The bond between canines and humans is well established. Dogs can be our best buds, faithful companions and loyal protectors. They can bring us joy, make us laugh and ease our sorrows. They may even be responsible for the increased longevity of their upright biped companions, as they are recognized for providing a whole host of mental and physical health benefits. As such, they are also often soothing friends for young children, making their worlds brighter.
Road to Recovery
Recently, a story made the news about a sweet young boy and his kindred puppy because of the fact they both shared the same birth defect, a cleft lip. For the 2-year-old Michigan resident named Bentley, it was love at first sight when his father brought home an adorable 2-month-old shelter pup suffering from the same medical malady. While Bentley has had two corrective surgeries, having someone who has shared your journey can be priceless on the road to normalcy and acceptance, especially as a child.
When his dad, Brandon Boyers, visited the Jackson County Animal Shelter and came across the puppy, he knew instinctively the pair would be a perfect fit. After FaceTiming his wife, Ashley, about the find, she immediately exclaimed, “Get her! We need her.” She later added, “To see him have something in common with a puppy means a lot, because he can grow up and understand that he and his puppy both have something that they can share in common.”
The shelter snapped a series of heart-tugging photos showing an overjoyed Bentley cuddling and bestowing kisses on the simpatico pup. Noting “Bentley found his match today,” in a Facebook post, they continued with, “It’s so hard to put into words how meaningful this adoption is to all of us, so we are going to let the pictures speak for themselves.”
Sign of the Times
In New Mexico in 2015, an overwrought dog growing up in the state’s various shelters had a stroke of luck. At only 10 months old, Baxter, who’d become a quivering mess, had to be carried out of a kennel because of the noise and commotion at the busy facility before ending up at Animal Humane New Mexico (AHNM). Adoptions director Sam Blankenship said at the time, “Baxter was completely non-responsive, as he had learned to shut down rather than deal with the stimulations that were depleting his personality.”
Fortunately, Baxter’s life and circumstances improved dramatically when he was adopted by a loving family with a special-needs child named Neeva, who was 4 at the time. Neeva’s parents had been looking for a four-legged companion for her, but it couldn’t be just any dog. Neeva was born deaf, and her family wanted a dog that would be patient and gentle with her. They went to AHNM and found Baxter just waiting for somebody to bring him home to love and understand him.
Neeva communicates through American Sign language (ASL) and could communicate with her family, but at her young age, she was limited in her interactions with the outside world. Since Neeva and Baxter both craved interaction and understanding, it seemed like another perfect fit.
She took it upon herself to try teaching Baxter what her signing meant, and her mother, Chelsea Goff, swears Baxter understands. The lovable mutt learned how to sit, stay and go, all through sign language. Neeva even gave him his very own name in ASL. For his part, Baxter has helped Neeva become a better signer with all of the practice the two get communicating with one another.
Goff stated, “He is such a sweet, gentle and friendly pup and we are having so much fun with him in our ‘pack.’” Since the two found each other, they’ve become inseparable, blossoming into happier and more fully developed versions of themselves just by being around one another.
Therapy Pets
People recovering from injuries and illness or dealing with depression or anxiety improve markedly with pet therapy. Therapy dogs are now deployed at airports to de-stress harried travelers and in court systems, through nationwide programs such as the Courthouse Dogs Foundation and Florida’s K9th Circuit Court, for calming children. A recent study in the journal, Preventing Chronic Disease, demonstrated that kids with dogs are less anxious than others.
Additionally, therapy dogs have even been shown to improve reading skills in children suffering from lack of confidence and/or low self-esteem. The concept of “Dog Days Afternoons” and “Paws for Reading” library programs has kids practicing their reading with animals present to listen. While initially thought to be “wacky,” within weeks, the turnaround in behavior and reading skills was clearly evident.
In 2017, it was revealed that infants exposed to higher levels of pet allergens might actually have a lower risk of developing asthma by the age of 7.
There are a great many stories about the wonderful reciprocal relationships between children and dogs. The benefits of our canine pets to families are seemingly endless. QCBN
By Rebecca West, QCBN