I was living a charmed life until my brother killed himself nearly 14 years ago. I spent weeks afterward in denial, begging God to bring him back. That miracle never happened, of course, but another did:
I found the healing power of love, empathy and support from Sam, my cat.
Lawmakers in Washington have finally come to understand that benefit: They are considering a tax break of up to $3,500 for pet owners, under what would be known as the "HAPPY" Act.
Officially titled Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years, the measure formally recognizes the role pets play in our physical and emotional well-being.
"We think this is as much a healthcare bill as any," said Nancy Perry, vice president of government affairs at the American Humane Society. "It's a human health issue to ensure that pets are provided with better care because of the role they play in our families."
She's right, and I have firsthand experience to prove it.
I was diagnosed with MS in 1993. From 1993 until 2007, I didn’t take any drug therapies for my condition -- and there wasn’t any significant change. Why not?
For one thing, stress has been shown to be a major contributing factor in the progression of MS. With Sam, there really wasn't any -- but there was plenty of joy. Then, when the worst disaster of my life struck, he was there to help me.
Sam had this habit of banging on the pictures hanging in my hallway in the wee hours of the morning. When I complained to my doctor that I couldn’t take the sleep deprivation anymore, he gave me some good advice.
"Your cat is the reason you are so healthy," he said. "Don’t knock him.”
Studies show pet owners actually spend less on their own health care than people who don't have pets.
They benefit from:
* Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease;
* Reduced anxiety, depression and increased self-esteem;
* Higher survival rates from heart attacks;
* Fewer doctor visits;
* Reduced risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis in children exposed to pet allergens during the first year of their lives;
* Better physical and psychological well-being for seniors;
* Lower blood pressure.
There are other pragmatic reasons, as well. "Taking care of pets does cost money," said Betsy Dribbe of the ASPCA, "and during the dramatic decline of people's income and the shaky economy, any possibility of assisting people in meeting those costs should be looked at."
She has a good point.
I miss Sam. He was 19 when he died last year.
But guess what? On an otherwise nondescript day, some weeks after losing him, I walked the aisles of the local Humane Society. I would have bet against it, but on that day I was smitten.
By a kitten.
And if you don't know the profound effect pets have on the physical and emotional well-being of their owners, well, you don't know Jack.
Want to talk health-care reform? How about we lobby our legislators to approve the HAPPY Act?
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