Is Sleeping with Your Dog a Public Health Concern?

Every so often I see this question come up: Is sleeping with your dog a public health concern?

People have strong feelings on it. I won’t say who is right or who is wrong, but I’ll offer my 2 cents. Since I’m a public health professional, please consider this my professional opinion, no matter how unprofessional it may sound.

Watch on Youtube here:

I was going to type out the transcript for you all, but I included it IN the video.

If you’d like to read some funny comments, check out the video on my Instagram Here. And please feel free to leave your own comments! I’m not saying there is a right or a wrong, and I love to hear people’s thoughts.

My bottom line is this: Of all the things that could land in my bed, a dog is the least of my worries. ;)

People tend to think of sexual partners after they hear me say that, but that’s just one culprit to consider. There are bed bugs, mosquitoes, roaches, a rabid bat and now one might even worry about the kissing bug. I wrote about the kissing bug in my blog. You should definitely read it for awareness, but apologies if you don’t sleep after reading it.

I won’t wade too deeply into the question of supernatural visitors to your bed. Some people dismiss the idea entirely and assume there’s a logical, material explanation for everything. Maybe they’re right.

But if you do believe in a supernatural realm—if you’re religious, spiritual, or just open to the unknown—you might entertain the possibility of a midnight visitor. It reminds me of a ghost story from my alma mater, West Point. One room in the barracks, known as “the Divisions,” was said to be haunted. Cadets reported waking in the night to a crushing weight on their chest, as if something—or someone—was sitting on them. Other strange happenings were noted too.

According to legend, the reports traveled up the chain of command, and eventually the brass had enough. The room was converted into a study space, ensuring no cadet would ever again sleep there.

Were the cadets imagining things? Was it something unseen but real? No one knows for sure. What I do know is that West Point has always carried a ghostly air.

The only question that really matters: would you sleep in that room—and would you rather your dog be with you or not? 😉

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