Skip to main content

Man's Best Friend

Before owning my dog, Buck, I would have told you I was a cat person.  Granted, the only exposure to pets I had before Buck was a cat named Cacey.  In many ways, Cacey was like a dog.  She was always by my side and would even come when I called her name!  The day she went missing was one of the saddest days of my life, and I still sometimes wish I knew what happened to my furry friend.  Thankfully, you can always get a new pet, and that is where Buck came in (and now we have a new addition to our family named Levi).  Honestly my two dogs, that I consider my fur-babies, have added such a wonderful dynamic to my life!  They have done ridiculous things, like pooping in the shower, and they have also done sweet things, like sitting with me while I am upset and crying.  At the end of the day, they are always there ready to cuddle.  In many ways, they probably understand me more than others would, and that is why I truly believe the old adage that a dog is man's best friend.  Animals have a way of being there for you even when they cannot talk or even understand what you're saying.  In fact, sometimes they make the best friends because you get to do all the complaining and, as long as you're petting them, they just take it all in!

Our sweet Levi

Seeing my puppies always brings a smile to my face, and I really think that *most* dogs have their person's best interest at heart.  This is why I love the idea of service and/or therapy dogs.  Not only do you have an animal that benefits from human affection, but I also believe that humans benefit from animal affection.  Few things can beat my puppy snuggles at the end of the day, and I can only speculate at how much it would mean to someone to get this opportunity when the only form of attention they might get is doctor or nurse care.  Having a dog whose sole motivation is affection come to your hospital room can quickly become the highlight of your day!  I also have been astounded at the knowledge that service dogs can be trained to notify owners if their blood sugar levels are deviating to dangerous levels.  I heard one story where a dog actually retrieved orange juice for its owner who was too weak to get up because his blood sugar was too low.  Now, I don't know if this is completely factual, but I do think dogs have a sixth sense and awareness that surpasses human abilities.  Also, you can't beat the unconditional love of your four-legged-friend.

Buck, our faithful footstool

While I haven't completely given up on cats, I would say my heart has been swayed to be more of a dog-lover.  I know not everyone appreciates animals, my mom would be one such person, but I also know that for others the best therapy is dog therapy!  I remember when I was younger getting so excited if I got to play with a friend's dog.  There was something about the interaction that I loved.  They were so consistent; you throw the ball and they retrieve it.  In a way, I want to share the joy I get from my fur-babies because I feel I am being too selfish with their love and affection.  I don't know if I will actually therapy certify my dogs, but I really do admire the people who do go through the process and invest their time to create a special occasion for others.  Some of the best love I've ever received has been from my dogs, and I would greatly enjoy being able to share the love with others!

Comments

  1. Dr. LancasterMay 19, 2017 at 5:42 PM

    I love the photos and the reflective writing in this post. My first cat's name was Casey too - I got him when I started OT school and had him for 17 years. I named him after a little girl I observed in an OT session when I was applying to get into OT school. :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

OT 532 - Journal Article Review

This article explores the current literature related to the use of the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance within a group setting involving children living with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD).  Children diagnosed with DCD struggle with tasks requiring muscle coordination which in turn leads to decreased occupational performance.  While believed to be a childhood condition, the secondary impairments associated with DCD often endure into adulthood.  Thought to be linked to low self-esteem and motor skill competency, obesity and feelings of isolations often are found in conjunction with DCD.  In order to enable occupational performance within this population, practitioners are now pursuing group intervention strategies as a way to empower those with DCD.  After searching the literature, six articles were selected which met inclusion criteria.  Findings from this review showed the importance of group process for individuals diag...
Post a Comment
Read more

My Main Takeaway from OT 425

In a sense, I have always known that I had a knack for therapy, but it wasn't until I learned about the intricate details of OT that I realized I'm going to be a part of the perfect profession for myself!  Growing up, I have always been one of those people who has a higher standard for myself than for others (perfectionism runs deep), and something about OT that I respect is the fact that it requires its practitioners to continuously strive to better themselves through continuing eduction, evidence-based practice, and even learning from ethical dilemmas.  OT always strives to provide the best services possible, and I believe that is crucial in a field where health care personnel are called to serve others and enable them to live healthy lives.  While there are a lot of expectations placed on practitioners, I also feel there is an overwhelming amount of community and grace within the profession.  OT practice is a team focus with accountability and wisdom readily avail...
1 comment
Read more

Emerging Areas of Practice: Home Modification

Something I have learned about myself since starting OT school is how I tend to center my beliefs on what should be done for a client based on what I would prefer to be done for myself.  Therefore, the idea of integrating more technology into one's life does not seem appealing to me, so I won't do that to someone else.  But what if that technology could allow someone to access rooms that were once unreachable or even get to a place of living independently because of technological advances?  Who am I to say that people shouldn't have more technological assistance just because that does not sound appealing in my life?  Ironically enough, my husband is an electrical engineer who, of course, specializes in home automation.  Most of his customers are very wealthy people who want an Apple system installed in their homes, but recently I've begun thinking about how much he could help me promote participation in meaningful activities for my future clients.  That sou...
Post a Comment
Read more