What Dogs and Cancer have in Common

Dogs. Just saying the word makes most people smile; thinking of furry cuddles, table-clearing tail wags and makeup-clearing tongue baths.

Cancer, on the other hand, makes people want to cry...sometimes it does make people cry. It brings to mind friends and relatives who have suffered or lost battles, or perhaps your own fight.

What do these seemingly opposite things have in common? They’ve both taught me about what’s important in life.

a.        Keeping fit. Having a healthy body helps you fight off cancer and recover from surgeries, and it means you can keep up with your pup, who meanders occasionally and then takes off like a bat out of hell at the sight of a squirrel, or another dog, or another person, or the school bus! I mean, seriously, that big, scary yellow thing that eats all of the neighborhood children? We have to stop it and fast!

b.       Slowing down. Your body needs rest. (Especially after racing after every school bus on your morning walk.) But so does your mind. I’m learning to have “down time”; time that doesn’t need to be spent in productivity. Time that’s just for curling up on the couch my new furry walk-buddy and watching the next episode – or three – of Suits.

c.        The value of touch. This is my top love language, but it’s also a basic human need. And there’s only so much hugging you can give your live-in 26-year-old son before it gets weird. Having a sweet puppy constantly wanting to kiss my face, snuggle up by my side and steal my side of the couch (even when I’m on it) is so healing. THIS is why they bring dogs to cancer wards and nursing homes. Just touching a furry creature is said to reduce levels of stress in the body. Which is super helpful when every “Healthcare” caller ID notice shows up on my phone and someone has to peel me off the floor.

d.       There are worse things than a messy house. (That one actually hurts a little to admit out loud.) Cancer. Cancer is worse than a messy house. Although, truth be told my OCD-ness is screaming inside right now – I just swept a full skein’s worth of dog hair off my floors, my comforter has one little muddy paw print on it from when the rascal got away from me before wiping his feet, and my couch…don’t even get me started! BUT as my dad would say, “Everyone needs their daily allotment of dirt.” I’m not sure why he said that, but I’ve always believed it and given the choice of a pristine house or one that’s filled with the shenanigans of my furry ball of sweetness, I’m picking the pup. Every time.

e.        Surrounding yourself with the right people. Cancer can definitely let you know that life can be short, that you should take nothing for granted. And it also reminds you that you need the right people in your life. No one can fix cancer for you or take your place in treatments. But loving, supportive people can make your journey easier and one worth fighting your way through. And the dog? He’s a really good judge of character. He trusts no one outside of this house until they prove otherwise. He gives immediate and firm warnings, then gives a person a chance and then he either kisses them or keeps sending warning shots. I’m watching. And learning. Because cancer’s right; life is short and I want to spend it with quality people.

f.          I’m worth protecting. It was amazing watching this sweet puppy learn his new surroundings – the house and the fenced-in backyard. It didn’t take him long to realize, “All THIS is MINE!!” And he will call to the heavens, the neighbors, the dogs six blocks away to let them know he is here and this is his. What I’ve noticed over the past few weeks, though, is that his protectiveness is constant when I’m outside with him. If I let him out alone, he doesn’t do as much boundary broadcasting. It took him less than 30 days to believe I’m someone worth protecting. At almost fifty, I still struggle with this. But as I said earlier – life is too short and I am worth protecting. Emotionally, mentally, financially, and physically. And that means taking that damn pill that helps keep cancer at bey for the next five, crucial years, eating the right things, getting lots of rest and exercise…and pretty much all the things Mr. Barky-pants has taught me over the last month.