Benefits of Caring for a Pet when Overcoming Addiction

A dog is the only thing on earth that will love you more than you love yourself.”
- Josh Billings

The next tool in your recovery toolbox may just be as close as your newspaper classified ads (or these days, Craigslist).

For those of us who have struggled with addictions, the loneliness can be crippling. Research shows that when walking a dog, people tend to make more eye contact and have more people interact with them. People with dogs also tend to walk more on average.

"A lot of people usually hate to walk because it's lonely, but if they have a dog, they find it's something they look forward to doing," Sinatra says. "And it's the best form of exercise for people and dogs."

Taking care of an animal might be a good next step for some people in recovery.

Of course, owning a pet is a responsibility and requires an investment of time and some money, so make sure you are prepared to take care of him or her before you bring them home. If owning a pet isn’t in the cards right now, perhaps you can plan to spend some time snuggling with a friend’s pets or you can volunteer at the local humane society. They are often looking for volunteers to groom, walk and socialize the cats, dogs and other critters that come through their doors.

As another resource, you can pick up a copy of the book, Tails of Recovery: Addicts and the Pets That Love Them on www.amazon.com.