90 | HealthLinksSC.com IS IT TIME TO ADOPT A FOUR-LEGGED THERAPIST? The next time your dog is busy sniffing you, it may not be just about food. Perhaps your pet is measuring your anxiety levels and offering itself as comfort. As author Dean Koontz once suggested, “Petting, scratching and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” Myrtle Beach resident Stacey Kosiek and her dog Gabriella Grace are inseparable for just that reason and more. As a disabled veteran, Kosiek is soothed by Gabby, but she also looks to her four-legged buddy for medical alerts, medical mobility and emotional support – all skills that Gabby possesses. The list of Gabby’s trained responses is impressive. While Gabby has special training for her role as a service dog, research shows that even “ordinary” dogs are much more aware of and responsive to their owners’ moods than previously realized. Especially where strong bonds exist between owner and pet, many dogs are self-appointed caretakers of their owners’ mental health. And, whether they admit it or not, many pet owners rely on this emotional support to help them navigate the normal stresses and difficulties of everyday living, particularly if past trauma and PTSD are lurking in the background. Are dogs really able to read human stress levels? A recent study at Queen’s University Belfast in the United Kingdom By Janet E. Perrigo
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