With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, it’s always that time of year when we reflect on our many blessings in life. Sure, many of us are feeling the squeeze of the current economic climate. But in spite of that, we have food, clothing, shelter, loved ones – and, that source of relentless sunshine – our dog.

It’s easy to take our four footed friends for granted; they are always underfoot – comforting us with their steady presence. But when you consider all they do for us, they really are quite amazing creatures.

Imagine having a human friend that would jump up and down with unbridled glee upon seeing you, despite your being absent for only a few minutes… I don’t know about you, but my homo-sapien compatriots just don’t go to such lengths to make me feel special. My dogs, on the other hand, can be relied upon to consistently show this level of appreciation for my mere presence. They are my biggest fans, and the source of much joy in my life.

For those who don’t know dogs, understanding why I have such admiration my “dogterage” can be perplexing. One of my friends simply cannot conceive of why I would keep them. They bark at everything. One of my pooches has never been house-trained. He can be predictably and reliably counted on to leave a steaming pile of poop and an ocean of pee for me to clean up every morning. It costs money to feed my dogs. They need exercise. And – they do make a good bit of extra work in keeping my house tidy.

What she doesn’t see is the unconditional love my pets provide me with. They are compassion “dog-sonified”. They are my canine cheerleaders; quietly supporting me in everything I do. My puppy dogs pick me up when I’m feeling down and help me celebrate the victories in my life – however big or small.

And I’m not just relying on my own opinion on the matter. Scientific studies have shown that pet ownership benefits us in a number of measurable ways. Health wise, owing a dog can help lower blood pressure, alleviate anxiety and depression, help us lose weight, and even help us beat cancer.

Dogs help kids grow up to be moral, compassionate folks by the constant example they set. They don’t judge you, they are great listeners, and they love you, no matter what your race, creed, sexual orientation, financial status, weight, gender or religion may be.

So this Thanksgiving, topping my list of blessings will be my dogs, and I hope yours will be too!

Deborah Moore Dogs and Puppies Central

Deborah Moore is a writer, webmaster and pet expert. She lives with three wonderful dogs; Hambone, Scrunchion and Angel, and blogs on a number of pet related issues.

by Debbie Moore

In today’s pet marketplace where dollars and cents mean more to most than compassion, it’s always special when you come across someone special. Dogs and Puppies Central had the great pleasure of meeting just such a person – Garvin Mark, founder and CEO of Pet Pros Services.

Mr. Mark has pioneered a number of very unique pet services that are centered around compassion; concern for the welfare of pets in need of a new home, and concern for pet owners in their time of need.

In the current economic slump, many pet owners find themselves in the sad circumstance of having to give up their beloved furry family members. With so many foreclosures, lost jobs and people living on a shoestring, many of us find we simply cannot continue to care for our pets.  And as many a pet owner will tell you, there are few things in life that feel worse than having to give up a dog, cat or other cherished pet to a shelter.

And that’s just where Pet Pros Services comes in and saves the day. For a mere $100, which barely covers the cost of administering his service, Mark finds loving, forever homes for pre-loved pets. His staff work tirelessly to ensure that all pets placed with their “adoption agency” are matched with just the right family, so that their owners can have peace of mind in knowing their pets are continuing to receive the same love and level of care they are used to. No matter how big or small, young or aged, active or quiet your pet may be, Pet Pros Services guarantees them a great home.

With shelters and rescues brimming with unwanted pets, we feel this service is much needed, and will be a god-send to many a financially challenged pet owner.

And if you are looking to adopt a pet, you can browse through hundreds of wonderful, pre-loved dogs, cats and other pets who are looking for you. Pet Pros Services even offers a premium pet finder service! They’ll offer guidance on choosing the best pet for your family, and guide you every step of the way until your new pet is happily embraced by your family. The small $100 fee is less than you would pay to most shelters or rescues for a pet adoption – without the added tlc.

Garvin offers his services nation-wide. To find out more about Pet Pros Services and their innovative pet adoptions services, visit www.petprosservices.com or call 1-321-262-8235.