For 15 years TV personality Mike Larkan has been showcasing a dog for adoption during his Friday night weather forecasts for Network 10. He also regularly hosts events for The Lost Dogs’ Home.
Over the years, not only has he helped find homes for hundreds of our homeless dogs through his Give a Dog a Home slot, but he also adopted cats and dogs from The Lost Dogs’ Home into his own home, including his 10-year-old cat, Batman.
The self-confessed “pet lover” also has 7-year-old schnoodle Scotty.
“A dog is your best friend and a major part of the family,” Mike says.
“I’ve got two kids who have grown up with pets and it’s just a wonderful way to round out your family.
“You get out of a pet what you put into it. If you give them a lot of love, they give you a whole lot of love back.”
Mike is an advocate for the importance of the human-animal bond and the positive health impacts of owning pets.
The invisible bond that ties us to our pets can have a dramatic impact on our lives and our health. Research shows people have lower heart rates when patting an animal and their anxiety levels fall. Owning dogs generally leads to an increased fitness level when pets are exercised regularly. Getting out and about with a dog can also generate more social interactions when people want to stop and pat a pet.
“When you take your dog for a walk or a run, you get to do more exercise – so having a dog is healthy for you,” Mike says.
“If you love the great outdoors a dog is the pet for you.
“Dogs are becoming more and more integrated into our lifestyles – you can take them on holiday, to work, to cafes and even to Bunnings!
“They’re just a lot of fun.”
After a brief holiday from Network 10, Mike is back hosting Mike’s Melbourne every Friday, shining a light on what’s happening in our city and across the state and continues to feature dogs looking for a second chance through social media.