Miss N and Bats
This is about comforting and the healing powers of animals. While animals are not the cure all they certainly are a balm for an injured soul. The more time I spend observing the interaction with the animal human bond the stouter it adheres. The well being factor is magnified merely by having an animal friend to absorb the malaise vapors of daily living. For some people the events of the day are overwhelming. I believe these individuals are extremely in tune with animal communication. They are on a wave length undetectable by mere mortals. This ability is anywhere from extra sensitive to individuals bordering on savant status. If you are looking for a book on this subject "Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior" (2004) by Temple Grandin, PhD gives a perspective from an animals point of view. She has a new book "Animals Make Us Human, Creating the Best Life for Animals" (2009). The reviews I have read are descriptive of her unusual processing mind and a less restricted thinking process. I am not trying to do a book review, but I am looking forward to reading this book.
I would like to focus on the nurturing aspects of animal / pet companionship. I had a client that perceived events differently from mainstream thinking. Weather changes were a salient point in activity swings. A cold front or a prolonged damp spell in the spring would precipitate a string of migraine headaches. Her dog would help by sensing these changes. He would be very attentive to her needs. He was a very nice dog. His temperament was exceptional. The one thing he could not do was live long enough for her. His advancing age was showing age related cognitive function changes. There were renal issues that crept into his medical history. I would counsel her husband with a status update. I would then do a phone consult with Miss N, going through the same discussion that his time and quality of life was eroding. I would get the major points in and fill in the missing blank pieces getting to a decision to humanely end K's existence. The husband would say Miss N can not think of going forward. Miss N would say Mr G can not bear to think about ending K's and life without K. This developed into a longer term ongoing discussion than I first planned.
Trying to prepare clients for an inevitable demise is a hard subject to bring up and tougher for some clients to accept. Mr G would affirm it was correct to have this treatment plan set in place, but could we continue to care and keep K for another day. I would agree with proper medications and care. Eventually even good luck gets used up. The case finally met the end of reality. I found K all balled up in a fetal position, nonresponsive to voice commands and no interest in surroundings, and totally refusing nutrition and water. Time wise, it was a long run he made seventeen years, which even for a terrier type dog is getting ancient. I had a hard time making contact with both owners. It was the dreaded conversation, "There is nothing more that can be done. All of our options are used up. There are no more medical medication miracles left in my bag of treatments". I informed them we need to end things today. After a pause they finally were in agreement.
Euthanasia is always a sensitive subject both for veterinarians and owners. I would miss their dog K but I knew they were devastated by his absence. Grieving is such a necessary but brutal process we need to go through. Repressed grief festers like a boil. It does not allow you to focus on the world around you. You do not understand why people are ignoring your pain. Truth be told, other people are not insensitive, they just do not comprehend and are unaware which part of the grief journey you are on. With these clients, they were stalled at a point just short of completion.
I was racking my brain trying to come up with a solution that would help out these friends and clients. I knew they would need a people orientated dog. I finally suggested my dog an Australian Terrier, named Wombats, she picked up the nickname "Bats" and she really liked people. I hopped there would be a match of personalities. I suggested to Mr G to take Bats home for a weekend on a trial basis, an early therapy dog if you will. Oh Boy, I thought this would solve a lonesome situation and would give Bats a labor of love to do. One of my concerns with K when he started spending extensive time in our Clinic he would go home for weekends. As time progressed he was here seven days a week, for four months and it bothered me he was not in daily contact with his owners. Miss N was no longer able to function outside her home to visit.
There was a good blending of personalities. Bats was a good fit for the household. What a great deal Miss N would have a canine friend and Bats would be elevated to single dog status. Monday morning Mr G showed up at the Clinic. I was crestfallen I asked if something was wrong. Mr G said Bats was fine and wanted to know if we could continue with him dropping Bats off for the day and pick her up at nights or for more extended weekends as needed. I showed Mr G how to get Bats after hours if we knew he would be late. I had a hard time convincing them I was giving ownership to them. I knew they both needed the extra love Bats would give them. They finally accepted ownership but insisted they pay for daycare and other maintaince expenses. This was not what I imagined; I was literally getting paid to take care of my own dog. Rent-a-dog went on for an extended time until congestive heart failure claimed Bats. During that time Miss N would call and give updates about Bats sleeping in her own basket and watching of all things, Ice Skating on TV. We used the money to purchase a walk on scales, a piece of equipment all critters use when they are in for visits. Bats was a comfort to me and to Miss N and Mr G. Miss N's health and issues continued to decline and eventually passed. Mr G is still around and still is a friend.
For more information about a specific case, consult your veterinarian.