Thousands of years ago, our ancestors knew that they needed to bond with animals in order to survive. This instinct lead to the domestication of the gray wolf, and served as the foundation for what we know now as the dog.
Today, millions of people welcome these once predatory animals into their homes, often living as one of the family. Dogs sleep in our beds, dine with us and are there when we need a furry shoulder to cry on. Are dogs really man’s best friend? The answer is simple for anyone who has a canine companion: yes!
Families with children and pets know that growing up with an animal creates a special bond, and no story illustrates this better than the 2010 case of an 11-year-old Canadian boy who was saved by his Golden Retriever. Austin Forman was busy being a little boy and not paying attention to his surroundings, but his dog, Angel, sure was. When Angel spotted a cougar lunging toward the helpless boy she jumped in between the two and fought off the hungry cat. This shows clearly that animals have a strong attachment to their families. This is far from an isolated incident.
I have personally seen sick animals waiting for their owners to say goodbye before passing away. I’ve heard stories of pets staying by their injured master’s side, starving, until help arrived. I have watched my own Boxer sneak in to my son’s room and sleep at the foot of his bed if I was in another part of the house. Nursing homes world-wide have therapy sessions where gentle dogs allow elderly patients to comfort themselves with a stroke of fur, and welcome a snuggle from a lap dog.
Animals love us unconditionally, and they know when we need them. They know it even more than we do sometimes.