Having a Canine Friend

canine friendshipNo one can deny the obvious benefits of owning a dog. Dogs make us active and happy, bringing out a youthful spirit within us. But even if you are unable to own a dog, there are still plenty of ways you can interact with dogs. Not everyone is able or willing to take on the responsibility of raising and caring for a dog, and that is understandable. Below are several ideas for people who want to interact with dogs but not own one:

  • Dog sitting is a great opportunity to temporarily care for a dog as if it was your own. When people go out of town and cannot bring their dog, many of them hire a dog sitter. This person may or may not stay in the house the dog lives in to care for them because owners often do not want their dogs to be alone at night. The other primary functions of a dog sitter are to feed, walk and spend time with the dog.
  • Many people are too busy to make time to walk their dog and require the services of a dog walker. People can do this for pay or on a volunteer basis. The dog owner may be a friend or relative, or may simply be someone who is in need of assistance.
  • Volunteering at an organization that works with dogs can benefit your desire to spend time with dogs and the organization that surely could use volunteer hours. Many dog organizations, ranging from vet clinics to shelters to kennels to training centers, are in desperate need of volunteers. These facilities are often swamped and their resources are stretched very thin. In this type of volunteer position, you may walk dogs, assist doctors and help care for the facilities.
  • Simply spending time with dogs that belong to your friends and family can be a great way to get time with canines in. This can also benefit your loved ones immensely by having some time to themselves.

Leave a Reply