I believe in dogs. I believe in slobbery tongues, wet noses, wagging tails, and man’s best friend.
I want to be a Veterinarian, so it goes without saying that I love just about every animal. However, there will always be a special place in my heart for those of the canine variety. I’ve had dogs since I was born, and they have always been more than just my pets. They provide me with comfort and unconditional love. My dogs are the friends that don’t get mad at me for stupid things, that think I’m cute no matter what my hair looks like, and that always have time to go out and play.
Being away at school, my dogs are the members of my family that I miss the most. While I can talk to my parents and sister on the phone, I only ever see my dogs when I go back home. What’s remarkable is that even after being away for so long, they still remember me, greeting me with wagging tails and slobbery tongues. They follow me around the house like four-legged shadows until it is time, once again, for me to leave. When that day comes, they sit by the door as I get ready to go, cock their heads to the side, and give me a look as if to say, “We’ll miss you. Come home soon.”
I believe that the comfort a dog can bring to a person far exceeds that of just an ordinary pet. Therapy dogs soothe individuals in nursing homes and people suffering from post-traumatic stress. They come from far and wide to assist people affected by disasters like Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, or the recent Newtown school shooting, and wounded soldiers with disabilities are often paired with therapy dogs during their periods of rehabilitation.
I believe that dogs are as much saviors as they are companions. Some can sense medical conditions, like seizures, before they even happen. And others are trained to serve as guides for people who are unable to see. I have been fortunate enough to raise two such puppies for an organization called The Seeing Eye. Throughout my years of involvement, I have met many people who have directly benefitted from the guidance and companionship a Seeing Eye Dog can offer.
There is a direct science behind the relationship between humans and animals. It is called biophilia, and it is a theory that there is an instinctive bond between humans and other living things. This bond is considered to be especially strong with canines, hence the term “man’s best friend,” but this is no coincidence either. Studies have shown that dogs are more in tune with human emotions than other animals. In situations where a canine encounters two people, one crying and one not, the animal is more likely to approach the individual experiencing distress.
