Jessie, on the left, and Jess on the right, are off to get a new pet.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” – Mahatma Gandhi

 Meet Jessie & Jess.

They are good friends from their bond at a university in Wisconsin.  Jessie is hosting me for my stay in Portland, Maine & today we are headed to Harrison, Maine to pick up Jess’ new pet rabbit.  Jess fell in love with Oscar at a local fair and had to have him.

Oscar is the gray furball.

 Meet Oscar.

Oscar is an Angora rabbit.  Oscar and all the members of his family tree are bred, because they have long, soft hair.  You could make a scarf, gloves, a hat, or even socks from Oscar.  Angora rabbits are some of the oldest domesticated rabbits,  beginning in Turkey.  

Oscar's bud.

 Oscar could save Jess’ Life!

Maybe a bit of a dramatic statement, but pets can be good for your health.  Newsweek published an article in 2008 about pets and their links to good health.  Pets can reduce stress, decrease loneliness, make you live longer if you have had a heart attack, improve the appetites in Alzheimer’s patients, and get you more exercise.

Oscar's other bud.

 But…

Hopefully, Jess will not get too attached though.  “Though they make great companions, in the end pets are still no substitute for human friends and family.”  These are the cautionary words of Alan Entin, a psychologist.

Create Our World.

Ben

“Love the animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled.” – Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Tags: adventure travel blog, angora rabbits, Benjamin Jenks, create our world, hitchhiking, pets, roadtrip around the USA
Categories: People., Photographs.

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