Paws 4 Safety: The day your pet saves YOU

BY KIM BRADLEY

When we think about pet safety, most of us picture ourselves protecting our pets. We buckle them into the car, keep dangerous foods out of reach, take them to the veterinarian and hope that if an emergency ever happens, we'll know exactly what to do. But what if, just once, we turned the tables? 

What if today was about the day your pet saves you? It may sound like something out of a movie, but remarkable stories happen every year involving ordinary family pets doing extraordinary things. Some pets have awakened sleeping families when smoke filled the house during a fire. Others have alerted owners to intruders or helped locate family members who have fallen. 

Medical alert dogs are trained to detect changes in blood sugar before their handler even realizes something is wrong. Some dogs have learned to recognize the onset of seizures, giving their owners precious moments to get to safety. Researchers continue to study reports of dogs detecting certain cancers and other illnesses by sensing subtle changes in a person's scent long before symptoms become obvious. Today, these incredible animals are helping people detect changes in blood sugar, alerting to impending seizures, identifying certain heart rhythm abnormalities, and even assisting researchers studying diseases such as cancer and Parkinson's disease. Scientists continue to discover new ways to harness a dog's extraordinary sense of smell, and many believe we're only beginning to understand their potential, offering hope that one day these four-legged heroes may help detect illnesses even earlier, allowing treatment to begin when it can be most effective.

Even our cats, who sometimes pretend they're doing us a favor simply by allowing us to live in their house, have been known to alert owners when something wasn't right.

So how do they do it? Our pets experience the world very differently than we do. Dogs have an extraordinary sense of smell, hearing that far exceeds our own, and an incredible ability to notice changes in our daily routines. They observe us far more than we realize. They know when we're stressed. They know when we're sad. Many know exactly what time we normally wake up, leave for work and come home. When something changes, they notice.

While every pet may not be capable of dramatic rescues, every pet provides something equally important. Comfort. There are countless studies showing that pets can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, encourage exercise and provide companionship during some of life's most difficult moments. Sometimes simply having a faithful friend curled up beside us is exactly the medicine we need after a long day. That's a form of rescue too.

Watching the bond between people and their pets reminds us that the relationship has always been a partnership. We care for them, and in return they enrich our lives in ways that often go unnoticed until we stop and think about it.

The future of medical detection dogs is incredibly promising, offering hope that one day these four-legged heroes may help detect illnesses even earlier, allowing treatment to begin when it can be most effective. Not every hero wears a service vest. Across the country, therapy dogs regularly visit hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools and even airports, providing comfort during some of life's most stressful moments. Studies have shown that simply spending time with a calm, friendly animal can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, ease anxiety and lift a person's spirits. For many patients’ illness or recovery, a wagging tail and an unconditional greeting can provide hope, encouragement and emotional healing that no prescription can replace.

Kim Bradley is the founder of Paws 4 Safety; a pet safety education initiative focused on helping pet owners prepare for emergencies and everyday situations involving their pets. For more information visit the Pet Safety Learning Center at Paws4Safety.com or call 877-829-1997. Because moments matter.