A student from a childhood reading program practices reading aloud with a dog. (Photo: Andrew Yackira)
Guest blogger Rachel McPherson is the founder and executive director of The Good Dog Foundation in New York City and author of the new book Every Dog Has a Gift.In my new book, Every Dog Has a Gift, I share true stories of dogs who have made a tremendous difference to their human companions. The dogs in the book are diverse - some are purebred service dogs and others were found at shelters. Yet, as the stories show, every dog has so much to give. Here are just a few of their gifts:
- Dogs help us relax. They lower our blood pressure, decrease our anxiety, and distract us from trauma. In the story "Dog Medicine," members of The Good Dog Foundation were allowed on site to comfort survivors of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. The level of comfort and calm that these therapy dogs provided was amazing to witness.
- Dogs never judge. When we feel insecure, they remind us to appreciate ourselves. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the classrooms that The Good Dog Foundation's volunteers visit. The story "Reading--Going to the Dogs" takes you into one of those classrooms, where children with low literacy scores grow their skills by leaps and bounds simply through the act of reading to dogs. It's truly amazing!
- Dogs help us live in the moment. They make us laugh, forget our worries and be joyful. Who doesn't smile when gazing upon one of our furry companions? And, just as the very act of smiling actually makes us feel happier, being in the presence of dogs can bring us joy and a sense of well-being. The story "Faith & Rocco" illustrates this effect when a critically ill young girl is helped through her treatments by a steadfast dog named Rocco. Anyone who adopts or rescues a dog will quickly understand how much peace they can provide (once they're properly trained, of course!).
- Dogs love us unconditionally and provide constant compassion and kindness. Unlike almost any other animal, dogs truly become members of the family. And for some, like the couple who tell their story in "The Four-Legged Family," dogs can take the place of children in filling a home with love.
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