Pet prescription: not just puppy love by Edward T. Creagan

"I need to get home to see Max," a patient told me one day. I thought he was talking about his son or his wife. But I soon discovered he was talking about his dog. The desire to see his pet was this man's motivation to overcome tragic illness and leave the hospital.

We can no longer ignore the medical significance of the bond people have with their pets. These animals create a balance between our minds and bodies in the truest sense of mind-body medicine. Think about it. If you were stranded on a desert island, would you want the company of your pet or another human? More than half the people surveyed by the American Animal Hospital Association chose their pets.