Good news. Research says you can have your cake and eat it, too. As long as that cake is chocolate.

For centuries, chocolate has been used to treat diseases and maladies such as depression. Civilizations from Mexico to Europe have hailed chocolate as an aphrodisiac. The U.S. government officially recognized its virtues in World War II, making chocolate candy bar standard issue for military.

Chocolate’s scientific name, theobroma cacao, is literally translated as "food of gods," and we chocolate cravers don’t need any studies to tell us power of chocolate in mood alteration. Its feel good chemicals have long been associated with feelings of love, safety, and comfort. Maybe that’s why Americans eat an average of 12 pounds of chocolate per year.

While I’ll use dogs here, other animal companions have participated in these Visiting and Therapy Programs, such as cats, guinea pigs, birds and rabbits.

Known by various terms, taking your animal companion to a hospial, prison, nursing home, children’s shelter, oncology or pediatric ward can be a rewarding experience for everyone.

It gives you and your loved ones a bonding and learning experience, gives your people-loving dog an adventure, and brings great joy and comfort to people visited.

Visiting a nursing home means giving residents something to look forward to, and it’s easy to make friends around a dog. There’s a natural topic of conversation as dog is busy doing its thing. Whereas simply visiting a rehab center or children’s shelter might be a bit awkward, bring your animal companion and everyone feels at home right away.

It’s a relief from boring routines to residents, and a distraction from pain, illness, depression, and homesickness. Caregivers report that residents become more active when a dog comes visiting, and talk about it long afterward. It’s a big event to them, and only requires time from you.

A dog can sometimes reach someone who’s withdrawn from world, as letters to pet therapy sites attest. They also have been shown to reduce blood pressure of people in many different circumstances (apparently always) - healthy college students, a child reading a book alone in a room, and hospitalized elderly. Touching and massaging have been shown to help both recipient and giver, as does petting an animal.

Sounds like a wonderful idea doesn’t it, for a winter Sunday afternoon? So how do you proceed?

1.Consider your dog’s personality.

You already have a good idea how your dog interacts with other animals and people. Good visiting dogs enjoy meeting strangers, actively approaching but in a calm, friendly manner. A fearful or aggressive dog is not a good candidate. An overly enthusiastic greeter can be trained.

2.Consider your dog’s reactions.