Do some good for your Mental Health and dogs without a home

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and what better time than to celebrate the many ways that our pets make us happy! Across the animal-loving Agria team, we have our fair share of pets; from fish to gerbils to cats, dogs, rabbits, horses, sheep and many more! And judging by the percentage of our conversations that revolve around the crazy things our pets have been up to, how they make us laugh and how much comfort they give us – we’re in no doubt of how special they are.

Laura Townsend, Customer Service Advisor at Agria, is one example of our team whose dog, Coco, is her world: I’ve grown up with animals. There has never been a time in my life where I didn’t have a pet – it would be strange without them! I volunteer for the RSPCA in my spare time, so I also get to spend a lot of time with other animals who have not had a good start in life to make them feel loved. This is where we found Coco, our 2-year-old crossbreed. She was featured on the Channel 5 show ‘The Dog Rescuers’, and appeared in a few news articles too - poor thing was dumped in a bin when she was a puppy! We now make sure that she knows she is loved and is spoilt 24/7.We can’t imagine our lives without her!”

 

Another aspect of pet ownership that makes a huge difference in our lives are the social and physical benefits some of our pets give us. Which is just one of the reasons why we are so excited about the upcoming Agria Dog Walk! Taking place on Saturday May 25th 2019, the Agria Dog Walk will see thousands of paws across six European countries walking to raise much-needed funds for the rescues local to them.

For every dog that’s walked, Agria Pet Insurance will donate £5 directly to the rescue – to help them continue the fantastic work they do to care for and rehome animals in safe, warm and loving forever homes. We’d love you to join us!

Meditation and mindfulness expert, Andy Puddicombe, well-known as the voice of mindfulness app, Headspace, said to us: “Going for a brisk walk is one of the best things we can do for our mental health. It not only helps improve our physical fitness, but in being more present in the body, it also helps us to step out of all the inner chatter in the mind. So, it's perhaps no surprise that we might feel less tense, less stressed, and more optimistic after a good walk.  And if we can do all that while helping to raise money for an important cause like this, then that's even more reason to step outside and get some fresh air.”

Dr Carri Westgarth, Lecturer in Human-Animal Interaction at University of Liverpool, says, The Agria Dog Walk is a great opportunity to remind ourselves of just how beneficial getting out and walking is, while raising money for some very good causes. Research shows that walking with your dog not only has a huge impact on your physical activity levels, it makes you feel better too! It’s also been shown that watching your dog having a good time is a huge stress reliever; while walking also helps us connect with nature and with other people out walking – other factors well-known to bolster positive mental wellbeing.”

So, if you can join the walk, you’ll not only be directly helping your local rescue – but also doing wonders for your mental health – all while you spend time with your four-legged friend! What could be better?

You have just a few days left to find and register for your local Agria Dog Walk! But be quick – lots of dogs and their owners are all set to take part, so don’t miss your chance to join them! Find your nearest walk at: agriapet.co.uk/agria-dog-walk – and remember, just by walking with us, your dog will raise £5 for your local rescue.

For further information about Mental Health Awareness Week, visit: mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week