Share your Pets for National Pet Month!

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Published 13 Apr 2022 in Colleagues

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It's National Pet Month, so why not share your pet photos with us? Bringing so much joy and companionship, our pets help us exercise, get outside, and even socialise! Just send them over to thumbsup@midcounties.coop along with your pet's name, your name and trading area.

We’ll then feature your entries in our Thumbs Up Round Up over the next few weeks...

To enter, simply send in your entries to thumbsup@midcounties.coop along with their name, your name and trading area.

Some fun facts about our much-loved pets! 🐕🐱🐰

In the UK, about 1 in 2 households own a pet with around 20 million pets owned (excluding fish)
According to Government data the most popular pets in the UK (by percentage of ownership) are dogs at 26%.
However, research by the charity Cats Protection League showed figures of 11m cats kept in households throughout the UK, compared with 6.1m dogs
A dog’s sense of smell is 40 times better than ours!
Cats spend 70% of their life sleeping
When rabbits are happy, they jump around and flick their head and feet!

Guinea pigs make 11 individual sounds!
Some lizards detach their tails when in danger
Tortoises can live over 100 years
Goldfish don’t have a three second memory
Budgies have hollow bones to help them fly
Horses use their ears to communicate with their peers. They use ear direction to indicate something worth paying attention to
Hamster pouches extend to their hips! That is how they can stash so much food!

Sources- [Pet backer – Preloved]

Pets and our wellbeing! 😊

A pet can be a great source of comfort and motivation. In many ways, pets can help us to live mentally healthier lives.

How can a pet help my mental health?

Caring for a pet can help our mental health in many ways, including:

increasing your physical activity. Dog owners are likely to take their pet out every day for a walk or run.
providing companionship. Pets can give you a sense of security and someone to share the day with. Caring for them can help you feel wanted and needed. This can be especially valuable for older people or those who live alone.
reducing anxiety. The companionship of a pet can help to ease your anxiety.

boosting self-confidence. Pets can be great listeners, offer unconditional love and won’t criticise you! This can help your self-confidence, especially if you feel isolated.
helping you meet new people. Dog owners often stop and chat with each other on walks. But other pets can be a way to meet people too: in pet shops, training classes or online groups etc.
adding structure to your day. Having to feed, exercise and care for a pet can help you keep to a daily routine, which can help you feel more grounded and focused. It can give your day purpose and a sense of achievement.

Source [Mental health]