Pet Corner

I don't have any pets but some time in the future I think I'll bond with a pup from the pound/shelter. Nevertheless, I like to think of myself as a big animal lover ... especially dogs. Watching PBS the other day I was able to come across a wonderful program called "Pets: A Very Natural History". The program mixed a short history of animal domestication with a couple insightful real life human/pet events. If this program airs on your local PBS station, I definitely recommend checking it out.

Two of the real life stories dealt with the uncanny bond between a human and a dog. In the first, a 6 foot, 180 pound man collapsed in a field near his house due to a heart attack. His 45 pound English Setter, Sadie, was able to drag his in-and-out of consciousness body for nearly two hours. She dragged him right up to his porch.

In the second story, a man's Golden Retriever, Dakota, was able to predict his heart attack seconds before it happened. The program mentioned that it is likely Dakota's sense of smell is so advanced that she was able to detect a change in her owner's sweat that precedes a heart attack. Dakota even predicted a co-worker's heart attack.

When I was younger I naturally wanted a pet but I wasn't willing to be responsible for it. And when I would hear other people talk about their pets as a member of the family I would (honestly now) find it a little strange. But I think that's perfectly normal now. When you care for a pet and it returns limitless affection and love ... and when such a friend actually saves your life ... not only is it natural to think of that pet as a member of the family but it seems strange not to.