Rude Health: Pet therapy for a happier life

When Winston Churchill was depressed, he used to say that the ‘‘black dog’’ was following him around, which just goes to show that while the old boy may have been a dab hand at fighting fascists he knew precious little about animals.

In fact, all the available evidence suggests that having a dog about the place is one of the best possible antidotes to depression.

Moreover, pets can have an amazingly therapeutic effect ...