145 4 Encounters Native American myths show that dogs have played an important part in their lives as well. And the Vikings? They kept dogs too. Today, people keep dogs for pets, to cuddle and keep them company. We know for sure that being around animals can be healthy for you. Some retirement homes even hire “therapy” dogs for the elderly to pat and play with. It has been proven, that when you hug a dog the stress hormone levels in your body drop. However, dogs are not just our furry, lovable companions. With their keen sense of smell, they can sniff out things that we cannot. Rescue dogs are trained to find people in need, bomb dogs identify land mines, police dogs detect drugs, and hunting dogs help catch other animals. And smell is not everything; some dogs are even trained to act as the eyes of blind people. No matter why we keep dogs, we need to remember that they need a lot of care. Although a puppy may seem like the perfect gift, it needs love, food and exercise. But if you are up for the task, there is no denying that a dog can be your best friend! to cuddle – að knúsast a retirement home – dvalarheimili furry – loðinn a companion – félagi keen – hér: næmur sense of smell – lyktarskyn to detect – að greina up for the task – tilbúinn í verkefnið God made the earth, the sky and the water, the moon and the sun. He made man and bird and beast. But he did not make the dog. He already had one. Native American saying
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