Pet owners and risk factors in cardiovascular disease

To the Editor: Having read the article by Parslow and Jorm,1 I dashed to my surgery — praise the Lord, my diastolic blood pressure was 70 mmHg.

So, I raced home again and reassured our labradors that they would not have to be shot.

Let’s leave elderly pet owners and their blood pressures alone. Pet ownership is all about companionship, friendship, trust, care for your friend — the really important things in life — not your diastolic blood pressure!