Regina's Reflections

An Endless source of JOY is at your feet...


On cold cloudless day in December 1998, I learned that my father had died. While it should not have been a shock, the phone call from my brother that day came as a sad, sudden surprise. He had been in the hospital a week, with my mother visiting daily and staying with him for 12 hours a day. Yet he died during the time she was not with him. I had just seen him two days prior. Dead ?? No. Not him. Not now. He was only in his 70s.

Sensing my grief and sorrow as do all dogs, our golden retriever Spencer, my children’s constant companion during their childhood, now mine alone, came up to me, laying her paw on my knee as if to say “I am here for you”. Holding onto her, my tears soaking her fur, she remained motionless. For as long as I needed her. As it turned out, it was quite a while.

How, I thought does anyone survive life’s challenges without a DOG???

As it happens, more people than ever are discovering the therapeutic benefits a dog provides. Early in the Covid pandemic, there was a booming business in shelters, nonprofit rescues, private breeders, pet stores — all reported more consumer demand than there were dogs and puppies to fill it. Some rescues were reporting dozens of applications for individual dogs. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/12/adoptions-dogs-coronavirus/)

As it turned out, people craved companionship and comfort that could not always be provided by their fellow humans. Long quarantines, “lock ups”, home schooling, fear and misinformation left them struggling for comfort. Although the shelter staff were thrilled at the sudden interest in dog adoptions, they remained skeptical that these, most needy dogs, would in fact be on the way to their “forever homes”. They braced for the returns. Surprise! Their fears never materialized! Across the country, dogs and humans found each other and a new path to survive their unpredictable world.

How do our dogs bring us JOY?

Let me count the ways:

Your mood will improve. Just try to stay grumpy around a dog with a ball.

Your stress will decrease. Petting your dog is proven to lower the presence of the stress hormone cortisol.

Loneliness will decrease. Devoted dogs will always be happy to join you in any activity you select. Even if it’s just a nap. Especially then.

Loving feelings will increase. Oxytocin, the “love hormone” calms the nervous system, making you feel more relaxed each time you pet your dog.

You will find increased social interaction. Dog owners like chatting with fellow dog lovers. Connection with others is key to avoiding sadness

Increased health and fitness will be yours. Dogs require activity, running, playing ball, daily walks. Studies demonstrate dog owners enjoy lower levels of cholesterol and blood pressure. This decreases the likelihood a dog owner will experience a heart-related disease.

You will pay more attention to your emotions. Dog owners can learn a lot about themselves by watching their dogs. Live in the moment. Don’t worry about yesterday or stress about tomorrow. When you’re happy, your dog will pick up on that. When you’re sad, hurt or angry your dog senses that and will try to offer comfort. If you’re sick or injured your dog will be by your side, head in your lap offering silent, loving comfort.

Dogs may save your life. Dogs seem to be able to detect the smell of cancer in human bodies. There have been stories of pups who continued to lick and sniff at moles or lumps on their human’s bodies, who eventually found out that those skin conditions were cancerous. In fact, since humans made this discovery, dogs have even been trained in just 3 hours to detect cancer!

Our dog Darcey is a licensed Therapy Dog. She lives to bring happiness to seniors. She LOVES her work. Yet she has been sidelined since last February at the dawn of the pandemic. She misses her work terribly. She and we hope for an end to this soon. Like all of us, she needs meaningful work!