Canine Wisdom to Combat the Coronavirus Blues

From the Mouths of Babes –

A few days ago, my dog Grace and I took an early morning hike along the Rail Trail; a wide dirt path that runs parallel to miles of railroad tracks, wild cholla, and desert brush on the outskirts of Santa Fe.

After an hour of hiking, I noticed two young children and their mother on the trail ahead of us. A little girl, about six years old, carried a large stick and with the pointed end scribbled something in the dirt. When she finished writing, she ran after and caught up to her mother and brother. A few minutes later, Grace and I reached the spot where her message was written. I couldn’t believe what I read.

It’s the end of the world – I read the sentence over and over again; my mind finding it hard to believe that these were the thoughts of a young child.

The Coronavirus Blues

It has been a difficult, unprecedented, and frightening week for our planet as the Coronavirus continued its rampage, claiming lives, impairing the health of old and young, and threatening our way of life. In times of crisis I do my best to remain positive but recently that has proved challenging.

I knew that other hikers, eager to get out of their confinement, would soon come down the path and I would bet that none of them wanted to see another negative message. With the soles of my tennis shoes, I wiped the words away. Thinking it was a game, Grace hopped on – end of the world – and dug at the ground with her claws until the words were obliterated.

We continued our walk and eventually we caught up to the trio. The little girl was again scratching something carefully and precisely into the dirt. I read her words – they were the same as before.

I looked at her blue sneakers, colorful geometric leggings adorning her long legs, and the red waves that outlined her face. She was smiling, wide and sweet, as if she had just baked a great batch of cookies.

“Does that really say what I think it says?” I asked her. Her mother came over and inspected the ground.

“Oh my God!” She said and put her hand over her mouth, the protocols of Coronavirus safety, flying out the window.

“Do you really think it’s the end of the world?” I asked the little girl as gently as I could.

“Yes!” Her little brother answered for her. He appeared to be the grand and wise old age of four.

A wave of dismay washed over me. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I just mumbled, “I don’t think it’s the end of the world.” Grace wagged her tail.

We are living in challenging times, times that provoke our deepest fears, times that make us question the future. It’s one thing when adults voice these concerns to each other, it’s a sobering reality when a young child expresses such a grim and possible truth. The loss of innocence I was now witnessing, saddened me.

Grace to the Rescue

“What’s your dog’s name?” the little boy asked, distracting my thoughts.

“Grace,” I said then answered his series of non-stop questions. How old is she? Why does she wear a grey tee shirt? Where did you get her? As Grace nuzzled both children’s hands, I told them that Grace had recently gone to school for the first time; a local Montessori school where she met many children about their age and how she had taken a treat out of each of their hands. The siblings gently scratched underneath Grace’s chin, speaking to her softly, telling her how sweet and beautiful she was.

When it was time to go, I called Grace over to me and as we walked towards our car. Their words trailed behind us, “Bye Grace, bye.” I turned around, and what I witnessed hit my heart – in a great way. The little girl tossed her stick and began stomping and scratching out the message she had written in the dirt until the words were gone.

What changed her mind? I looked at Grace who was smiling, eyes sparkling, just happy to be alive.

“It was you wasn’t it?” I kissed the top of her head, glad that social distancing does not apply to us.

In The Days To Come

I encourage you to follow the advice of experts during these strange and unsettling times.  Wash your hands, observe social distancing, stay home – you know the protocols. But if you don’t, click here to learn more.

For those of us who love our animal companions, they have much to offer us during these critical times. Who better than they to comfort us when we feel our resolve ebbing? To encourage and accompany us on our daily walks? To strengthen our immune systems through laughter and play? And who better than our animal friends to help us live in the present moment rather than worrying about the future?

Grace reminds me that it isn’t the end of the world, unless I let it be. Every moment is an opportunity to Paws for the Good Stuff, to be grateful for what we have, to not take life for granted, and to live every day with courage, joy, and a little more love than yesterday.

Stay Pawsitive,

Carlyn MDO

PS: How do your animal friends help you cope through difficult times? If you have a story to share, please do so in the comment box below. Sharing our personal stories uplifts all of us and we can all use that now.