How Dogs Make People's Lives Better
Dogs have been a symbol of companionship, loyalty, and unconditional love for a long time. They put many people in a good mood. However, besides being pets, trained dogs also do a lot of different jobs. It’s certainly true that dogs make people’s lives better.
These dogs offer many different services. However, these services have similar benefits and a common goal: to improve a needy person’s quality of life. It isn’t too long ago that we really started to pay attention to the blind, handicapped, or other people with disabilities.
Dogs that make people’s lives better are selfless
Although we have to give credit to the person who first came up with the idea that dogs could be useful for helping the disadvantaged, rescuing people, or for serving the country, we can’t deny that the real credit goes to the dogs.
Training to be a good partner who can help someone isn’t easy. It requires effort, discipline, and selflessness. The fact that dogs are willing to do that and even risk their lives to save others is priceless. Not many humans would be willing to do so.
What’s a day in the life of a dog in training actually like? One of them is about to tell us!
A tough, yet satisfying day
I have lived here ever since I was a puppy. Every day I wake up very early and go to training camp. I don’t exactly understand what the exercises are for, but they make me feel great physically!
After many short sessions, I realize that the sun is no longer in the same place. The morning is probably over. Finally, it’s time to eat! Here comes Eva–she always gives me treats. She pets me and treats me very well. Everyone here does–but she’s special to me.
Lunchtime doesn’t last as long as I’d like, even though they do let me take a nap. However, I have to go back to the field soon. I don’t understand why I have to jump over obstacles, but they applaud me when I do well. Also, I get delicious prizes, and they never scold me if I don’t get something right, and everyone makes me feel loved. What more could I ask for?
Sometimes George, the trainer, holds my face while he tells me something, as if he were explaining something to me. But I don’t speak human language. However, I think he’s probably telling me that someday I’ll understand why everything I do in training is good for me. Later, I found out that it certainly was!
I saw many of my companions go with people who wore strange clothes. Some of them came in pairs and wore the same things. Some of their outfits were blue, some green, some orange, and the one who took me was dressed in normal clothes. He petted me, took my leash, and put me in a car.
It’s time to go
Looks like I’m leaving for good! Goodbye Eva and George! I’ll never forget you. I don’t know where I’m going. I’m just trying to look out the window and see if I recognize anything. There’s a big building with a green cross. We stop there. The hallways are cold and smell strange. I see many people walking around in white, blue, or green clothing. I don’t like this place, and I want to leave, but…a sad look on someone’s face catches my eye. I’m not sure why, but I just want to make that sad look go away.
In the bed there’s a…I don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl. He has no hair, but he smiles when he sees me. He likes me! And I like him too…I mean she! I heard her name is Eva– oh what irony! Then, I turn around and Eva smiles and laughs. I know what I’ve come here to do, or maybe I don’t really know. But I just want to be friends with Eva, and I want to see her smile every day.
Thanking the dogs that make people’s lives better
Animals show us unconditional love. Dogs don’t work out of obligation. They do it because they love us. Like this puppy, service dogs, no matter what service they do, show unsurpassed amounts of empathy. They are willing to lead selfless lives in exchange for just a smile, a pat, or a hug.
Today, we want to thank all those dogs that make people’s lives better, whether those people are blind, have cancer, are elderly, are children with mental disabilities, or have some other need. Thank you so much– not only for the work you do, but thank you for existing, because a world without dogs wouldn’t be so beautiful.