Working at an animal shelter, we rely on people who are looking to save pets – and thankfully, we get them coming in to adopt. It’s so great to see the happy faces when they take their new baby out of a cage and into a forever home.
Sometimes, though, I find it interesting that the “saving” can go both ways.
I’m reminded of seeing Portia de Rossi on Oprah many years ago when she talked about how her horse essentially saved her life.
Her story truly was the portrait of a strong woman who struggled for years with serious issues. She had an eating disorder for a long time in her life and I know she helped others who suffer from eating disorders and not feeling free to be who they are.
As someone who had an eating disorder in my early 20s, I saw a lot of similarities in Portia’s story to my life and certainly remember what it was like to live in that odd, confusing, terrifying, narrow bubble.
Portia ended up talking to Oprah about her ranch where she visited a lot with an incredibly special horse.
She said riding was a way for her to stop worrying about her problems and self image. Because of her severe malnutrition from the eating disorder, however, she rarely had the energy to stay too long in the saddle. She realized in order to enjoy her best four-legged friend, she’d have to get healthy. It was essentially the love of her horse that made her realize she needed to change her life.
I also remember a story I had heard at a seminar for reinventing health a few years ago where participants were given practices to help make life less stressful and more enjoyable.
The presenters told a story about a woman who suffered from severe anxiety issues. So severe, in fact, she would sometimes take to her bed for long intervals. She didn’t do anything really to combat the problem; she just assumed it was her lot in life to bear.
When her dog started showing worrying symptoms of a possible health concern, she took her pup to the vet and discovered that the dog was responding to her anxiety. She had a pup so intuitive that her ailments started to affect him.
A therapist said to her, if you won’t get healthy for yourself, will you do it for your dog?
Her answer, was yes.
It proves that animals can be our heroes, just as much as we can be theirs.
I know there are stories of animals who lead people from burning buildings, who alert humans to impending seizures, who escort those who have lost their sight through a rich and fulfilling life. I never cease to tear-up when I hear the tale of the seeing eye dog who refused to leave her master in one of
the twin towers during September 11 and managed to lead him and a number of others to safety outside the building.
These are stories where animals, literally, in every sense of the word, save human lives.
But I wonder, how many more stories, maybe not quite as dramatic, are out there, like the ones I’ve illustrated above, where animals really are saviors for humans.
Maybe it’s the elderly woman who recently lost her husband, but finds the energy to get out of bed every morning because she knows her pup needs breakfast.
Maybe it’s the solitary person who has lived alone for decades, but looks forward to coming home from work to spend some time with the cat.
Maybe it’s the blind person who smiles on a daily basis because her pet bird sings a song.
Maybe it’s the child, whose parents fight a lot and might be headed for a separation, who manages to find a little peace and someone to share her fears with in the family pup.
The power of the animal-human bond really can’t be mocked. When it comes to true heroes, I bet a number of us would add some four-legged souls among the list of the two-legged.
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Jennifer Vanderau is the Publications and Promotions Consultant for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter in Chambersburg, Pa., and can be reached at [email protected]. The shelter accepts both monetary and pet supply donations. For more information, call the shelter at 717-263-5791 or visit the website www.cvas-pets.org. CVAS also operates a thrift store in Chambersburg. Help support the animals at the shelter by donating to or shopping at the store
