February 20th is National Love Your Pet Day. A day designed to give extra attention to your furry family members and pamper your pets!
Of course if you’re a pet owner, everyday is ‘Love Your Pet Day’!
Most households in the United States have at least one pet, for us that is our Bichons.
We were heartbroken when said goodbye to Chloe, the dog of our heart, last year.
Gracie will be 14 in May. . .
And we were thrilled to find Lola and bring her home in August of last year.
Things are very busy and lively with a puppy in the house again!
Lola is almost 9 months old and still very much a puppy. . .
Despite her serious demeanor when posing for dog treats ;) 🐾
No matter what kind of furry family member you have, there are benefits to being a pet owner that you may or may not already know. . .
Health benefits of owning a pet:
Sometimes the best therapy comes on four legs. Pets are a great way to beat the blues with unconditional love and licks, and a laugh when you need it!
They also give their owners a sense of purpose. This is particularly important for the elderly or sick as they provide companionship and help with feelings of loneliness.
My mother-in-law’s pups, Maddie and Zoe, were a huge comfort and boost to her mental health and overall sense of well-being after my father-in-law passed away.
Here’s an interesting fact:
Studies have shown that having a pet in the home can actually lower a child’s likelihood of developing related allergies by as much as 33 percent. Children exposed early on to animals tend to develop stronger immune systems overall.
A pet can fill your heart with love (and free kisses!) and help improve the overall health of your heart too.
Heart-related studies conducted by the CDC and NIH, found that pet owners exhibited decreased blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels ~ all of which can ultimately minimize their risk for having a heart attack down the road.
For those who have already experienced a heart attack, research also indicates that patients with a dog or a cat tend to have better recovery rates. These benefits are thought to be connected with pets’ tendency to help reduce or at least control their owners’ overall stress levels.
Having a dog may help you improve or maintain your fitness levels, getting outdoors, enjoying some fresh air with daily walks.
In a day and age when it’s easy to feel so disconnected, our pets our instant icebreakers and help us interact with others when out in public. People tend to feel more willing to engage and more at ease with a person who is with their pet.
Celebrate National Love Your Pet Day by giving your pet a special treat!
Woof Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Happy National Love Your Pet Day from Lola and Gracie!
🐾🐾
❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾
Thanks for the puppy love and smiles this morning Lola & Gracie❣️ 🐾😀🐾😀
So precious!!!! WE will love our Bichon Chettie today and every day. Your pictures are beautiful of the pups!!!
Made my morning with all that furry cuteness!
Love that first picture – caught in mid-air running on the dock. That’s awesome!!
You are the perfect pet person, Mary, and your babies are precious.
Mary,
Thank you for reminding us of the joy and benefits of owning pets!
Truly God’s gift to us!
Love the pics! What a wonderful way to start the day .. puppy love and smiles❣️
So cute!! We miss our “Toi Boy” so much…one in a million. franki
My 2 dogs and 2 cats think this is a marvelous holiday! We think every day is love your pet day even when they are covering the floors with mud and water on this wet day!
Your Two Dogs are cute they are like going on boat rides with you guys they like the fresh air and Mary you are A good pet Owener and love your posted
Thank you Chris, I’m sorry to hear about your dog Sam. ♥ 🐾🐾
Adorable!
Adorable! or should I say Adogable! We have two dogs, but I can never get them to pose for the camera!! Your two are canine models for sure! Lola must be learning the tricks of the trade from Gracie!! too cute!!
LOVE the first picture. A double suspension gallup. We raced sled dogs for 25 years and it’s beautiful to see them run like that, let alone be on the sled they are pulling. We’ve had many dogs over the years and the relationships you build with your team is beyond words.
Lola and Gracie are so lucky to have you as their Mom, Mary. Thank you for sharing all the puppy love with us, and giving us smiles along the way.
Thank you for sharing Lola and Gracie Mary, they are my virtual pets! Your puppy posts always put a big smile on my face and brings back memories of my sweet white Shih Tzu Sherlock Bones 🐾 🐾 ❤️
Jenna
Mary, this album of darling images is sure to lower anyone’s blood pressure and promote good health just from scrolling up and down. Lola and Gracie are adorable together, and like you, I, too, miss Choloe. Happy Pet Day Everyday!!!!
Precious dogs, that is for sure🥰.
Your photos are the best. Our 13 year old is pretty cute but with all the rain lately in TN she is not happy! The
Different changes in air pressure make her very upset. Maybe we need to get a younger sister in the house!
Always love seeing your adorable bichons and I totally relate. Our precious bichon boys, Maximus and Caesar, have given us so much love and happiness over the past 15 years. Puppy love is a wonderful thing. Thank you for sharing!
So adorable!
Aww! Love this post. We have two cats that are our only children and I think they make our lives so much better. I love to dote on them. And they provide unlimited entertainment!
Your girls are as sweet as can be!
Your pups are adorable and I love the sweet pics! I miss my sweet girl! Hugs and kisses to Lola and Gracie!
Enjoyed seeing the photos through the seasons of Lola & Gracie. My family had several pets both dogs & cats through the years. I know how important pets are to our well being. Thanks for sharing.
Love your pictures! Your dogs are adorable!!!
You made my day.
Such a sweet post, I think we are past the pet comfort stage, we have so many it makes our heart race and pocket book plunge! You are so sweet to bake for your kids, says she tossing Costco biscuits to my brood 😉
🐾💕🐾🐩🐾🐕🐾🐈🐾💕🐾 Your sweethearts are so cute & happy! The pics are all so wonderful! Clara
Love your pups! So cute and I am sure wonderful companions.
Lola and Gracie are always photogenic! What wonderful pet people you and your hubby are❤️
Your babies are just so adorable! You capture their magic with your lovely photographs. Thank you for sharing!!!
Fantastic pics Mary, one and two truly bring smiles! Give The Girls a hug for me:@)
Woof woof! Love!
Such precious little furry babies. I can certainly see why they have stolen you heart.
Love your doggie pictures!
My heart hurt for your loss of your other girl. My King Charles Cavalier girl just turned 11 on Valentine’s Day, so I relate. Best wishes for Lola, she has a great home!
They are sooooooooooooo cute. Happy Doggy Day to you too.
Your pups are so precious! I love seeing them on your blog!
Mary,
Your bichons are ridiculously adorable!
Great post (Love your Pet Day).
So sorry to hear of your loss, Chloe.
Here’s to “dog gone good days!”
Marie
So much cuteness, melts my heart!
Melts my heart! I just want to reach through my computer screen and squeeze them.Too, too CUTE!
SO, SO PRECIOUS CUTE! I agree pets are good for your health! UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!!
All of the pictures are precious, especially numbers 1 and 2, but number 6 of Lola made me laugh right out loud! What a funny, wild little puppy! Gracie’s face is so sweet. Loved all the gifts they received for Christmas, Santa was generous, but how could he not be as they are so darling! Give them hugs from me please. We love our Buddy, a black cocker spaniel / black lab mix, he’s our fur baby and is spoiled too. ♥️🐶♥️🐶🐾♥️
Made my day! Thanks again Mary! They are the sweetest!!!
Your dogs are adorable. It’s so hard to lose them. I lost my 8 year old male tri-color back in 2015. :-(