Pets and Mental Health
Pets have a remarkable ability to bring joy, comfort, and companionship into our lives. Their unconditional love and loyal companionship have been shown to reduce feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and stress. Whether it’s cuddling with a purring cat, playing fetch with a playful dog, or watching fish swim peacefully in a tank, the presence of pets can provide a sense of calm and contentment.
Studies have shown that interacting with pets can release oxytocin, the “love hormone,” which can help lower blood pressure and improve overall well-being. Caring for a pet can also give us a sense of purpose and structure, promoting a healthier lifestyle.
So, let’s take a moment to appreciate the positive impact our furry, feathered, or scaly friends have on our mental health and celebrate the special bond we share with them. Whether they’re cheering us up with their antics, offering a listening ear (or a wagging tail), or simply being there for us, our pets truly are treasured companions that enrich our lives in more ways than we can imagine.
We Have a Winner!
We are excited to announce Frederic the Cat as the proud winner of NAMI Vermont’s Loudest ‘Bork’ Competition! Frederic, our meow-nificent pet ambassador, brings comfort and joy to students at the Johnson Campus of Vermont State University.
About Frederic: Frederic is a beloved companion dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of students. His comforting presence at the university’s wellness center has made him a cherished member of the community.
Join Us: Stop by the wellness center to meet Frederic in person and experience his paw-some impact firsthand!
Congratulations, Frederic! Thank you to everyone who participated in the competition and supported our efforts to raise awareness about mental health. Stay tuned for more updates and exciting initiatives at www.namivt.org.
Thank you to all who participated!
Shortcake
Please find attached a photo of Shortcake, who is not just a pet but a beacon of light in my life.
Please find attached a photo of Shortcake, who is not just a pet but a beacon of light in my life.
After enduring the heartbreaking loss of my parents, Shortcake entered my life and transformed it with her endearing presence. Her cuteness and playful antics have been a salve for my depression, bringing laughter and joy back into my home.
Fun facts about shortcake:
Despite her Tennessee roots, she adores the snow. She’s often the good girl next door, except when the neighbor’s compost pile beckons — banana peels seem to be her treasure of choice! She’s also an ice cube enthusiast; the mere sound of the icemaker sends her racing to the fridge in anticipation. Her favorite trick? A merry spin, which is also her adorable way of making a “request.”
Shortcake has not only been a comfort to me but also a fantastic god-sister to her introverted older brother, Felix, who now has a constant playmate and companion. Her ability to cuddle and provide solace has been a cornerstone in supporting my mental health, offering a warm presence that reassures and heals.
I believe Shortcake embodies the spirit of what an ambassador for mental health should be — a source of unwavering support and unconditional love. Her companionship during the most challenging period of my life has been a testament to the profound impact a pet can have on our well-being.
Thank you for considering Shortcake for this honorable role. She has been a true ambassador of healing in my life, and I am confident that her story and spirit can inspire and support others as well.
Cheeni
Cheeni (short for Fettuccine and also means ‘Sugar’ in Tamil).
Fun Fact: Cheeni has successfully hunted and caught voles, a bunny, and a squirrel.
A brief story of how they support mental health:
Cheeni, much like me, has struggled with general anxiety for the past 3 years. Even with help, Cheeni still has a lot of trouble settling down and being comfortable when in the presence of new people or dogs. Children with their unpredictable movements can be especially tough for her.
Cheeni is a new older sister to our one-year-old daughter and has taken her nanny dog duties very seriously. If she thinks her sister is climbing too high, wobbling too much with her steps, or anything else that she sees as putting her in danger – she barks constantly.
My therapist suggested I think of my own anxious thoughts as Cheeni just checking in on me to make sure I’m safe and will name my thoughts like this. “Thanks for checking in on me, Cheeni, but I don’t need to worry about that right now.” Cheeni was by my side through an incredibly tough year of IVF treatments and procedures, followed by a rough pregnancy that caused me lots of mental distress, and she hasn’t left my side as our pack has grown with the addition of her sister.
Angus
This is Angus! Angus was abandoned at a high-kill shelter in Texas and made his way to Vermont in July 2023.
We initially started as fosters, but it didn’t us long to make Angus a permanent member of our family. Angus does not let his past abuse and abandonment affect him, and he is an absolute goofball full of love.
Angus loves people, balls, and long walks! Just looking at Angus would put a smile on anyone’s face! He supports mental health by making us laugh and smile every day!
Frederic
Frederic is a fun, playful, and affectionate 2-year-old cream-colored neutered male tabby cat.
He has accompanied me in sessions with students on the Vermont State University – Johnson campus since he was two months old where he will snuggle on laps and gaze lovingly at the students who seek counseling at the Wellness Center. He also has hour-long groups with students where they come together and talk about their lives and the stressors of living away from home for the first time while also adjusting to the demands of academics. Many students struggle with feeling homesick, as well as coping with being away from their pets, connecting with Frederic helps to feel less “pet sick” and allows them to talk about the significance of the bond they share with their companion animals at home and of pets that have passed away. Students will share pictures and stories and become friends, that’s why we call the group “Animal Friends”.
Frederic and his littermates were born in a barn and were rescued by a local non-profit organization that offers low-cost spay-neuter services. I took the litter home to foster and then found homes for all the kittens, including Frederic. I was sad to see them go but knew they were all in good hands until I got a call saying that even though his new family including their chihuahua dog loved him and Frederic them, it turned out that the dog would break out in hives whenever Frederic would cuddle with him. So, Frederic came back to me, and I decided I just couldn’t let him go again. Now he travels by car like a pro and looks forward to going to “work” to spread love to all who want to see him. He is kind of famous actually and is the unofficial mascot of the Johnson campus, where he can sometimes be seen in his stroller visiting students where they are on campus otherwise, he is a valuable member of our team at the Wellness Center.
As an aside I have recently completed a graduate certificate in Social Aspects of Human-Animal interactions from Colorado State University and plan to continue to work toward Frederic being certified by Pet Partners as a therapy animal so that he can be official.
Xander
A fun fact about Xander is: He has a younger sister Australian Shepherd, Willa. Willa LOVES to play with flying discs. Xander has no interest in catching the discs, but he absolutely loves to play Defense and keep her from getting her prize!
This is Xander. He is a 10 year old Australian Shepherd. He has been a therapy dog, certified through Therapy Dogs of Vermont, for nine years. Xander has an amazing ability to connect with people. He will choose someone in a crowd to visit, and they will invariably say, “How did he know I needed this today?”
After all these years, I still don’t have an answer for that. As all Therapy Dogs do, he just knows. Xander and I have attended numerous events over the years. We have visited Nursing Homes, Schools, Psychiatric Facilities, Libraries, Hospitals, Funerals, Vendor Events, Conferences, etc. He never tires of getting pats and hugs. Xander and I have also passed an additional Certification for the Therapy Dogs of Vt Crisis Response Program.
This program was created so that Teams may respond quickly to comfort people in communities that have experienced a traumatic event. We truly enjoy volunteering to offer comfort or cheer, or to just be a quiet, understanding companion to folks in need.
I got Xander as a puppy when I was the Caregiver for my Mother. He was on my lap when I held her hand while she took her last breath. He grew up around walkers and wheelchairs as well as visitors coming and going.
He just had a natural affinity for greeting people and encouraging them to smile and feel better. I have worked for Mental Health for many years and Xander comes to work with me one day a week. He has his own bed in my office and we take sniff walks so he does not have to be “on” all the time.
We have scheduled visits with Staff and Consumers throughout the day, and he is available to jump in when we have a Consumer struggling. I have heard many testimonials of how Xander has helped people feel better during a tough time.
One of Xander’s most distinguishing features is his two different colored eyes. They spark many discussions about what makes an individual different and special. I even had a child ask me, “Why does your dog have one dog eye and one human eye?” We have hopefully enriched the lives of others as they have enriched ours. We do this work because, as I heard a young girl playing Secret Santa say, “Their joy is my gift.”
Lucille Louise
Fun Fact: I have bad anxiety when I have friends come over to visit me and they have to leave, so I have trained myself to grab one of my toys (or anything else that is nearby) and shake it violently to show them how angry I am that they are leaving.
Story: Anna has a very complex life, living with several mental and physical health problems that have affected her since she was a teenager. When she got me, she had just lost her beloved dog before me, Frank, unexpectedly, a few months prior.
When I was 1 year old, on my birthday, her boyfriend of 11 years and her split up, and all she had was me. Her friends all distanced themselves from her, and her addiction to alcohol and self-harm got bad. I saved her life so many times by licking her tears and sitting on her lap or laying across her chest to calm her depressed panic attacks.
These days, she is doing so much better, but I’m still there for her, providing emotional support when we are out in public, and her anxiety pops up. At home, I’m there for her still when she’s sad and lonely. She calls me her sunshine and her world<3
Sunny & Otie
I have two cats currently, Sunny & Otie, who help me manage my symptoms of mental illness of PTSD and BPD. By climbing on my lap and letting me pet them and hold them, I feel less alone and a little less stressed.
They provide me with entertainment by chasing each other around the apartment and sometimes playing with the cat toys I have for them.
Sunny is the grey and white one he is a senior boy around 10+ who has been with me for about 2 and a half years. Otie the orange and white one (tail-less) has only been with me since March 5th 2023 and he is only a year and 4 months old roughly.
My nicknames for them range from Sunny Boy-My Sunny Delight to Otie Dobbie, Obi Wan Kenobi.
Millie
Millie is a rescue from Mississippi, we adopted her from a rescue in Massachusetts last Fall. She may only have three legs (we aren’t sure what happened to cause the injury when she was living down south), but it doesn’t slow her down in the slightest!
down in the slightest! She is a great support and helps me with my anxiety and depression symptoms. Going for walks with her is a great time and getting outside with her definitely supports my mental wellness.
One quirky thing about Millie. she absolutely loves socks! She loves playing a good old tug of war game with a sock, the second the laundry is done she’s trying to hunt down any socks she can find.
Ziggy
Ziggy is a 2-year-old Yorkie Bichon Frise Shih Tzu mix and my first “little” dog. Fun fact: his favorite toy is a stuffed Grinch.
He has only been with me for four months, but I already cannot imagine life without him.
I have been battling severe anxiety and depression for many years and I do take medication to alleviate the issues, but that is often not enough. I lost my third, and I assumed last, dog, Stella, in September after nearly 14 years together.
The last year had been spent nursing her through old age and illnesses and really didn’t think I could handle another dog and face having to say good bye again. It was a physically and emotionally taxing year.
A shock to all of us, Ziggy came to live with us a few weeks later. We were not looking for a dog, he just happened. He looks like a combination of all three of our previous dogs, though I doubt he has a breed in common with any of them.
He is energetic and playful and loveable, happy to snuggle on the couch or raring to go if a walk is on the agenda. And did I mention adorable? His deep brown eyes and general goofiness make me smile a million time a day.
Just petting him and feeling his calm breathing help me to feel more at ease and relaxed. His weight and warmth in my lap are truly a god-send. Prior to his arrival with us, I would often work late hours to avoid coming home. I did not sleep well at night, and had trouble getting out of bed in the morning. I didn’t exercise much.
Now I am anxious to get home and see my boy, who greets me at the door with kisses and tail wags. Ziggy is an early riser, up with the sun for a walk and breakfast- there is no ignoring a 20 pound dog sticking his cold nose in your face and licking your ears to wake you up!
He also likes to go to bed at a decent hour- so no more staying up late for me…I am now also walking at least 2 miles a day with him- no matter the weather!
Unlike my last dog, Ziggy is very social and loves to meet and interact with other dogs, so I am able to return to walking at the park where he can frolic off-leash and I can once again socialize with fellow dog-owners as our dogs play.
My last dog, Stella, was also nervous and fearful, increasingly so in her old age. Ziggy is fearless and confident and my almost- constant companion. He has helped me return to life. Neither one of us imagined the impact we would have on each other’s life- truly a case of who rescued who.
Henry Grr Waugh
Henry is truly my tiny miracle, always there to hold me accountable in ways I never could on my own.
He has this incredible knack for making me reflect deeply on the choices I’ve made and how they ripple outward, impacting more than just myself.
He’s a constant reminder to consider the bigger picture, especially when things get tough. And when they do, and I find myself feeling lost or alone, he’s right there offering kisses, happy dances, and my own personal excitement party.
Henry’s best quirk is what my family calls his “radar ears”. It is a constant dance between ears, up, ears down, ears all around!
Become An ETS Presenter
If you’re 18-35 and have experienced the challenges of a mental health condition, your story holds immense power. Become an Ending the Silence presenter and make a lasting impact on students across Vermont.
Ready to share your story? Connect with us at [email protected]. Let’s break the silence together!
