A Man's Best Friend: The Impact of Dogs

“A Man’s Best Friend.” An endearing term used to describe dogs around the country. For centuries, dogs have accompanied millions of people as pets, service animals, or keeping us safe through canine units. It is no secret that having a pet at home provides a sense of comfort and security, whether that be a dog, cat, parrot, snake, etc. Pets are family, however, dogs stand out amongst the rest. Not just because they have been scientifically proven to improve one’s mental health, reduce stress levels, create a sense of purpose, and help keep us safe, but because they do all of this and look damn cute doing it.

Everybody loves dogs. From Snoopy to Scooby Doo, to Clifford, dogs have been putting smiles on faces for decades. But why do we love dogs so much? Besides being adorable, dogs have a keen ability to read humans like no other animal can. Numerous studies have shown that dogs can in fact smell human emotions. Due to their smell being nearly 100,000 times stronger than that of a human nose, dogs are able to recognize basic emotions and notice when they change. This can explain why whenever you're feeling down, you will feel a furry face on your lap within seconds. In addition to being able to sense our emotions, it is proven that dogs have the ability to reduce anxiety and stress levels. According to an article at Johns Hopkins Medicine, research has shown that stress levels can be lowered by a simple pet of a dog’s head. Consequently, 84 percent of post-traumatic stress disorder patients who are given a dog reported a significant reduction in symptoms. This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the benefits dogs give.

Across America, there are an estimated 500,000 service dogs, all serving individuals in different ways. Of course, you have service dogs for individuals who are blind or deaf, but there are so many other services that dogs provide. For example, allergy dogs are trained to detect any possible scent of a food that is allergic to the owner, therefore, preventing that particular food from ever coming into contact with the individual. Other service jobs include dogs used for brace and mobility. These particular service dogs are trained to carry the weight of their owner to prevent slips from happening and maintain overall balance. Millions of hospitals around the world have a department solely for dogs to visit sick patients. Just close by to Aurora High School, Akron Children’s Hospital has what they call the “Doggie Brigade” which contains more than 20 dogs, all different breeds, to visit sick patients and lift their spirits. Click here to check out all the different canines at Akron Children’s. The list goes on, but these are just some of the services dogs provide for individuals in need.

In addition to service dogs for particular individuals, some dogs provide services for everyone in their community. There are approximately 50,000 police dogs nationwide who aid in sniffing out drugs, and bombs, and help in finding missing persons. Here at Aurora High School, we have Queso, who is on the clock almost every day helping keep the students here at school safe. Aurora Police Officer Tony Tritto has been Queso’s caregiver for his time at Aurora. Tritto states, “Queso has had an amazing impact within the Aurora City School District. Daily I see the smiles Queso puts on everyone's face when they see him carrying his toy down the hallway.”

Aurora Police K9, Queso

In addition to improving overall psychological well-being, dogs also improve physical health. Dog owners are more likely to exercise daily. According to an article at Pet Food Institute, a study of more than 5,000 dog owners, people with dogs engage in more physical activity and surpass the recommended level of physical activity than non-dog owners.

These are just some of the incredible abilities dogs have. If I know one thing for certain, it is that my two dogs, Duke and Rigby, make my life significantly better. Without fail, they can make me smile, no matter how bad my day is. I know the feeling is mutual amongst dog owners around the world. While yes, they will occasionally get on your nerves, knowing that you have a loyal and loving friend wagging their tail at home waiting for you every day, makes our lives that much better.

Meet some of the dogs that brighten the days of The Aurora Gambit staff: