SIT, STAY, HEAL - How Dogs and People Help Each Other
Hello, this is Krista with Episode #140. On the Wag Out Loud pawdcast. I am so excited to announce that I'm going to be expanding my Wag Out Loud business with exciting things in store. I wanted to let you know that as of January 2022, I'm going to go from releasing weekly episodes to releasing bi monthly episodes. Putting the show on is so important to me, but to do it right, and all on my own, I've decided to bring you the same awesome guests and content, but just with a lesser frequency. That will give me more time to work on other fantastic projects in the canine health and wellness space. So stay tuned for some exciting future announcements.
According to the experts at Wisdom Health, all dogs have a unique way of expressing love. But there are five common ways our dogs communicate love through body language and behavior. They are happy tail wagging, which shows that your dog is relaxed and happy. Licking, which is a sign of affection passed down from wolves. Leaning or sitting on you, following you around, because they just want to be close and playing with you. Our pups have tons of love to give.
Welcome to the Wag Out Loud pawdcast, where we are obsessed with bringing you helpful tips on canine health care, nutrition, and overall wellbeing. If you'd like to support the show, check out the amazing online events, products and resources that I personally recommend on the Wag Out Loud website. I'm your host, Krista and I'm super excited to be bringing you yet another tail wagging episode.
Carol Novello is the founder of Mutual Rescue™ and author of “Mutual Rescue: How Adopting a Homeless Animal Can Save You, Too.” Mutual Rescue is a national initiative that highlights the connection between people and pets to inspire and support life-saving efforts in communities across the nation and world. Mutual Rescue’s short films have gone viral around the globe and collectively been viewed more than 150 million times.
Welcome dog lovers to a another tail wagging episode of the Wag Out Loud pawdcast. And joining us today is Carol Novello. And she is here to chat about how dogs and people help each other. Carol, thank you so much for being here today. May I ask you to introduce yourself and tell us why you started Mutual Rescue?
Thanks, Krista. It's a delight to be on the podcast today. Mutual Rescue came about because when I got involved in animal welfare, people would sometimes ask me why I was helping animals when I could be helping people. I thought that was a very curious question, because I know how much animals have helped me in my own life. And I was running a large animal welfare organization. And I was seeing every day, how adopting animals was helping the people that were welcoming them into their family. And so Mutual Rescue came about because I really wanted to elevate the cause of animal welfare and put it on par with other human related causes. Because when you're helping animals, you actually are helping people. And Mutual Rescue had great success with our first film, Eric and Peety. And I can talk a little bit more about that. But the success of that led to the opportunity to create more short films. And it also led to the opportunity to write a book called Mutual Rescue: How Adopting a Homeless Animal Can Save You Too. So I'm really excited about the work that we're doing to change the hearts and minds of people everywhere and really to advance animal services into the integration of human services so that we can continue to help each other in new and profound ways.
I love it. Wow. Well, you mentioned the book, Mutual Rescue. So in the book, you gave some really interesting statistics, that we are a nation that's plagued by illness that we all know that 16 million adults suffer from depression, 29 million from diabetes, 8 million at any given time they have PTSD, and that nearly 40% of us are obese. And I was shocked to see that 60% of doctors said that they prescribe pet adoption, and 97% believe that pet ownership provides health benefits. That is amazing. Wow!
Yeah, it's pretty exciting. That was a specific survey that was done to physicians and out of that survey, those were the percentages, which is really pretty amazing. And in fact, Eric and Peety, our first Film is a story about an obese man. And he was told by one doctor that if he didn't change his lifestyle, he was going to be dead in five years. And he subsequently found his way to a naturopathic doctor. And the very first thing that she recommended to him that she prescribed to him was to go adopt a shelter dog. And she did that for a couple of reasons. One was, she wanted him to walk the dog for at least 30 minutes a day. So that was one thing, there definitely was a physical exercise component to it. But she also saw that Eric was very isolated, very lonely, and really saw that he needed a connection, and support. And that's exactly what Peety did for him. And it's amazing the transformation that they both went through because he was, was overweight when Eric adopted him, and they both lost a lot of weight. And Eric went on to run a marathon. And it really, truly transformed his life. And he credits that all to Peety. So on the one hand, you hear those numbers, like, you know, wow, 60% of doctors prescribe pet adoption. 97% believe that pets have benefits. And then you see stories like this, and it all kind of makes sense. It's astonishing, really.
I totally agree. And we've mentioned this on the show many times that, you know, our dogs, of course, we consider them family. But if you really think about it, they are so much more, they are our therapists and our doctors, and they bring so much to our lives. And I guess if there's any silver lining out of the whole pandemic, that it was more and more people realized that this was a great time to adopt a pet. You know, during difficult times, you heard that so many shelters were actually empty. So I think more and more of us are realizing, you know, the show is, of course, specifically about dogs, how they enrich and enhance our lives.
Well, it's really amazing in all areas of our lives too, I think is what's really so fantastic that the book is divided into four chapters, heart, body, mind, and connection. And each of those sections, excuse me, there's about into four sections. And within those sections are numerous chapters that talk about the impact of animals on those particular aspects of our life. So in the heart section, it talks about building trust, and courage and resilience and overcoming grief. In body it talks about heart health, and, and weight, how to manage, you know, anxiety and the roles that animals can play in that. In mind, it talks about depression, and resilience and the things that we need to do to stay mentally healthy. And then connection is about our social relationships, and how dogs can help foster connections, not just with, you know, animals, to humans, but also how animals help us connect to other people. And I think that is, is a really special aspect of what they do for us as well. So what the book talks about is not just stories, but it also brings in the science, and the research that documents it. So it's fun, because you know, you'll read a story. And then there's a you may identify with yourself in that story or someone you know, and then there's the research that helps explain what's actually you know, going on in your body for what it is that you're experiencing. And one of the great things about animals is that they can help release, feel good chemicals in our bodies, so oxytocin, serotonin, prolactin, those kinds of feel good chemicals. There's a biological change in your body when you're having a positive interaction with your pet. And what's really fun is that there's been research done on dogs that shows that dogs are having the same experience when they're interacting with humans. They're, they're having that same release of biochemical hormones. So it definitely goes both ways. They, they love us as much as we love them.
Yes, absolutely. Well, I tried to think of all the ways that dogs do benefit our lives. And I wanted to know if, if I can just make some statements and you and I can unpack those, because there is a lot of research and science. So dogs make us feel less alone. How do they support in that?
Yeah, I think it gets back to what I was just talking about in terms of the release of those feel good chemicals. Because you know, when you are depressed or you're feeling alone, your biochemistry, there are certain chemicals that are coursing through your body. And when you have an opportunity to interact with an animal, you're getting again, this, this release of feel good chemicals, and it's changing your biochemistry, it helps you feel less alone. It feels like, you know, there's somebody in your corner. And, you know, I wholeheartedly agree with that statement.
And I know that there was a survey done by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, and they found that 85% of respondents believe that interaction with pets does reduce loneliness. So I thought that was very interesting.
Yeah, I mean, it's the people that are having the experience will tell you they feel that.
Yes, exactly. Dogs are good for your heart.
Yeah, absolutely. And Eric and Peety, that film that I mentioned, is a great example of that. They help your heart in a variety of different ways. Help, they can help lower blood pressure, they can help motivate you to want to take more walks, or be more physically active, like Eric was. And it's really interesting, the American Heart Association, you know, did some research and they issued a statement where they said, you know, that dogs may actually help reduce heart disease, which is a pretty big deal for an organization of that stature to actually come out with that kind of claim. And I think that's a pretty good checkmark in the pro column for having a dog.
I agree. All right, what about dogs help you to stop stressing out?
Well, I know for me that one of the things I appreciate most about the dogs I've had in my life is how much they caused me to be grounded in the present moment. You know, they really keep me focused on the here and now. So that's, you know, my own personal experience. But one of the things that is very interesting is some of the research that's been done around this, they've actually looked at scenarios where they've asked people, they've done it with both math tests, as well as doing word problems. And they broke the people up into three groups and the first group, they were people that had their pets with them while they took the test. The second group did not have their animals with them, but they were asked to think about their pets in the context of while they were taking this test. And then the third group was just told to think about some random person while they were taking the test. And what was so interesting was that both groups, both of the animal groups where the animals were present, or whether they were just thinking about the animals, their blood pressure, did not spike as much it returned to normal much more quickly after the test was over, they were more likely to perceive the test as being a challenge rather than a threat in terms of how it felt to them. And even more amazingly, people got more answers, right. And so not only do dogs kind of keep us from stressing out, you know, by minimizing stress, or helping us cope better with stress that makes us “smarter”. I think because we are diverting our attention in ways that take away from our ability to solve problems.
That makes sense. And to that point, I don't know if this is the same study, but this was Washington State University, they pretty much showed that dogs lower blood pressure, heart rate, they slow your breathing, they relax your muscle tension. And this all happens within just 10 minutes of petting a dog. That is the impact. And as you mentioned before, of course, a much higher reduction in cortisol, which is the major stress hormone. So it's just fascinating, and I can't believe that we're already halfway through Carol. We are going to take a quick sponsor break and we will be right back.
Sounds good.
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Hello, everyone, we've been chatting with Carol Novello, and we've been chatting about how dogs and people help each other. And this has been so fun. We just ended with how dogs help us to stop stressing out, which we all do. What about Carol, when we have a crisis? How do dogs help us in that instance?
Well, you know, I think that when we go through crisis, on the one hand, it's a very unique experience. And then on the other hand, it's also universal, and that, you know, we're the persons experiencing at the time, but there's a broader sense of, you know, people going through a crisis throughout history. And I think the value that dogs play in that is they help us connect into a sense of what psychologists call a secure base or a safe haven that helps us feel more connected to the world, more connected to life. And that is an amazing gift that they give us. And several of our short Mutual Rescue films, highlight the role that dogs can play in crisis. I think one of my I mean, all of those films we've made are favorites of mine, for for different reasons. But one that comes to mind in regards to this question is Kim and Brian and Lana. And Kim and Brian, were highschool sweethearts, they got married, and then were pregnant and getting ready to have their child and unfortunately, they lost their first baby. And it was, you know, obviously a huge devastating loss. But what was unique about it for Brian is that, as a man, nobody really kind of keyed in on his grief. It was all about Kim as a mother, and having lost a child. And there were all kinds of support groups for mothers that had lost children. But really, you know, for him as a man, he just was really kind of drifting. And Kim was very concerned. I mean, she's like, where did the man go that I married? And she suggested to him that, you know, they'd been thinking about adopting a dog before. And she brought that back up and suggested to him that they go to this adoption event. And he kind of blew it off, but he forgot about it. And then she wakes up the next day, he's like, come on, come on, we gotta go, we gotta go. She's like, go where? He’s like, the adoption event. And they go down, and they're looking at dogs. And they saw Lana who was a shepherd mix. And Brian, connected with her and somebody else was interested in adopting her and he's like, no, no, no, no, no. You know, Lana’s mine. And they brought her home. And it's like, I don't, honestly, it almost seems magical to me, because she really brought him back to life and gave him and Kim an opportunity to kind of reconnect and share something together. And Brian, Brian didn't say that, say this quote, specifically, I'm not sure who said it. first. He says it in the film. And he says, grief is just love with nowhere to go. And Lana gave me a place to put that love. And which is really, just incredibly beautiful. And so, there's something again, about the physiological changes in our bodies, that interacting with an animal can help us feel differently, the emotional support that we feel from them. The opportunity to create purpose and a bond to have a shared experience with another person through an animal. I think those are all of the things that come out of that particular film, but I think they're relevant to anybody going through crisis.
Yes. And of course, we all know that PTSD for those who suffer from that, you know, that dogs have been placed with them. And it's just amazing the emotional support that dogs give us in times of crisis. You already mentioned this at the very beginning that dogs encourage us to move and the great example of the gentleman that lost all that weight. I understand that dog owners spend nearly 300 minutes every week walking their dogs, that's 200 more minutes than people that do not have a dog. So right there, having a dog says, Let's go outside. Let's go exercise. Let's go play, which is awesome.
Yeah.
Dogs make you more attractive.
There are there are studies, there are studies. And, you know, we don't have a Mutual Rescue film specifically on that. I do think, you know, I do think it's an easy way to strike up a conversation with someone and you know that there's a section in the book, where it talks about relationships and the roles that animals can play. And, you know, they say that the the research from some of the dating sites is that, you know, if you have a dog or an animal in your profile, it does make you more attractive.
Absolutely. I love it. Okay, well, there's more, but for sake of time, you know, I could dogs make us happier. There are studies. I think we all can agree with that. And then dogs help seniors with cognitive function and social interaction. So they are just amazing as you and I both know. So why don't we go back to your focus is on the bonds with adopted and rescue dogs. Do you feel the same benefits are there for those who buy a dog from a reputable breeder?
Oh, sure. I mean, we're talking about dogs in general. I mean, I have a specific passion, obviously, for rescue animals, given the work that I've been doing. So I have a specific soft spot for there. And I have to say, I do think that dogs that are adopted from a shelter or a rescue organization, this is hearsay, I don't have a study I can point to, but somehow I feel like they know they're getting a second chance. And there's something especially sweet about that bond that I find particularly heartwarming. And I always want to encourage people to take take a look at animals at their local shelters and rescue groups before they decide to go to a reputable breeder. And there's a lot of great dogs. I mean I hear a lot of people go, Oh, I can't, you know, I can't find a dog I want at a shelter. It's like, have you looked or is that just what you've heard, right? Because there's a lot of there's a lot of great dogs out there. I just adopted a new dog in March. And her name, I named her Daisy. And it's funny, I adopted her and I thought she she looked to me like she was a Setter/Shepherd mix. And I got a DNA back. And she is she's 100% mutt because I've never seen so many different breeds rolled up into one dog, oh, the highest percentage was 14%. And she had four breeds at 14%, which was Collie, Lab, Rottweiler and Boxer. But what's interesting about Daisy is that her family was getting divorced. And they ended up needing to surrender all three of their dogs. So, you know, she doesn’t have a history of abuse or neglect. She's a great dog. But, you know, her family fell on hard times or in difficult circumstances. And for whatever reason, they weren't able to keep their dogs. So I always encourage people, you know, at least give it a shot in terms of going to a rescue or shelter, to see if you can find a dog that might be a fit for you. And you know, if not, I understand why people make decisions to go to a reputable breeder, but there's no guarantee that you're going to go to a breeder and you know, get a great dog. I have a friend who, you know, has a dog, she had a dog that she loved that passed and wanted the same breed and went and got, you know, a dog and this dog is so high strung. Not at all like, you know, the first dog that she had. And so one of the things I think is great about shelter dogs or, or rescues dogs is that, especially if you're getting an older dog, you really can get a good sense of their temperament prior to adopting them, and I think that's a that's a huge plus.
That's true. Well, why don't you talk a little bit about the program. What exactly is Mutual Rescue and how many shelters are taking part in this program?
So Mutual Rescue is a national initiative that was created to really elevate the cause of animal welfare. So, of the $449 billion that Americans give to charity every year, only 3% goes to animal and environmental related causes combined. And I just that feels like a low percentage, like it should be at least 5%. Especially when you think about all the wonderful things that animals are doing for us, or are doing to help humans. So the idea was, how do we help shift the hearts and minds of people, I mean, and these are people, I was fascinated when I got into animal welfare that people were coming up to me, they're, they're already participating in animal welfare. And they would say to me, I feel so guilty, when there's so many humans in need, whether they were writing a check or volunteering their time. So the first thing I wanted to do is just let's alleviate that, and know that when you're helping animals, whether you're volunteering or writing a check, you are helping people too and in often very profound ways. So at the highest level, again, it's about elevating the cause. And we do that through three different pillars. The first pillar is through authentic storytelling. And that really revolves around our short films and the book, we just launched a new website that also will have various stories that will highlight on the website, in written word and pictures and, and it's about getting the, the anecdotes out there that people can really connect to, and, and make it very real in terms of understanding how animals are helping people. The second pillar is local engagement. So we're a big believer in making sure that the local initiatives that are going on are being well supported. So a lot of people think when they give to national branded animal welfare organizations is that money is getting to the local level. And in many cases, in most cases, it's not. So if you want to be saving and helping the animals in your community, you really want to be giving at, at the local level and to the organizations in your community. So one of the things that that we want to do is really encourage people to get to know the organizations in their local community. We developed a toolkit for Doggy Day Out programs that shelters can download and make it easy to implement a program in their community. And if you are interested in finding a Doggy Day Out program that you can participate in, you can find that on our website at MutualRescue.org. It lists a directory of shelters that have Doggy Day Out programs. And what those programs are is the ability to go and take an animal or specifically a dog out for the afternoon. And it's great for the dog, it's great for the person helps get not only exercise for both the animal and the human, but also more visibility for that animal and helps them get adopted more quickly. One of the first shelters to implement a Doggy Day Out program and they collaborated with us in creating the toolkit was Fredericksburg SPCA, and they saw a 20% increase in their, you know, adoption, simply from this program, they were able to get these animals adopted that much more quickly. So if you go to our website, again, MutualRescue.org. You can check out the Doggy Day Out page if you are a shelter or rescue group, you can download the toolkit. And if you're a member of the general public, you can find shelters that have programs. I think at this point, I think we have at least 100 shelters listed on our directory. And more will be coming online especially I think as we come out of COVID because there's been a lot of restrictions on on that program during COVID. But some of the other things that we do around local engagement, we make all of our short films available to shelters or, you know, other nonprofits that are looking to do offline events, to bring their community together and celebrate the impact that animals have in our lives. And then the third pillar is really about fundraising and that we want to do through corporate sponsorships. So we don't want to compete with organizations that we're trying to help, which are all of the local shelters. And so we have just completed a sponsorship that we did with Back Country, the online outdoor retailer and also Dutch Bros. And so we were able to raise funds through them that's something that you know, no individual shelter could really do on their own because they don't have a big enough geographic footprint. But Mutual Rescue by having a national brand, we can get the the awareness and the coverage that corporations are looking for. And then we direct the funds to local shelters. And again, doing that in a way that we're not competing with the organizations we're trying to help. Because it's really all about the hands on work that's going on in local communities. That's where the frontline of animal rescue work is getting done.
Instagram: @mutualrescue (https://www.instagram.com/mutualrescue/)
Facebook: @MutualRescue (https://www.facebook.com/MutualRescue/)
LinkedIn: @Mutual Rescue (https://www.linkedin.com/company/12905649/admin/)
That is amazing. What a fantastic program. Well, as we are about to wrap up here, Carol, what would you like to leave us with?
Well, I'd love to encourage people to check out our website MutualRescue.org, get a copy of the Mutual Rescue book coming up for the holidays, that makes a great gift, you can buy that wherever books are sold. And stay tuned, we're going to be releasing a new Mutual Rescue film in the beginning of 2022. So if you go to our website and sign up to get our updates can be one of the first to see that film when we release it in early 2022.
Very cool, lots of exciting stuff. So again, that is MutualRescue.org. Carol, I just want to thank you for creating this amazing program and organization. And thanks to you and your team for making it happen for both dogs and people. I just can't thank you enough for being here today.
Oh, it was my pleasure. Krista. Thank you so much.
Thanks again to our friends at Primalhealth, makers of TEEF for sponsoring this episode. Check them out at teefhealth.com and don’t forget that the code WOLP gets you 20% off of your order.
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Hey Winston was that another tail wagging episode?