By Jack Houvouras
HQ 68 | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2009
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. – Mahatma Gandhi
This edition of the magazine features a cover story on Little Victories Animal Rescue Group, one of my favorite local charities. I first became involved in the organization three years ago when a friend, who knew I was an animal lover, asked me to foster a dog that had been found in the rain on a busy roadway. Petey, as I named him, was gaunt and frightened when he was brought to my home. Every time I reached down to pet him he would cower in fear and urinate, obviously traumatized by his life’s circumstances up to that point. But over time he grew more trusting of me and started to gain weight. I eventually found him a permanent home in Wayne County with a wonderful family. Nothing is more rewarding than helping an abandoned animal and finding it a warm and loving home.
When it comes to animals, some people get it and some people don’t. “They’re just animals,” is a popular opinion. But I couldn’t disagree more. I prefer to follow the teachings of naturalist John Muir who believed all living things are interdependent and interconnected.
I wasn’t always an animal lover. I didn’t give the issue much thought until six years ago when a two-pound Chihuahua puppy came into my life. Ginger was the smallest dog I had ever seen when I met her. While I usually preferred much larger dogs, there was something about this little canine that got to me. She was so tiny that I wondered how she would protect herself from a cat, let alone another dog. Some instinct kicked in and I knew I had to take care of her. Doing so has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Today, at a whopping three pounds, she really is my best friend. And while I’ve been ridiculed many times for having such a small dog, it doesn’t matter. She has made me a far better person than I ever thought I could be.
Taking care of domesticated animals is something that is our responsibility. I firmly believe we owe it to them. After all, it was man who domesticated so many wild animals for his own uses. Much of this country was literally built on the backs of service animals. Whether it was horses to plow the fields or oxen to haul timber or dogs to wage war, much of our progress has been achieved through the blood, sweat and tears of these beasts of burden.
Today, dogs continue to make invaluable contributions to our society. They are used to help the blind and hearing-impaired. Seizure alert dogs are critical in assisting people who suffer from epilepsy and other medical conditions. Following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, search and rescue dogs were used by law enforcement to locate survivors in the rubble. The animals suffered from cuts, burns, dehydration and psychological stress. Handlers reported that some of their dogs became depressed after not finding any live victims and consequently could not eat or sleep.
Last year, a newborn baby was abandoned by his mother in a field in rural Argentina. People in a nearby village heard a baby crying in the distance and when police finally found the child, he was being guarded by a dog with her newborn puppies. The temperatures at night had reached a mere 37 degrees. According to the report, “The dog had apparently carried the baby 50 meters from where his mother had abandoned him to where the puppies were huddled.” Doctors told police if the dog had not performed this act, the baby would have died.
As if that weren’t enough proof of the value of animals in today’s world, look at all the other ways they enrich our lives on a daily basis. Whether it’s the unconditional love of the family dog or the companionship provided to an elderly widow by her cat, people and pets are truly connected. I hope this column and our cover story on Little Victories will help change a few minds about the importance of animals in our lives. Maybe you’ll even join the ranks of those of us labeled as the odd animal lovers. If not, then at the very least always heed the words of the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates and promise to “do no harm.”
