Tail Talk

Twenty-nine years ago this past August I was reading a column in Field and Stream written by Gene Hill.  He was a monthly contributor, writing about the joys of hunting over bird dogs, and it became obvious that his love for his dogs was stronger than his love of the hunt.  I remember that column in particular because it was about Ghost Dogs, the animals that we measure all others against and find they never quite measure up to that special one that came before but has since passed on.  The manner in which he waxed poetically about his dogs, the guns they used, and the hunt brought tears to my eyes and filled me with such emotion that I tore those pages from the magazine and I’ve carried them with me ever since.  I don’t know that I’ve kept track of any other pieces of paper for twenty-nine years and yet I have these two pages torn from a magazine, still intact, because his words took me to a place of understanding and beauty that I didn’t want to forget.

Today I was online and googled Gene Hill, and there on a website called DogQuotations.com was one of Gene Hill’s writings from his book Tears and Laughter, and I want to share it with you.  Who knows, maybe someone will read this, cut it from the paper and carry it with them for 29 years because it touches a place in their heart just like his article on Ghost Dogs did mine.  Anyway, for your enjoyment:

He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.)

His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me… whenever… wherever — in case I need him. And I expect I will — as I always have. He is just my dog.

I will always be grateful to Gene Hill for his beautiful prose and devotion to his animals.  At a time when it was still unusual for companion animals to be treated with such admiration he came forth and let his feelings be known, opening the door for others to stand tall and show their love for their animals.  If you have an opportunity to read any of his books, go for it, especially if you enjoy hunting or know of anyone that does.  You won’t be disappointed.

And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

In making a decision on whether or not to bring a companion animal into the home many families worry whether or not the animal will increase the likelihood of childhood allergies, a cause of childhood onset asthma that seems to be on a meteoric rise since I was a child. I can understand a parent’s concern so I looked for the most recent research to find legitimacy for the argument for denying a child the friendship of a companion animal in the hopes of preventing childhood allergies and found there is none:

Wiley-Blackwell. “Early exposure to pets does not increase children’s risk of allergies, study finds; Evidence suggests it may actually reduce likelihood.” ScienceDaily, 13 Jun. 2011. Web. 14 Oct. 2011.

A new study published in the journal Clinical & Experimental Allergy reveals that keeping a dog or cat in the home does not increase children’s risk of becoming allergic to the pets.

Parents of young children frequently want to know whether keeping a dog or cat in their home will increase the risk of their children becoming allergic to their pets.

Led by Ganesa Wegienka, MS, PhD, of the Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, researchers followed a group of children from birth until they reached adulthood. Periodic contact was made with the parents and the children to collect information about exposure to cats and dogs.

At age 18 years, 565 study participants supplied blood samples to the researchers, who measured antibodies to dog and cat allergens in the samples.

Results found that being exposed to the specific animal in the first year of life was the most important exposure period, and the exposure appeared protective in some groups.

Young men whose families had kept an indoor dog during their first year of life had about half the risk of becoming sensitized to dogs compared to those whose families did not keep a dog in the first year of life.

Both men and women were about half as likely to be sensitized to cats if they had lived with a cat in the first year of life, compared to those who did not live with cats.

“This research provides further evidence that experiences in the first year of life are associated with health status later in life, and that early life pet exposure does not put most children at risk of being sensitized to these animals later in life,” Wegienka concludes.

So parents, go ahead, bring that companion animal home today. It will help your child in so many more ways than it would ever cause harm through allergies. Pets reduce stress and act as an antidepressant, something any child that has been bullied will appreciate. They teach unconditional love. Their behavior is more consistent than their human counterparts, so your children will grow up understanding there is one entity they can always depend on for love and support. And the companionship they will have through their pets is second to none. No one else is a better listener or can keep a better secret.

We all have a responsibility to keep our children safe and secure, but perhaps we’ve been misguided in the way we try to overprotect them at their own expense. Visit the shelter today, because it’s only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

This week my mom has been in the hospital, suffering through symptoms that are leading us to the end of life decisions that every family has to make or they will be made for you.  Sometimes I think it would just be easier to leave the decisions to those folks, whoever they are.  I am an only child, so I suffer alone through these times.  It seems funny to think in terms of being a 57 year old child but after your dad dies and your mom is sick and may be dying, believe me, you feel every bit the three year old you thought you outgrew so many years ago.  I have three boys and their wives to help me emotionally through the difficult times along with my husband, and one son and daughter-in-law live close and get to do all for grandma because of their proximity.  What I’ve noticed during these times is when I am feeling so alone and sad the only comfort I really get is from my pets.  It’s not that the kids/husband/friends don’t try to bring comfort to me during those moments but it is the warmth of a cat’s body in my lap and the feeling of their soft fur against my skin, softly purring their contentment, or looking over and seeing the sweet vision of a dog and cat napping together, sharing their love and warmth on a chilly fall evening.  These are the moments that bring me peace and allow me to move forward to face whatever I have to face.  I don’t know how folks do it that don’t have a companion animal at their side to help them through the difficult times of their lives.  Companion animals seem to know and understand implicitly what we need.    It’s the same principle that is used now with therapy dogs that are given to returning soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  With their animals at their side they are once again fully functioning members of society, but without the animals to help them get through the day they are prisoners in their own homes, afraid to leave the confines of the four walls that are at the same time their safe place and their prison.   But with their therapy dog they can get through anything because with the love and comfort that animal shows them they can face whatever problem the world throws their way, and when you think of the horrific scenes they’ve been a party to that really says something for the strength these animals give by their mere presence in our lives.  I wonder how different the lives of school children would be if every classroom was equipped with a therapy dog to help the children cope with the day to day struggles of school work, bullies, and the pressures of growing up.  I know therapy dogs are a lot safer than the drugs that are given to the millions that are suffering every day.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if doctors could prescribe a therapy dog as a first line defense, with a monthly prescription for food and healthcare for the dog?  I’ll bet money we’d save billions in healthcare over the long haul and have a lot more happy, fully functioning adults living the good life than what we see today.  As a plus it would clean out the shelters in no time, killing two birds with one stone.  How do I get to be in charge?  Since I don’t see that happening any time soon, I guess we’ll just have to remain with the status quo and remember that it’s going to be up to you and me to make it happen, because it’s only through us that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.