Spend any time at all on the trails, beaches and in the neighbourhoods of North and West Vancouver and you will quickly come to realize: this is one pet-friendly community.
We don't relegate our cats to the barn, canines to the dog run or rabbits to the soup pot; over here we consider them part of the family, and we treat them as such. It's proving to be a healthy way to think about animals; studies increasingly show that living with a pet is good for you.
Pet owners - especially seniors - are less likely to suffer from loneliness and depression.
Pet owners have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which puts them at a reduced risk for heart disease.
Pet owners report fewer headaches, fewer bouts of indigestion and less difficulty sleeping.
Dog owners in particular exercise a lot though you can certainly get exercise playing with an energetic cat or kitten.
Pets help improve social skills.
For children, owning a pet helps teach them about unconditional love, responsibility and death.
Some studies suggest having a pet in the house can also help prevent the development of allergies in children.
Pets reduce the number of visits to a doctor by elderly patients.
Pets help to ease loss. An older person whose spouse has died is less likely to experience deterioration in health if he or she is attached to a pet.
With evidence like this, no wonder we love our furry, feathered and four-legged friends.
In the following pages you'll meet just a few of the North Shore's most loveable pets in photos submitted by our readers, plus tips and ideas for caring for your own animal family members.
Enjoy!
