The Healing Gentleness of Dogs

     I was in my car waiting at the bank yesterday, and in the car next to me was a huge dog.  When the owner put the window down for the dog, I did the same.  We spoke.  She said the dog was part of pet therapy at Edward Hospital.  I had heard about this program, and decided to go on-line to find out more about it.

     The includes many breeds of dogs from Yorkshire Terriers to giant Mastiffs.  The dogs and handlers in their program, have visited more than 130,000 patients at the patient’s request, over the last nine years.  They are very happy with the results and have written, “There’s science to back us up, but the bottom line is our patients feel better when our dogs are in the neighborhood.  Thinking less about their illness also means less anxiety, pain, blood pressure and loneliness.  Our teams also visit organizations and schools in the community with special needs.”

     In a research study at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles,  it was determined that a 12-minute visit with a therapy dog improves cardiopulmonary pressures, neurohormone levels and anxiety in patients hospitalized with heart failure. 

     What does this tell us about health?  I think it is clear that gentleness can provide concrete evidence of comfort and healing.  There is a definite relationship between feeling the qualities of gentleness and wellness.  What are those qualities?  Dogs are often unconditionally loving, happy, and alert.  They pay attention to those who are paying attention to them.  They reciprocate love easily and fully.  They are grateful, friendly, compassionate and forgiving.  No wonder their gentleness rewards others.

     Now how are we at expressing these qualities?  We may not have tails to wag, and perhaps our days are busier than most dogs, but do we take twelve minutes to visit with those who are facing illness?  Therapy dogs don’t criticize, gossip or infuriate a patient in their visits - do we?  I think it would be great to take just twelve minutes a day to “wag our tails” at our friends, neighbors, family – anyone in need of comfort.  It’s time to express our gentleness – our forgiveness, unconditional love, alertness and attention.  This is putting our spirituality in action.  We may even be able to measure the wellness we bring to others.  We will be “healers” with our “tails” of gentleness!