS said: "We will continue to urge the UK
> authorities to take a holistic view of the value of companion animals in
> society - particularly in light of recent studies which indicate that
> pets could ease national health expenditure and provide the answer to a
> longer, happier and healthier life."
> >
> >
> >BBC News Online: Health
> ><http://news.bbc.co.uk/low/english/health/newsid_441000/441483.stm>
> >
> >janet paterson
> >52 now / 41 dx / 37 onset
> >613 256 8340 po box 171 almonte ontario canada K0A 1A0
> >a new voice: <http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Village/6263/>
> ><[log in to unmask]>
>