Comforting the Sick by Visiting With Your Dog
I just listened to this short podcast and want to share it with you. I have found dogs especially comforting to people who are sick, aging or dying. I recall years ago when I was single and had a minor surgery, one of my girlfriends drove me from the hospital to her home to spend the night. Her dog immediately and quietly came and sat beside me; she would not leave my side. She was so sweet. I believe dogs sense illness and pain. My theory is that it has to do with their heightened sense of smell. But, as this author says, perhaps we should leave that a mystery.
What a great way to volunteer in a nursing home! Read or listen to the whole thing by clicking the Slate link just below.
heavy petting: Pets and people.A Patient’s Best FriendMy dog’s amazing gift with hospice patients.
Posted Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008, at 8:03 AM ET
I don’t really know why Izzy brings peace and pleasure to people in their final days and hours. There is little research about this kind of interaction, and I prefer to keep it a mystery. Maybe the people are remembering the dogs they loved as children. Perhaps the gentle touch is what matters, what gets through.
Whatever the reason, I see the same thing over and over. People startle, then smile, and the tension drains. They grow more peaceful, feel safer. There are some things experts and studies can’t explain, even in our sound-bite-obsessed culture.
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