BY FRAN JEWELL
There have been so many horrific events in our lives recently involving mass shootings and terrorism. It is so hard to imagine how anyone could be so cruel and determined to ruin the lives of others in such a selfish act. Aside from that, here we all are, in our homes this morning, heading off for the day’s events whether it is work, family or a day of resting and healing. All our lives differ on so many levels.
Statistically, studies show that more and more people own dogs and will go to great extremes to keep their dogs well and comfortable. Our dogs have become family members that we have come to count on to keep us safe, keep us company if we live alone, provide us with humor, and many times a goal and reason to get up in the morning.
In many ways, our American society has started to treat and value dogs no differently than human lives.
Because of some of the most dramatic atrocities in our society, such as Las Vegas, Columbine, Oklahoma City or 9/11, we have incorporated dogs into our everyday lives to help us cope. They are the guide dogs that lead hundreds of people out of collapsing buildings. They are the search dogs that find victims in rubble. They are the extra hands of the police in finding and apprehending the bad guy.
Dogs are the backbone of our airports and public buildings that search for bombs and weapons. They are the comfort we seek when we are home and so frustrated from a hard day’s work or even the healing comfort when we are hospitalized or traumatized during tragedies. They assist us when we are disabled and even lower our blood pressure and stress from lingering PTSD.
I cannot begin to express to you the significance and importance my dogs are playing in the role of my healing from my catastrophic health event.
While I am not sharing anything you don’t already know, I think one thing we do overlook is the needs of the dogs that perform such important functions in our everyday lives. For them to remain happy and healthy, we must attend to their mental health as well.
How do we do that? We must provide food, shelter and harmony in our homes, but we must also understand that dogs must feel safe. To do that, we need to provide them with the structure, leadership and mental stimulus to feed their souls. We must also be sensitive to a dog that is not comfortable doing certain activities and not forcing them into those situations.
Owning a dog is a two-way street. For them to help us, we must help them. Look for educational experiences for your dog in every moment you are with them. It can be as simple as some basic obedience, like sit for a daily cookie, finding a treat in the backyard, or teaching them a new trick. It can be something as simple as a massage, or walking down a new path. Even grooming can be a wonderful experience for your dog.
In our own grief over many of today’s events, let’s find comfort in our dogs, but let’s be sure to give them what they need to keep them happy and healthy, too.
