10/10/19

A tribute to my little companion and all others who make such a difference in the health and well-being of our lives.

When I first got my dog at three months of age she was flee infested and traumatized. She hid under the couch and I had to pull her out to feed her and poddy her. She barked at all people and all animals. I wondered if I would be able to keep her. I didn’t know if I could provide the comfort and training she needed to be socialized and to make it in this world. She was my “special needs” puppy.

However in rescuing her, she rescued me. I learned I had the skills to deal with her and all her needs. She got me out to beautiful places. And she continues to get me out in all the elements. I have to walk her–even in ice storms. There is something so incredibly beautiful and wholesome about being out in every season, even if it is for the briefest of walks. I have also met some of my best friends and gotten several dates from walking my dog. Furthermore, she has taught me about living in the moment.

Along the way, I have heard many beautiful stories of dogs rescuing their owners. One such story is of a client of mine who had epilepsy. His service dog could predict his seizures and was trained to help him get through them. He also had a puppy who was not a service dog, but was a great companion in addition to his service dog. The most incredible part of his story is when his service dog died, his little puppy took over the roll of his service dog without ever having been formally trained. The puppy had learned what to do to assist with the seizures simply by observation. The puppy also knew how to fill the void of grief that overwhelmed my client from losing his long time companion.

Recently I saw a documentary on TV that shared about a non-profit organization that trains dogs to become service dogs for Veterans with PTSD. What a wonderful difference they can make in the lives of their owners. That organization is called k9s for warriors. Their website is: https://www.k9sforwarriors.org/. If you love dogs and want to make a difference for our OEF/OIF Veterans with injuries such as TBI and PTSD–consider a donation! I am not affiliated with them in anyway, but have seen first hand how important of a difference well-trained service dogs can make for Veterans.

The research confirms what most of us already know about our pets. The mayo clinic writes about how “animal assisted therapy” can help reduce pain and anxiety in a wide range of illnesses. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/pet-therapy/art-20046342. The Chopra Center explains very eloquently how our pets help us live in the present moment. “Pets serve as constant reminders to live in the moment because it is the only way they know how to live. While we humans ruminate over the past and worry about the future, pets simply live in the here and now….Pets appear to be simple creatures but in many ways, they are much wiser than their owners.” https://chopra.com/articles/7-health-benefits-of-owning-a-pet.

If you already have a pet, rest assured that it is already a benefit to your health. If you do not, consider walking a neighbor’s dog, going horse back riding, or visiting a shelter to give some TLC to pets without homes. They bring many gifts to us and can make us feel more whole.