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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] > ^^^^ > \ / > \ | / Today's Research > \\ | // ...Tomorrow's Cure > \ | / > \|/ > ````` > > > >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]> >