This is sensitive subject and I dare say I open myself for some grief from readers ( probably non-dog owners) who will, of course, base their arguments on their own private and pure habits to which I am not witness.
But we live in a household in the close company of two terrier dogs who, one could say, are "hygienically challenged", to coin a phrase. Much as we love them, only a brief observation of their behaviour shows that they are responsible for much filth that is almost unmentionable in polite society.... but here goes... they attract fleas, they scavenge and eat the most ghastly detritus including dead rats and animal pooh. They never clean their teeth and their breath smells. They tread in the unimaginable and bring it into our boat on their paws. They sleep on our sofa and sometimes our bed. They lick our faces and we stroke them constantly - probably never washing our hands afterwards and so on. Our Jack Russel, (we call him Dr. Spud), insists on licking clean, any of our burns, bites, skin abrasions or other wounds until they stop bleeding and which appear to heal miraculously afterwards.
As an elderly couple, we have yet to catch any recognisable disease or infection from our dogs. I am guessing that other dog owners will make the same claim and that, as far as I know, none of the many visitors to our homes pick up anything nasty - they eat from our crockery, drink from our glasses and fondle the dogs. I assume the same phenomena applies to Cat owners, pet snakes, pet hamsters, birds and so on. Why is this?
Assuming that human beings have always been living in close contact with their animals since God-knows-when - more so then than now - for instance, European farmers kept their animals in stables underneath their living space, using their body heat to keep the floors above warm - and so on.
Clearly, humans have developed a high degree of essential body defences against infection. Could it be that there is a correlation between the huge rise in eczema in children, allergies and asthma (Not forgetting the overall drop in sperm count) with the reduction in animal contact and the excessive attention, now paid in modern homes, to "artificial, chemically induced hygiene" - especially at an early age?
If there is no correlation, then what is the reason for these frightening statistics? http://www.anthrozoology.org/taxonomy/term/17
Some may conclude, that I am wilfully self-deluded after observing the picture below which shows my newly installed canal water filtration system, of which I am rather proud. It has yet to be boxed in.
Canal water is pumped in and flows from right to left through a series of filters and fills our existing stainless steel domestic water tank. I have yet to get it properly tested but hope to become independent of official tap water. My supply will be ready for drinking soon!
Anyone for a sharpener chez nous? Fish like it, so why can't we ? cheers!
(a 70th birthday present from lovely relatives - with thanks)
To all "rellies" and friends.
Have a Healthy and Happy 2012!
