The healing power of dogs

Most people come to their career through a series of decisions or circumstances. For me, it was a moment in time. Today I am a veterinarian, thanks to a very special little dog.

When I was 11 years old, a female beagle mix wandered into our front yard. I gained her trust with kind words and a few hot dogs. She had no tags, no identification and desperately needed a bath. I asked my parents if we could keep her. They agreed that she could stay only until someone claimed her. She was to stay outside, on the porch. When no one stepped forward she slowly made her way into the house and our collective hearts.

As an adolescent boy, I was quite fond of Barbara Eden’s role in “I Dream of Jeannie.” It was no surprise that when it came time to choose a name, “Jeannie” was at the top of the list. She was gentle and sweet and she introduced me to a special, unconditional love. Before Jeannie, I truly didn’t realize the power of such simple and pure acceptance. I am still humbled by that today, almost 30 years later.

I didn’t know much about pet care and the next spring, Jeannie came into heat. I asked my parents why so many male dogs came to visit when she was outside and with knowing smiles, they explained a modified version of the birds and bees. Since the male would try to breed with her to make puppies, it was our job to throw water on the males to ward them off. I learned later that this was not adequate birth control. Soon, Jeannie had 11 puppies.

They grew quickly and one day I came home from school to find Jeannie having a seizure. The puppies were only 2 weeks old and barely had their eyes open. I remember the horrible feeling I had that day when I saw my best friend in such distress. She tried to walk toward the whelping box but her body wouldn’t cooperate. Her muscles twitched as she tried to stand. On the way to the veterinarian’s office, my father told me he thought she likely had distemper and would have to be “put to sleep.” He explained to me that this meant that they would give her a shot to end her life to prevent further suffering and a painful death.

I will never forget the helplessness I felt that day on the way to the veterinary office. The anticipation of having to say goodbye to such a good friend, to such an important part of my life brings me to tears even today. After 20 years as a veterinarian, I still see the child in so many people when it comes time to make such a difficult decision. But that day I saw another side of veterinary medicine – a miraculous side.

We arrived at the veterinarian’s office with a convulsing dog. The receptionist ushered us into an examination room. It seemed like an eternity before the veterinarian walked in. He assessed the situation quickly. He asked my father if Jeannie had puppies at home, how long ago she had given birth and how many puppies there were. I blurted out “Do you think she has distemper?”

This kind man looked at me and explained that he thought she had low calcium from feeding so many puppies and having inadequate calcium in her diet. He reached into a cabinet and brought out a syringe. As he drew up a needle full of calcium, he explained that the shot would replace some of that calcium that she had given to her puppies through her milk.

What happened next changed my life forever.

As he injected the clear fluid, I watched her twitching subside, her spastic muscles quiet. I watched with childlike innocence as Jeannie lifted her head and focused her gentle brown eyes on me. From that moment on I knew. That veterinarian didn’t just treat a dog with hypocalcemia that day, he gave me a second chance with a very special friend. Moreover, he let me into the true secret of veterinary medicine – that we have the privilege of preserving, respecting and supporting the bond that people have with their pets.

Jeannie passed away one weekend when I was in my undergraduate training, the year before I was accepted to veterinary school. I’ve had many pets since Jeannie, but all these years later I still remember the details, the emotions of our special relationship. I’ve also met thousands of clients and been privileged to see the human-animal bond presented over and over again – unique to each human-animal pair.

I’ve seen this special relationship manifest in a child with a hamster, in an elderly couple with a special friend. I’ve seen it with a college student and a kitten and a young couple with their first puppy. The common thread is trust, unconditional love and a major dose of fun. Jeannie introduced me to all of that and her legacy remains in the eyes of pet owners I see every day.

Thanks, Jeannie. Good girl.

Mark Hanks is the owner of Kindred Spirits Veterinary Clinic in Orrington.