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P. 96
AMINALS & OLDER PEOPLE HEALTH AND WELLNESS
“A pet is medication without side effects, that
has so many benefits. I can’t always explain it
myself, but for years now I’ve seen how instances
of having a pet is like an effective drug. It really
does help people.”
Dr. Edward Creagan
Oncologist, Mayo Clinic.
IT’S A DOG’S LIFE
It’s a quintessential Irish day. Between the showers and occasional windy blasts the sun peaks
through. It’s the kind of day that if you didn’t really have to go out – you probably would stay in! Yet,
rain, hail or shine the dog walkers meet the call of their sociable companions and brave the elements.
Admiring the rich colours of the leaves in this South Dublin Park I join Bronté, Lucy and their
human companion Graham Horgan on their daily round. The walk takes us along a leafy riverside
path through hedgerows and playing fields, a wonderful respite from the bustle of traffic that can be
a constant soundtrack in our capital city. Loneliness too can be an all too common factor in city living.
A busy pace of life and a sense of anonymity can lead to isolation, especially as people come into their
older years. That’s where community initiatives like the Active Retirement Association come in,
offering a vision and encouraging an active lifestyle as we get older. It can take motivation to get out
of the house and meet people but having a dog can make all the difference.
A wonderful sense of community has grown among the “While the walk can take about forty five minutes, with the
dog walkers who use this Dublin Park a sense of dogs you might be out for two and a half hours,” Graham
ownership and care for the park has also developed. A tells me, as we stop to greet some more four legged
bench which had been neglected and fallen into friends and their owners.
disrepair was given some love and attention, painted “There’s nothing that compares to having an animal for
and restored. When a much loved dog walker of the getting you out of the house in the morning. There’s always
group was lost to cancer a plaque was created for the the temptation as we get older to stay on the couch and
seat in his memory. horror of horrors, watch daytime television! Sometimes the
It follows that other dog walkers are a wonderful arthritis is at me in the morning but once I get out there
support on the event of an animal passing away I feel great. I go out, twice a day to walk the dogs. Ask my
providing immediate understanding and sympathy. cardiologist. There are definite benefits, it is undoubted.”
Through their four legged friends they have met many Apart from the joy that Lady and Bronté bring to
lasting humans too. Graham and his family, they visit a care centre or
Responsible dog ownership means that one cleans up nursing home once a week as Therapy Dogs with
after their animal and Dog walkers are by and large the wonderful results. Graham helped to set up the Irish
friendliest people you can meet. If you are not willing or Therapy Dogs organisation in 2008. Someone suffering
able to be a dog owner yourself you can always take a from Dementia may not talk to people but they will talk
moment to engage with these sociable animals on their to the dogs. Everyone benefits from the joy and love that
daily walk. They’ll always be more than happy to stop for the animals bring.
a chat and allow you to pet their animal.
96 Active Retirement Ireland www.activeirl.ie
“A pet is medication without side effects, that
has so many benefits. I can’t always explain it
myself, but for years now I’ve seen how instances
of having a pet is like an effective drug. It really
does help people.”
Dr. Edward Creagan
Oncologist, Mayo Clinic.
IT’S A DOG’S LIFE
It’s a quintessential Irish day. Between the showers and occasional windy blasts the sun peaks
through. It’s the kind of day that if you didn’t really have to go out – you probably would stay in! Yet,
rain, hail or shine the dog walkers meet the call of their sociable companions and brave the elements.
Admiring the rich colours of the leaves in this South Dublin Park I join Bronté, Lucy and their
human companion Graham Horgan on their daily round. The walk takes us along a leafy riverside
path through hedgerows and playing fields, a wonderful respite from the bustle of traffic that can be
a constant soundtrack in our capital city. Loneliness too can be an all too common factor in city living.
A busy pace of life and a sense of anonymity can lead to isolation, especially as people come into their
older years. That’s where community initiatives like the Active Retirement Association come in,
offering a vision and encouraging an active lifestyle as we get older. It can take motivation to get out
of the house and meet people but having a dog can make all the difference.
A wonderful sense of community has grown among the “While the walk can take about forty five minutes, with the
dog walkers who use this Dublin Park a sense of dogs you might be out for two and a half hours,” Graham
ownership and care for the park has also developed. A tells me, as we stop to greet some more four legged
bench which had been neglected and fallen into friends and their owners.
disrepair was given some love and attention, painted “There’s nothing that compares to having an animal for
and restored. When a much loved dog walker of the getting you out of the house in the morning. There’s always
group was lost to cancer a plaque was created for the the temptation as we get older to stay on the couch and
seat in his memory. horror of horrors, watch daytime television! Sometimes the
It follows that other dog walkers are a wonderful arthritis is at me in the morning but once I get out there
support on the event of an animal passing away I feel great. I go out, twice a day to walk the dogs. Ask my
providing immediate understanding and sympathy. cardiologist. There are definite benefits, it is undoubted.”
Through their four legged friends they have met many Apart from the joy that Lady and Bronté bring to
lasting humans too. Graham and his family, they visit a care centre or
Responsible dog ownership means that one cleans up nursing home once a week as Therapy Dogs with
after their animal and Dog walkers are by and large the wonderful results. Graham helped to set up the Irish
friendliest people you can meet. If you are not willing or Therapy Dogs organisation in 2008. Someone suffering
able to be a dog owner yourself you can always take a from Dementia may not talk to people but they will talk
moment to engage with these sociable animals on their to the dogs. Everyone benefits from the joy and love that
daily walk. They’ll always be more than happy to stop for the animals bring.
a chat and allow you to pet their animal.
96 Active Retirement Ireland www.activeirl.ie
