They Change Us If We Let Them!!!! This piece was written in 2000 but the lesson is fresh today!
Many books have been written on the healing powers of animals. We assume that the healing only refers to physical ailments like Cancer, Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, Attention Deficit, Depression and many other ailments that plague us. I would like to mention that there are many other ailments that we suffer from that dont have a clinical term such as selfishness, laziness, hopelessness, helplessness, and again there are many more. We are so very fortunate to share this planet with many wonderful species not so egocentric as us homosapiens. For example: dogs, cats, birds, fish, bunnies, guinea pigs, hamsters, iguanas, goats, pigs, horses, imu’s, mice and rats (yes rats!). My point is that if we let them share their lives with us we can learn and grow. Ideally we can become the kind of person that creates a better planet. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated”. Many years ago I was a struggling dancer/singer/actress. As a profession, much of the energy is focused on perfecting one’s self. That might sound great, but it is a lesser self devoted to one’s image. I found myself trapped in the how do I look, did I hit the high note, damn I fell out of the last pirouette syndrome. One day on the way to my telemarketing gig (to pay for the voice lessons, dance class, etc) I fell into an ASPCA Mobile Unit. At the time my husband and I lived in a tiny five story walk up with 3 cats. I knew I could not take a dog home under these circumstances so I avoided the cute kittens and focused on visiting the poor homeless dogs that lay in their cage so lonely. As I looked around this crowded little trailer I saw one after another perfect little “Hallmark” card dogs. A peppy little poodle, a cocker spaniel with 3 inch eye lashes, a golden retriever that could warm the heart of even the most crotchety of old men. Then I met the funniest dog I had ever seen in my life. She was white with black freckles on the nose, big beagle spots on her body with orange freckles in between. She had one big blue eye, one brown, huge ears, and ribs so apparent you wondered how she made it this far. I asked the attendant to please let me meet her. When this gangly bundle of bones was put in my arms all she could do was hug (and I mean squeeze) and whisper sweet nothings in my ear with her big wet tongue. I asked about her story. She had been simply found wandering the streets of upper Manhattan. Knowing full well I could not have a dog, I took down her ID number with the theory that I would personally make sure she was rescued. Off I went to work. As I sat in the first phone cubical, every person who showed up for work had to hear the story of the gangly dog. (Poor Things!) The last two colleagues that listened to my story advised me that the dogs and cats in the mobile unit were there because it was their last chance before being put down! My heart sank. I was not worried about the Hallmark digs but the dear gangly friend was not as likely to be rescued. I immediately called my husband at work. I explained to him that the dog we had been planning on having when we moved to the country (suburbs or anything with a blade of grass felt like country) had been born prematurely and if we did not rescue her immediately she might be put down that night! (Quite the tactic eh!) Despite his absolute confusion to my absurd request I managed to convince him that we had no other option but to save “our” gangly dog. With a $10 bill and a pocket full of change donated by my colleagues I hailed a taxi to the other side of Manhattan Island in pursuit of my gangly dog. Of course this was rush hour and cell phones had not been invented yet!! My cab driver graciously pulled up to the fifth payphone on our hike up 1st Avenue. You see I had to persuade the ASPCA staff that it was well worth it to stay the unpaid overtime so that I could rescue the gangly dog! As the cab pulled up to the building I could see the metal door drawn closed short of 3 feet. For me! They waited for me! Inclined to do my imitation of a runner sliding into home plate I refrained and settled for frantic banging on the door. I’m here to pick up 1ISA942, I exclaimed! They laughed and acknowledged me for the crazy lady that I appeared to be. After all, I called them from a payphone every 10 blocks until my arrival to ensure that no one put my gangly dog down. The dog catcher on duty proceeded to bring me into one room after another of wall to wall dog crates in pursuit of my gangly dog. When I spotted her she was curled up in the far corner of her top bunk cage. When the gentleman showed her the rope lasso to remove her she resisted with her entire being. I could see my beloved gangly dog had a frightening short history of life. Gangly dog became Nannydog, the love of my life. She broke through the shell of my lesser self. You see, she only knew that I was her mom, sister, best friend, senior litter mate, best person. She had no problem telling me what she needed whether it be food, shelter, playtime, fetch, belly rub, training, and in her later years, trips to the vet, medicine, essential oils, TTouch, or just a nap with her best friend in the hammock. Everytime she told me what she needed, lucky for her she did not speak English, so all the excuses that would come from my little self did not compute in her pure little brain. Nannydog, you gave me the opportunity to put someone else’s needs first. On the flip side, if I was tired, frustrated or depressed, Nannydog would drop her bone off to offer to nuzzle or kiss without hesitation. I realized one day that if I could be more like my Nannydog the planet would be a better place. Nanny has passed having successfully changed her mom, sister, best friend, senior littermate, best person and best friend into a better person or so I hope. I am now working in various areas of the animal care industry with a large portion of my energy dedicated to animal rights. I would like to thank my Nannydog for showing me how to break through the shell of my lesser self. I know you hear me. I thank you and I love you forever with all my heart. Thank you Nanny Dog. Someone once wrote, “My goal in life is to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.”