A dog's life for priest with pup

Studies show that keeping a dog as a pet reduces stress and makes people feel good about themselves - unless you're a Roman Catholic priest, apparently. Last year, research from the University of Wales, Bangor, and Ulster University has revealed that dogs and dog collars are not a happy combination. In fact, academics have found that a pooch in the presbytery can increase the likelihood of professional burnout in the priesthood as the strains of walking, feeding and caring for a dog could prove the final straw for many priests. More research is planned on the clergy in other denominations, with male and female Anglican priests being surveyed.