Quit smoking for the sake of your dog

Dogs can be adversely affected by second-hand smoke.

In the documentary film "The Witness,"  produced by Tribe of Heart, Eddie Lama explains why he finally decided to quit smoking:

"I was a smoker for 25 years, Camels, non-filter. They ruled my life.  I thought I'd die smoking.  So there I was smoking my 35th cigarette of the day, the living room filled with smoke, and I looked at my cat Moo Moo.  I love Moo Moo and I want the best for him and I realized how much smaller he was than me.  If I'm smoking one cigarette he's smoking 10 and then I thought this animal has no choice.  I had to accept his well being.  He was looking right at me and I could have sworn he coughed, and that was it.  And the cigarette was extinguished."

Eddie's choice to quit smoking for the sake of his cat is not that rare, according to a new survey that included 3,300 pet owners published this week in the journal Tobacco Control.  In fact, the survey results found that 1 in 3 smokers would quit the habit to protect their pet's health. 

Evidence shows that second hand smoke can adversely affect animals.  Everything from oral cancer and lymphoma in cats to lung cancer in dogs.  Pet birds are also at risk, suffering from eye, skin, and heart problems as well as lung cancer.

The survey suggests that motivating smokers to quit for their animal companion's benefit, may be another way health counselors can reach their smoking clients.

For Eddie Llama, his love of his cat Moo Moo, was what it took to for him to kick the habit.  And now their living room is smoke-free.

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