Why everybody needs a dog in their life
<p><em><strong>Rosie Hersch, 68, is a retired pharmacist, whose hobbies include studying, cooking and theatre. Her biggest passion is travel and like the song says, “I've been everywhere man (well almost).”</strong></em></p>
<p>“Mankind has always loved dogs. The hunter gatherers, the Pharaohs, the ancient Greeks and Romans, the Chinese Emperors, the Monarchs of Europe all understood the pleasure of owning dogs. The evidence is there in ancient murals, texts and in portrait paintings by the European masters of the great kings and queens of Europe depicted with their dogs by their sides. Dogs were and probably still are so precious to the Inuit peoples of the frozen north. These dogs were once valued even above wives. It was only in the middle ages in Europe that owning a pet was suspiciously associated with witchcraft. Humans realised over the centuries that dogs have always been man’s best friend. I believe the dogs think in reverse, that man is dog’s best friend</p>
<p>I was afraid of dogs as a child. My parents did not like dogs so I reached my twenties still scared whenever I saw a dog coming towards me. I met my husband in 1970. He had owned dogs since childhood. His then current dog was this growling, visibly large teeth threatening cross between a Kelpie and Dingo. Peter had bought him from a pet shop in the mid-sixties with his pocket money. Jolie clearly did not like me and I was petrified to go near him. Peter says he was jealous that I had stolen his master’s affections. I was not yet convinced that dogs were wonderful.</p>
<p>Then one day in 1973 as a young owner of a pharmacy in East Malvern a nice young man came in to purchase a baby toothbrush. When I enquired as to the age of the baby he explained that it was for a Samoyed puppy that was sitting in his van, having just picked him up from the breeder. I asked to see him. It was love at first sight.</p>
<p>Immediately I summoned my husband to find me such a pup. One day later I was the proud mother of a male Sammy, the last of that particular litter. He was a cute ball of white fluff with three black dots, two for his eyes and one for his cute little nose. He was simply adorable. I pondered over a name for this gorgeous white wriggly pooch. Ah, there it was, the clue was on a pharmacy shelf, a bottle of Brufen tablets, such a doggy sounding name. We had considered Aspro, Barbitone and Bex but shop staff all voted for Brufen and so it was that he bore the name of an anti-inflammatory drug, still used extensively today. He was now part of our family. Brufen gave us such joy over the years. Our daughters were born a few years later and he was a wonderful companion for them. Samoyeds love to be around people, especially children. They are great protectors. Somewhere in Brufen’s collective memory of generations past the instinct of belonging to the pack like his long lost cousins, the wolves, is probably the reason Samoyeds are such social creatures.</p>
<p>But sadly nothing is forever and at age 13, Brufen suffered hip dysplasia and arthritis and the pain became unbearable. He would cry himself to sleep. Strange we had named him after a drug used for such ailments. We had to let him go to his peaceful slumber. How sad it was. The family still reminisce about his wonderful loving nature.</p>
<p>Years later when the girls were old enough to take some responsibility for walking and caring for a dog we adopted Marty. The ad in the newspaper stated his elderly owners were ill and could not care for him any longer. Marty was totally black except for a white blaze on his upper chest, with deep brown eyes and a tail we called the concrete tail because when he wagged it you had stay clear or it would cut across you like a whip. He was a cross Kelpie Labrador. He was so intelligent, so playful, so very cheeky and understood about 200 words. I swear I saw him smile many times. He was a joy and we all agreed he was the best member of our family. But inevitably once again old age caught up with him and he passed on some years back. We miss him to this day. His ashes are buried in the front garden of our previous house in Brighton, near the letter box and sometimes I drive past just to say hello.</p>
<p>One day I will get another dog. I have my heart set on a West highland terrier. I love those dogs. I am told they are very lovable, extremely intelligent and think like a big dog but in a little body. At this point of time, our current lifestyle of lots of travel does not really allow for time to be a constant companion to a dog and my husband has said not now for if you get a Westie I will go Eastie! But I have not given up. The day will surely come when long distance travel will be too tiring and difficult. That’s when I will get my Westie for there is no greater pleasure than coming home to be greeted by an excitable frenzy licking, pouncing dog or snuggling up on a couch next to a dog , his paw stretched out to you, stroking his fur and knowing that his love towards you is pure and innocent.</p>
<p>So, if you are widowed, lonely, ill, depressed, anxious, young or old or just need someone to cuddle and feel uplifting warmth, affection and beautiful selfless love and friendship the remedy is simple. Just get a dog.</p>
<ul>
<li>Dogs assist mankind and contribute to our wellbeing in various ways.</li>
<li>Dogs are personal aerobics instructors. Walking a dog once or twice a day gives you that cardio vascular work out.</li>
<li>Dogs are more rewarding than computer dating services. A dog will fill the loneliness gap and give you unconditional love with no strings attached.</li>
<li>Dogs are the best anti-depressants. You can throw away the Prozac.</li>
<li>Dog are great builders of self-esteem. A dog’s friendship will make you feel happy, positive and confident.</li>
<li> Dogs combat stress. They will do more for you than any amount of Xanax pills.</li>
<li>Dogs are helpers and rescuers. They assist people injured in the snow fields. They deliver mail in some of the almost inaccessible parts of the world.</li>
<li>Dogs have a role in therapy. They don’t need 12 to 15 years of graduate and post graduate medical studies like humans do. Just being in the company of their spirited joyful selves aids in recovery of patients with mental of physical issues.</li>
<li>Dogs were and still are crucial in exploration and expeditions in the Arctic Circle and Antarctica</li>
<li>Dogs have succeeded in reaching celebrity status. The world has marvelled at movie stars such as Rin Tin Tin, Lassie, Benji, Beethoven and more recently two Aussie icons, Odd Ball and Red Dog, both based on true stories.</li>
<li>Dogs have been featured in literary works like “Call of the Wild” “White Fang”, “Marley and Me” and “Old Yella.”</li>
<li>Dogs, most importantly are the eyes of those who are visually impaired.</li>
</ul>
<p>PS. My advice is to look for a dog either from a rescue shelter, or from someone who cannot for whatever reason look after their dog any longer or a private bona fide breeder. Do not go to one of those puppy farms where breeding is indiscriminate and money is the only concern of these vendors.</p>
<p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>
