dogs and love

Yesterday during my work related travels, I was greeted by a shiny bouncy black Lab named Buck. Still a pup at 4 months, he was all tumbly legs and paws with a head a little too big for his growing body. I wasn't expecting such an enthusiastic and endearingly big eyed hello, but was thrilled nonetheless. I meet many dogs in my travels and there aren't many that I don't warm up to. How can you not? Dogs are the epitome of unconditional love. They are also patient teachers of sharing love too.

Buck was a present to the young man I met with yesterday. His brother gave him the dog in the summer after the young man was released from the rehabilitation centre in town where he was recooperating after a head injury from a car accident last March when he went off the road and catapulted into the ditch. Because he wasn't wearing a seatbelt, this young man went through the windshield, landing unconcious. It was the perfect gift. What a wise brother.

At the beginning of my session with the young man, Buck was insistent on maintaining our attention. Still teething, he was keen to tackle my long scarf and the cuff of my jacket as I tried to write down some information at the kitchen table. His puppy behaviour continued as the young man and his mother tried to discipline him. "Submission" and "obeying" are not in Buck's impulsive puppy vocabulary. Buck doesn't even get "no" yet.........not when there's a new face and a tasty looking scarf to tackle. However, his antics broke the ice right away, which in turn allowed my conversation with the young man (once Buck was marched down to his room) to start at a level more conducive to sharing his story than it would've without the puppy intrusion.

The young man, who is still in the stages of healing and regaining his long term memory, wants to work. We were meeting to look at his options, and to look at the possibilities available to him. When I asked him where he saw himself 5 years from now, the young man stated that he wanted to have a trade in carpentry, wanted to be working full-time, living in his own home and spending his weekends playing golf and going hunting with Buck. Nothing lofty......possibly attainable..........but he's basically starting from scratch because he can't remember his past.

It was evident though that with Buck's help, both directly and indirectly, his memories are returning. Yesterday for example, the young man started building a dog house. He told me that he doesn't know HOW he knows how to build things. He can't remember that part. But, as soon as he started on the project, the skills and knowledge automatically came to him. When he takes Buck for a walk in a neighbourhood he grew up in, he has moments of clarity when he looks at a house and remembers who lives in it.

Buck will force the young man out of his shell.............he will motivate him more than the young man realizes. Prior to the accident, the young man was irresponsible and lacked any kind of direction for his future. Living in the moment, grabbing a job here and there, he was biding his time partying and keeping his head in the sand. Now....... he is realizing that he needs to make decisions, to be responsible, to look towards his future which easily could've been snuffed out tragically.

We had a good first meeting. When I was leaving, Buck came barrelling out of the room to playfully say goodbye and to regain his buddy's full attention. Showing and sharing love.

I meet many families in my travels who are wounded for one reason or another. Trauma, heartbreaking life events, shit luck, addictions, abuse, illness.............wounds that need to heal. One thing I have learned time and again is the priceless therapeutic value a pet can have on an individual or a whole family........especially dogs. Not only that, some dogs have the ability to protect and alert a family member.......not just of physical intrusive danger, but even of an upcoming seizure. Pet therapy is more powerful than we give it credit for. That's why when I heard last week that there is a legislative policy in place indicating that a family is not allowed to have pets in public housing, I was appalled. That's right! No cats, birds, hamsters, gerbils, or dogs are allowed to move into public housing in this province..........even if it the animal has been identified as a "therapeutic" pet.

Good thing Buck lives with the young man and his family outside of the gates of the modern day almshouses...........and can run free teaching about giving and receiving love.

What about the families that have to live inside the gates?