These guys are Roscoe, Louie, and Ouisa. They?re my Shetland Sheepdogs, or Shelties. If you visit my Dunwoody office, or the Ansley office on a Saturday, you will probably meet Louie and Ouisa.

Louie was born in April of 1999. I have had him since he was 9 weeks old. He?s

Ouisa is a recent adoption. Her previous human had rescued her from a puppy mill when she was about 9 months old and took her to live on a farm. She soon became unable to give Ouisa the time and attention she needed, and I went out to Arkansas on Thanksgiving Day of 2002 to give her a new home. She has really thrived on all the love and attention from Louie and myself since she has been with us. She continues to surprise us with her blossoming personality and loving nature as she develops and matures and becomes more secure and accustomed to her new home.

Roscoe, my very first Sheltie, passed on in June of 2002. He lived a long, happy life with me for about 10 of his 12 or 13 years. He was such a sweet and handsome dog that I want to keep his picture here with Louie and Ouisa on my website. I was his fourth owner, so I?m not exactly sure how old he was. After he died, a dear patient and friend made a beautiful quilt out of some of the bandannas Roscoe wore. It is one of my most treasured possessions!

Most people who visit the office really enjoy having Louie and Ouisa around, and ask about them when they?re not with me. Although they are not officially therapy dogs, they do seem to have a calming, soothing effect on most of the people they meet. (If you have allergies or phobias, please just let me know so I can put them in a separate room to keep you comfortable.)

Numerous studies have concluded that pets can have a positive effect on your health. Studies conducted by the Mayo Clinic, The power of puppy love and Pet power — Reach out and scratch someone, have indicated that pet owners experience reduced incidence and severity of depression, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. Additional benefits include increased survival odds for people who have suffered heart attacks and increased effectiveness of blood pressure medication. People with pets have also been shown to have decreased incidence and need for doctor visits, and reduced stress. Some insurance companies even offer reduced life insurance rates for pet owners!

If you don't know the many rewards of having a pet, I can tell you from my own experience that they are absolutely wonderful to have. I just lose the ability to feel stress when they're around. They're always devoted and always loving, never judgmental, and they always give back much more than they require. I've found that the more attention I give them, the more their own personalities develop. It's amazing how sensitive they are to my different moods and that they always seem to know how to respond in a way that lets me know there's a real connection between us.

Some people think that they travel too much to have an animal. That may be true in some cases, but there are local resources may enable you to share your home with a pet, while still being able to leave your animal in a safe, caring home while you are away. When I am traveling and find myself unable to take Roscoe and Louie with me, I call Reigning Cats and Dogs and I know they will be staying in a home (NOT a kennel) where they have a safe, fenced yard, the run of the house, and lots of love and attention. Many hotels also now allow pets. If you are within driving distance you might want to consult petswelcome.com and make arrangements to take your pet along.

If you are interested in animals, and maybe in finding a new addition to your household, then check out the links included on either side of this page.