One thing I forgot to note about the studies mentioned in this podcast: the human and canine participants were well-trained SAR professionals. It’s possible that those poorly trained animals who belonged to equally poorly trained, naïve and well-meaning or attention-seeking folks who showed up at Ground Zero didn’t fare so well.
Also, shortly after I recorded this podcast, I received a journal that probably unintentionally contained one photo and one poster that expressed the divergent views mentioned in it. The photo showed a trained SAR worker engaging with her dog at Ground Zero in a more upbeat, confidence-instilling manner. Whatever stress she was feeling, she was willing and able to control it so it didn’t hinder her and her dog’s ability to do their work. The poster showed a (justifiably) distraught fireman with an SAR dog wearing a sad to pathetic to subordinate expression, a mixed metaphor at best. But also an expression more likely to trigger a stronger emotional response among those lacking knowledge of normal canine behavior and the professional status of SAR vs. some therapy dogs. I know the latter would probably tug at more people’s heartstrings. But which one would signal a better end to a sad story for the dog involved?
And call me selfish, but when I hit bottom, I’d rather see my dogs with balls or leashes in their mouths urging me to become part of life again. To be sure, I like a few consolatory licks as much as anyone else. But I also like their timely reminder to get it together enough to take care of myself as well as them.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | More