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Can a dog help you deal with this year’s beyond-insane election?

This weekend I reached an end point with politics. Of course, I will vote. I picked my presidential candidate  awhile ago and shared my decision with anyone who asked. My friends, family and colleagues have already decided as well. And there’s no budging them either way.

So instead of watching last night’s “presidential” Town Hall, I walked the dog. I recommend it heartily. It provided the mental-health break I needed and it gave me a chance to avoid any more political discussions.

Don’t have a dog? Or have one that is not that jazzed about a stroll? How about volunteering to walk one?

It may be a little naïve, but what would happen if instead of reading one more political (and perhaps totally inaccurate) Facebook posting or listening to one more infuriating video clip, we all just did something for someone else. Helping a dog seems like a good starting point. So, instead of reading the Town Hall reviews, I just went ahead and saved you the time of Googling to find out which animal shelters need volunteers.

Here’s a lovely list of metro Phoenix shelters in need of someone to walk a dog or socialize with animals:

• Arizona Animal Welfare League
• Arizona Humane Society
• Arizona Small Dog Rescue
• Foothills Animal Rescue
• Halo Animal Rescue
• Home Fur Good
• Lucky Dog Rescue
• Maricopa County Animal Care and Control

Election three weeks away

I’m not advocating burying your head in the sand and ignoring all election-related news. What I am suggesting is that if you are feeling overwrought about it all, just take an hour out of your day and step away from the computers and phones. The news will be waiting for you when you get back and in the meantime, you have made a puppy pretty happy.

The dog, by the way, seconds the motion.