Canine Compassion

Like many who experienced childhood trauma, I'm slow to trust and accept kindness and love. I've also been kinder toward others than toward myself. But two extraordinary beings changed that — my dogs, Twig and Cash.

Cash being loved by Heidi.

As rescue dogs often do, this dynamic duo had experienced trauma, too. Cash was a stray for a while and never quite got over being lost alone in the woods. Whenever we went anywhere by car, he was always the first one back to the car to ensure he wasn’t left behind. 

Twig was a tough little terrier who could take down a pit bull if she wanted to. But she hated dimly-lit parking lots — because she had been dumped in the night drop at a shelter one night. I did my best to ensure that neither endured another tragic moment like those again – and they reciprocated.

Twig was fierce in her devotion toward me. I was "her person," and she was always at my side. Her protection of Cash was just as intense, especially if another dog got too aggressive with him.

Cash's joy at life was infectious. There was always time to play, whether it was chasing his ball, catching his frisbee, or running and wrestling with Twig. They played for the sake of play rather than for winning, which inspired me to do the same. This lesson has made playing games a lot more fun because I'm no longer hard on myself for not doing an activity perfectly or not knowing an answer to a trivia question. Instead, I try to focus on the experience of the activity rather than mastering it. 

Happy Twig with her human, Heidi.

It turns out that these moments of fun and happiness aren't possible if we don't feel self-compassion. Happiness researchers are discovering that we can't appreciate the preciousness of life without fostering a sense of kindness toward ourselves. In turn, studies show that those who have greater self-compassion have lower levels of depression and greater resilience to stress and trauma.

Beyond teaching me to have fun for its experience, Twig and Cash were always present during our time together. They were never concerned with checking their social media feeds, doing chores, or writing articles to make money.

They also showed me the wonders available in each moment if we take time to see, hear, smell, and experience them. During our twice-daily walks, Twig and Cash spent many moments stopping to sniff the flowers — and sometimes things that didn't seem like they'd be quite as pleasant to smell, too.

Good Medicine

I'm not alone in finding dogs to be excellent teachers and wonderful "therapists." Many people experiencing trauma-related problems use animal-assisted interventions (AAIs). One of the first documented instances of this type of complementary therapy occurred after World War II to aid veterans recovering from "battle fatigue.” Similar programs have been conducted for veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.

Rob Kugler is one veteran who found a new “leash” on life from his relationship with his dog. He documents their unique bond and inspiring road trip after Bella's cancer diagnosis in A Dog Named Beautiful: A Marine, a Dog, and a Long Road Trip Home.

Rob and Bella, together.

It's a poignant tale of how Bella's love helped Kugler find his way back to himself after a divorce and the tragic loss of his brother Mike in Iraq after his unit's convoy hit an IED.

“If you’ve had the good fortune of forming a relationship with an animal such as Bella, who was pure love manifested into a living being, then you’ve experienced the complete absence of judgment,” Kugler says.

“I learned the true meaning of unconditional love and that no matter how many mistakes I made, Bella’s love for me never wavered,” he adds.

Kugler believes that many veterans find comfort from human-dog relationships because of the military’s value on solid connections between humans. "In military culture, the importance of having a battle buddy is ingrained into us," Kugler explains. "But in life beyond the service, even your closest human partners can't be there for you at all times. We're humans and have our own lives to lead and passions to follow."

 "But for dogs, they live with us, and their passion is to please, comfort, and protect us," Kugler says. "Dogs aren't just our best friend; dogs are our best battle buddies.”

Today service dogs improve the quality of life for veterans recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and aid many people living with physical limitations and disabilities worldwide.

Therapy dogs are another form of AAI widely used to offer comfort to those in hospitals, palliative care, schools, retirement homes, and after traumatic events and natural disasters.

If you’ve ever stroked an animal’s fur while they gazed into your eyes, you’ve experienced the magic that can happen.

"The tactile response to petting a therapy dog is apparent. A patient's eyes light up as they run their fingers through the dog's fur," says Harriett Dolezalek, a former therapy dog handler.

Individuals who interact with therapy dogs receive many health benefits, including lowered blood pressure and reduced anxiety.  Research has also shown that neuro-diverse children may have greater engagement with other people after interacting with dogs and other animals.

 "Patients in senior care facilities who don't always communicate easily often return to their childhood memories of a beloved dog and speak of them with delight," she says.

Harriet and her dear Cinnamon

"Caretakers for in-home patients often need the relaxation and pleasure a therapy dog brings to a visit, and when I visited a hospital, especially a cancer treatment ward, the nurses came running for therapy," she remembers. "They need it, too."

Of course, a therapy dog handler also benefits from these acts of service and compassion. "I enjoyed a great sense of satisfaction and pride in bringing these moments of love and happiness to people who so need it," she explains. "I loved every minute I spent with Cinnamon volunteering my time."

Healthy Rewards

While studies suggest dogs display empathy toward humans and other dogs, Dolezalek's observations about people's responses to interactions with her beloved therapy dog can also be explained by human physiology.

Several chemical reactions occur when we interact with our canine pals. The act of petting them releases oxytocin in our brain, for example. Sometimes referred to as "the love hormone," oxytocin plays a crucial role in forming social bonds. Oxytocin also plays a role in making us more trusting, generous, and friendlier – to others and ourselves.

Being greeted with love and excitement by our four-legged friends also releases dopamine in the reward center of our brain. This feel-good chemical can cause a euphoria that's often referred to as a "helper's high" because it's released after we take action to help others.

Just ten minutes spent petting a dog has also been known to lower stress levels by decreasing cortisol, the body's primary stress hormone. High cortisol levels have been linked to anxiety and depression.

Beyond the physiological, dogs inspire generosity and acts of service when we care for them – whether it's taking them for a walk, visiting the veterinarian, or preparing their meals. The most significant act of compassion in my relationship with my dogs probably occurred when I faced the hardest decision of all — to end their suffering from illness and old age — twice in eight months in 2020. 

Those were two of the worst days of my life. Still, my actions felt like the kindest ones to take toward the two beings that always treated me with unconditional love and compassion. Nineteen-year-old Twig couldn't walk without severe pain and medication. At the same time, fourteen-year-old Cash was suffering the painful effects of late-stage kidney disease. 

I have since learned that the most challenging part of both decisions has been the aftermath and processing my profound loss without them here to help me as they had for so long. But thanks to their love, resilient spirits, and lessons they taught me, I know I'm strong enough to survive. It's in their memories that I adopted another dog, Guthrie, last year, and why I'm even more devoted to animal advocacy than ever.

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