Service animals have been used for many years., mostly dogs but also miniature horses, cats, pigs, monkeys, birds. (I was amazed when I read about pigs, and the article said they are cleaner than dogs!) Anyway, back to service animals. They are employees really, and are trained to work for one particular person. They are employees that don’t get paid for the jobs they do, in fact these employees are ones the employer has to pay to get. A good service animal is the most caring and dedicated employee an employer could have.
Now we have a new category of service animals, animals that came to the rescue during COVID. Should we call them COVID pets? And, some of the pets I heard about don’t fall into the “typical” category.
I first became aware of the new category when I talked to Peter, who suddenly started taking regular morning walks by our house with a big white dog. We knew him but never had seen him walking in our area or with a dog. In fact, he was usually off to work at that time of day. I often take morning walks and was glad when our paths crossed so I could ask about his dog … and maybe learn about his new routine, a COVID story he was happy to share.
His social work position at UMass Medical School in Shrewsbury involved interaction with many people every day. In fact, every year he and his co-workers help prepare over 1000 people with disabilities to enter a vocational field. The change to remote counseling from home in March was a dramatic and challenging change … and also a lonely change, lonely until a friend came to his door with a big white untrained German shepherd that had been re-homed two times. Would Peter like to have Brady?
Well, Peter hadn’t considered a dog, and certainly wouldn’t have had time to train one if he had still been working as usual, but now he was home, and he liked dogs, and this dog was very beautiful. He decided to give him a try, a very good decision. Peter’s life changed again to one where he not only had a companion all day long but one that needed a lot of exercise.
Because of Brady, Peter’s day starts with a walk before work every morning, they get outside several times a day, and on weekends they take long hikes. Peter says, “It’s good for everyone’s mental state to get outside.” His story is a mutual rescue one. Peter rescued Brady and Brady rescued him.
Laura enjoyed the lively pleasant interaction with her co-workers as she carried out her office duties at Hanover Insurance Group in Worcester. COVID changed everything, a sudden change. The office closed in March, everyone had to work from home, no opportunity to make a gradual adjustment.
She set up an office in her basement. Home alone all day became her work day. No one to talk to, lonely, depressing. She needed a living being. Who? What? Then she remembered how much she enjoyed her pet canary years ago and resolved that would be the answer.
It had to be a male as only male canaries sing. (I learned something new!) Was it easy to find one? No. She checked locally and found that birds, like most pets, were in high demand now. Finally she found one online in Florida and ordered it as you would place an order on Amazon. He was boxed, shipped overnight, and started singing as soon as she opened the package. He’s an orange color, like a bright sunflower, so she named him Sunny. He sings beautifully, he’s entertaining to watch as he plays with his toys, he’s fun to feed — loves bananas, and he’s cheerful. Best of all, Laura feels cheerful now too.
Berta also has a new pet, a rat! Her college changed to remote classes so her days became isolated. She needed companionship while she studied, a pet that would not be demanding yet offer comfort. A rat certainly didn’t conjure up comfort when I heard about it, but she invited me to have a visit with it on Face Time. (That was probably the first time that the new normal sounded good to me. I definitely wouldn’t have responded as eagerly to an in-person visit.)
Well, I was in for a surprise. When she took him out of the cage, he immediately cuddled up to her and started licking her fingers. He obviously knew her, was affectionate, and enjoyed being patted. She said the only sad thing is that rats only live for three years. I enjoyed the remote visit and could understand how the animal that carries such a bad reputation can be a comfort. I thought of the wise old saying, “There are two sides to everything.”
My husband Gerry has delighted more than ever in the birds that come to our feeder, even watching the antics of the squirrels. He keeps the feeders full and the bird books handy. He recently heard that his friend Phil has a chickadee that will eat from his hand. He just stands outside, kind of like a Statue of Liberty with bird seed in his outstretched palm, and the bird comes to him. Achieving that is now Gerry’s goal.
Animals ask so little for all the joy, entertainment, companionship, and affection they give. They just want some of our time, affection, and to be fed. Our isolated time has opened new doors of pleasure and stimulation, simple meaningful pleasures that touch our hearts, and things that touch our hearts are healthful. COVID pets have been rescuers, friends not to forget.
Carole J. Gariepy, of Phillipston, is the author of “In Isolation.”