By David Tepera, July30, 2025

A few years ago, my wife Tina and her mom Brenda started dabbling in the world of art. They both took classes to educate themselves about the variety of paintings. To keep it short, one of Tina’s favorite artists is Rembrandt, but she also recognizes that those paintings are out of our financial reach.

Well, during that time, we rescued a senior dog that had a previous rough life. I told Tina, let’s name it Rembrandt because that’s the closest we’ll come to owning one. So, Remy became our loving pet until recently passing away.

This is our third senior dog to shower love until their final days. Yes, we all know the heartbreak of putting down our loved ones, but the joy they bring is a lifetime of memories.

There is a variety of documented health benefits — physically, mentally and emotionally — of owning a dog.

Of course, most dog owners tend to walk more, which improves cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure and helps with weight management. I know there are people allergic to small animals, but it has been proven that exposure to dogs, especially for children, may help with allergies and asthma by boosting the early immune system.

We all know petting and playing with dogs puts a smile on our faces. There are studies proving this behavior increases levels of oxytocin, which is the love hormone. Therapy dogs are used in many needed places like hospitals, schools and disaster zones.

I know a family who has a teenage son who battles depression and isolation. Last year, they rescued a dog for him to care for. Well, their son has come out of his shell because he has a constant companionship with unconditional love and emotional support.

The care of the dog gave their son a sense of purpose and routine to feel more normal. He is now taking the dog to the local dog park and is making friends with other dog owners.

Let me finish with this — some of the best pets you can ever find are at the local animal control or rescue organizations. These animals are typically not inbred, which lowers health issues.

At my age, we only rescue senior dogs because they are super chill. Elder dogs love to just hang out, sit in your lap and have a good belly rub. All our dogs come to the gym with us; even our son Dylan’s rescue Buddy has grown up at Ageless Muscle.

Now, if you’re looking for another avenue to get healthier, there’s a wonderful, loving dog waiting for you.