Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1207269
A t last, the 2020 Election is upon us. Rancorous debates, primaries and over-heated brouha- ha awaits! Whatever your party persuasion, there should be little debate that the bond between you and your dog can be a healthy antidote for the coming hullabaloo. For those who need assurance, Winifred and I offer some noteworthy scientific documenta- tion. In addition, we offer a ploy I gleaned from Winifred for how to get through the year's often awkward personal and professional relationships while keeping one's humanity intact. "A pet is an island of sanity in what appears to be an insane world," says Dr. Boris Levinson. Indeed, our dogs reduces stress, depression, anxiety, and improve our sense of well-being. All necessary to gird our loins whilst stumbling toward our "island of sanity" amidst the coming craziness. First, to the science: A recent study showed that dog owners who kissed their dogs had showed higher levels of the "love chemical" oxytocin, than those no- kissers. Winifred's and my favorite study is where dog owners were put in a room with their dogs for a half hour, during which time all their attention was focused on talking softly, stroking and petting them. The owners' blood was drawn before and after the 30 minutes. The result? Dog owners' blood pressure decreased. And the own- ers not only showed higher levels of oxytocin, but also increased beta-endorphins which are associated with pain relief and euphoria. They also found higher levels of dopamine heightening the feeling of pleasure. But it gets even better. All the same hormones where also elevated in the dogs! All of which would seem to bode well for getting through this year, or any other year, with more love and understanding for one's fellow primates—political per- suasion notwithstanding. On a completely unscientific level, Winifred employs a sim- ple methodology for diffusing divisive conversations, or making a quick exit to one's "island of sanity" altogether. Consider the practice of Selective Hearing! My wise furry friend has taught me that when her nose is engaged, she hears nothing. Request, command, beg. NOTH- ING! Her nasal apparatus is so much more sophisticated than mine that when she gets a good whiff of something exciting, her ears shut down. From head to tail she's all one big NOSE. I do not take it personally when she chooses to stay focused on the object of her snout, as opposed to the words of my mouth. The question is whether I can take Winifred's selective hear- ing gambit and extrapolate that to recuse myself from conver- sations of an overheated contrarian nature. In fact, sensory redeployment can be an effective exit strategy in the heat of rancorous discourse. One can easily extinguish flammable con- versation by catching sight of an attractive man, woman or beast to gaze upon. Seek and ye shall find some pleasant, or unpleasant sight, sound, or odor to distract from another's righteous partisan palaver. Of course, there is also the ultimate diversion to diffuse any heated rhetoric. If I am fortunate enough to have my furry sidekick with me, she knows when it's time to make me shut up and keep it to myself, and she pulls me away. I have no choice but to bid adios to my political adversary and rightfully focus all my attention back on Winifred. Then again, if you are not with your pooch, you might have an even better great escape. You suddenly remember an emer- gency appointment with the vet! Your beloved pooch has a blood-sucking tick in its neck, suffers the doggie flu and is mess- ing all over the house. Odds are your political foe will quickly beg off hearing more, wish you and your pooch well, and bid adieu. For those who still doubt that your pooch provides superlative protection for surviving the chaotic months ahead, try to remember that you don't have a dog in this political fight. You have an emotional suppor t four-legged family mem- ber who thankfully cares not a woof about your par ticular political persuasion. A best-selling author in a previous life, Mark Oman is now co- author with Winifred of "Life is Good. I'm a Dog…And You're Not!" available at www.CarmelDogTales.com. Mark and Winnie live in Carmel with four-legged brother, Winston, and two-legged wife, Barbara. For more information, email mark@markoman.com. DOG TALES M A R K O M A N Of course, there is also the ultimate diversion to diffuse any heated rhetoric. Your Dog Is Not on the Ballot 48 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 0