An emotional anchor

Good company

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.’ And that’s something only those with a pet dog are likely to understand. According to a new study, pet dogs can lower stress levels in children and provide valuable social support. Well, a few Bengalureans just couldn’t agree more.

Vinuta Kini has two dogs — a four-year-old husky named ‘Thor’ and a three-year-old St Bernard named ‘Summer’. “My son Tanmay Sai, 11, would have grown up in isolation, if we didn’t have pets. I always wanted a dog which is when we got ‘Thor’ and Tanmay fell in love with them more than I did. The two are like his go-to people and emotional anchors; be it when he is happy or sad, he just goes and sits in between them,” says Vinuta.

“‘Summer’ is Tanmay’s soulmate. He is like her child and she is very protective about him. Even when he is not well, the pets know instantly and are constantly around him which cheers him up. Tanmay also takes great care of them and that has made him more responsible,” she adds. Meanwhile, Bhaskaran Menon also feels that after a hard day at work, one’s pets are always waiting to welcome them at home. His two-year-old husky, ‘Aslan’, and one-year-old indie, ‘Sansa’, make good companions for his son Vishnu.

“He is maturing into a caring individual. His ability to look after the two has helped him put everyone else before him and become selfless. Vishnu now looks at every other animal as an entity with emotions. Perhaps, he understands relationships and emotions better than before,” states Bhaskaran.
“Earlier, Vishnu would be upset over something for about half a day and now he just forgets whatever is bothering him as soon as he sees these two little adorable beings,” adds Bhaskaran with a laugh.

Aruna Srivastava, mother of 12-year-old Tejal, observes that her daughter has become more friendly ever since they have got their rottweiler ‘Jenny’. “Mingling with others was always a problem with Tejal. But Jenny’s presence has changed that. She now talks and opens up freely with others. It’s good to see that gradual transformation in her,” says Aruna.

As for Tejal, she likes to call Jenny her sister and considers her as an important part of their family. “Tejal takes good care of her. And if I scold her, Jenny instantly comes barking. That’s the beauty of the bond they share,” adds Aruna.