Puppies: The Swimsuit Edition!The surest sign of summer is a dog in a bikini
Updated: Thursday Jun 30, 2011 | 06:00 AM EDT
Updated: Thursday Jun 30, 2011 | 06:00 AM EDT
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This empty spot on Chico’s beach towel has your names all over it, ladies.
Of course you can’t resist your golden retriever’s puppy-dog eyes or your tabby’s silly antics, but you’re getting much more from your pet than unconditional love and great pics for your Facebook wall.
Nearly two-thirds of American households include a pet — and our animal companions are proving themselves adept at enhancing human health in increasingly diverse ways. From calming patients before medical procedures to motivating owners to exercise, pets may be the best medicine we don’t even realize we’re taking.
Here, the notable ways your animal companions can improve your health.
Thursday July 14, 2011 05:00 PM EDT
Elvins Family/Getty
Octuplets? Pfft! – that’s for amateurs! Milly the dalmatian had twice as many babies when she gave birth to a litter of 16 puppies in May.
That number may be rare, but rarer still is the fact that Milly herself was born in a litter of 16 six years ago.
The puppies were delivered via C-section in Shropshire, England. “During the cesarian the vet pulled out eight puppies and gave a sigh, so we thought that was it – but there were still eight more to go,” says owner Lisa Elvins. “The vets were amazed.”
Not all of the puppies will stay with Milly. The Elvins family will keep one of the dogs and find homes for the 15 others.
Elvins Family / Getty
