Posted on Mar 12, 2022
The power of the dog and how pets are helping Ukrainians cope with war
913
7
2
6
6
0
https://www.npr.org/2022/03/12/ [login to see] /power-of-the-dog-ukraine-war-pets-russia
Stuffed in the back of the Nissan as he fled his hometown of Kharkiv, Ukraine, were two of Jake's most prized possessions: his Nintendo Switch and Puzo, his pet pug.
Jake, 31, is among scores of displaced Ukrainians who have refused to leave their animals behind due to the immense comfort and familiarity they've provided during a time of unprecedented turmoil caused by Russia.
"Every day, after the bombings would stop, I would get up and go to the room where [Puzo] was hiding and rub him. It was soothing," Jake, who asked for his last name to be withheld out of fear for his family, told NPR over Google Meet. "He would be snoring all the time and it would remind me of the peaceful times."
Those peaceful times were shattered for Jake, a network engineer, on Feb. 24. Jake was up late watching YouTube videos when he decided to tune into the emergency U.N. Security Council meeting.
As diplomats pleaded for Russia to back off, Jake shifted his focus to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had just gone on TV in his homeland to launch a military operation against Ukraine.
Stuffed in the back of the Nissan as he fled his hometown of Kharkiv, Ukraine, were two of Jake's most prized possessions: his Nintendo Switch and Puzo, his pet pug.
Jake, 31, is among scores of displaced Ukrainians who have refused to leave their animals behind due to the immense comfort and familiarity they've provided during a time of unprecedented turmoil caused by Russia.
"Every day, after the bombings would stop, I would get up and go to the room where [Puzo] was hiding and rub him. It was soothing," Jake, who asked for his last name to be withheld out of fear for his family, told NPR over Google Meet. "He would be snoring all the time and it would remind me of the peaceful times."
Those peaceful times were shattered for Jake, a network engineer, on Feb. 24. Jake was up late watching YouTube videos when he decided to tune into the emergency U.N. Security Council meeting.
As diplomats pleaded for Russia to back off, Jake shifted his focus to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had just gone on TV in his homeland to launch a military operation against Ukraine.
The power of the dog and how pets are helping Ukrainians cope with war
Posted from npr.org
Dogs
Russia
Ukraine
Pets
Edited 2 y ago
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 2
1
1
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The health benefits of pets are real
Since arriving in Poland on March 5, Louisa Gouliamaki and other photographers have seen refugees traveling with their pet dogs, birds and even a turtle, she told NPR over Instagram.
Many of these animals have made it into photos she's taken for AFP showing how pets are "members of their family so no way they would leave them behind," she said.
"For kids, surely [it] is comforting [to have their pets], a piece of their normality but as well [as] something they have to take care of which give them [a] kind of strength," Gouliamaki said.
A Ukrainian boy travels 620 miles to safety, with a phone number written on his hand
The positive impact pets can have on people going through tumult cannot be overstated, said Lauren Powell, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine.
Pets can provide companionship, help reduce feelings of loneliness, and boost feel-good hormones, such as oxytocin, Powell told NPR over email. Pets can also help decrease our biological response to stress by lowering our stress hormones, relaxing our heart rate and blood pressure, she said.
"Previous traumatic events have shown us that pets can be vitally important for their owners during stressful times," Powell said. "They have a unique ability to provide unconditional support and companionship as they are not judgmental in nature."...
..."The health benefits of pets are real
Since arriving in Poland on March 5, Louisa Gouliamaki and other photographers have seen refugees traveling with their pet dogs, birds and even a turtle, she told NPR over Instagram.
Many of these animals have made it into photos she's taken for AFP showing how pets are "members of their family so no way they would leave them behind," she said.
"For kids, surely [it] is comforting [to have their pets], a piece of their normality but as well [as] something they have to take care of which give them [a] kind of strength," Gouliamaki said.
A Ukrainian boy travels 620 miles to safety, with a phone number written on his hand
The positive impact pets can have on people going through tumult cannot be overstated, said Lauren Powell, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine.
Pets can provide companionship, help reduce feelings of loneliness, and boost feel-good hormones, such as oxytocin, Powell told NPR over email. Pets can also help decrease our biological response to stress by lowering our stress hormones, relaxing our heart rate and blood pressure, she said.
"Previous traumatic events have shown us that pets can be vitally important for their owners during stressful times," Powell said. "They have a unique ability to provide unconditional support and companionship as they are not judgmental in nature."...
(1)
(0)
0
0
0
I read the article about how pets are helping Ukrainians cope with the war and it really touched my heart. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for those who have been displaced and the comfort and familiarity their pets provide during such trying times. It's amazing how animals can make such a big difference in our lives. Speaking of pets, I recently stumbled upon an interesting article about hamsters and whether it's safe to let them run around the room. It's on this website: https://www.thepetproperty.com/hamsters/can-i-let-my-hamster-run-around-my-room/. While the article doesn't directly correlate with the topic at hand, it does show how important it is to provide a safe and stimulating environment for our furry friends.
Can I Let My Hamster Run Around My Room?
Having a hamster roam around your room is probably a favorite activity for both you and the hamster, but there are a few things to know first.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google