Pet Appreciation
I got to thinking recently about pets and their impact on people’s lives.
What brought this on is I was reading about how people with pets tend to live longer.
That, along with something else that I’ll get to shortly, started this whole line of thinking about pets.
A Google search revealed that the conventional wisdom about having pets is that people who have them are happier and healthier.
While dogs are often considered at the top of the heap on this pet-people thing, cats are right up there with them.
I don’t know where goldfish fit in, but the everyday responsibility of taking care of something other than yourself has to be beneficial.
You can’t walk a goldfish, though. I guess you could put the bowl in a Radio Flyer, for example, and go for a stroll.
I’d say you can’t walk a cat, but that’s just not true, I learned. Although it’s a bit unusual.
We once had a cat, Snowy, who used to go out with us and follow us around on our walks with the Cocker Spaniel we had at the time. It fascinated and amused people on the block. It seems some cats, at least, like to go for walks.
What does this have to do with cancer patients?
Again, the conventional wisdom is that pets seem to be very good for cancer patients.
Mitchy
Depending on whom you talk to, though, perhaps not so good to have around for a few weeks, or even months, right after a stem cell transplant.
In my post-transplant days, I just couldn’t relocate my dog or cat temporarily, despite the encouragement from my care providers. My goodness, our dog and cat had already missed me for extended periods of time during my various hospital stays. I think they missed me anyway. Was I going to send them away? Not a chance.
Getting licked in the face by the dog or scratched by the cat, however, are not good things for the immune suppressed. So, I had to be careful, of course.
Overall, I think Kodi (our dog) and Mitchy (our cat) were among those things that helped me keep my sanity during those heavy treatment and transplant days.
Kodi was getting up there in years, and my situation for quite some time was touch and go. Linda, my wife, once confided to someone that she didn’t know who would take it worse – me if Kodi died, or Kodi if I died.
Kodi
Having Kodi in my life during my post-diagnosis days and throughout all my treatments was an inspiration. When he passed away over a year ago, I wrote a column here – Dog Gone, Doggone It – about how much he taught me about dealing with trials and tribulations, and life in general.
Suleika Jaouad, another writer I check in on from time to time, relates how much a dog can bring into the life of a cancer patient in something she wrote last fall in her New York Times blog, “Life, Interrupted.” I could never possibly say it, or write it, better than she does. You can read what Ms. Jaouad – a very young leukemia patient who hails from nearby (for me) Saratoga Springs but now lives in New York City – wrote in her article A Cancer Patient’s Best Friend.
So, this brings me back to one of the reasons for this column.
It was extremely hard for us to consider bringing another dog into our home, especially since Kodi was so much a part of our lives for 15 years.
This is an update for the many of you who contacted me after my column a year ago with comments or emails after Kodi died.
We did spend some time earlier this year looking at possibly adopting an adult dog from one of the rescue groups, but nothing seemed to work out.
Then one day in April we stopped by a pet rescue group out in the Saratoga County hinterlands, and there he was. This cute little three-month-old black puppy with white markings.
Memphis
He’s a Labrador Retriever-American Foxhound mix rescued from a kill shelter in Tennessee, pretty much on the eve of what would have been his departure from earth. We named him Memphis.
The Foxhound part gives him a bit of a stubborn streak. Some would say it’s “attitude.” Nope. It’s stubbornness. When he’s being stubborn, I tell him, “You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog.”
As I write this, Memphis is stretched out here in my home office sound asleep.
Having him around and training him have helped bring about a bit more focus to my life.
And it changes the discussion with those who are always checking in with me to see how things are going.
I say, “I’m doing well, thanks for asking. Did I tell you I have a new puppy?”
One final note. Some of you may have noticed that I’m not writing as much here at The Myeloma Beacon. I recently retired, from full-time work anyway, and I’m sort of rearranging things in my life. Changing those “deadlines and commitments,” as Bob Seger sang. One of those “what to leave in and what to leave out” (Bob Seger again) things has been that I no longer am writing a monthly column here at The Myeloma Beacon.
The folks at The Beacon are graciously allowing me to continue to contribute on an irregular basis – when the spirit moves me.
So, you’ll still see things here from me from time to time. Just not every month.
I do also want to take this opportunity to thank you all for the great comments over the past few years, and the support you have given me on so many occasions.
Lou Ganim is a multiple myeloma patient living in Saratoga County, New York. He previously wrote a regular column for The Beacon titled "Birds In Spring." You can view all of his Beacon articles here.
If you are interested in contributing an opinion article, or regular column, to be published by The Myeloma Beacon, please contact the Beacon team at
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Although I have enjoyed all of your MB articles, Lou, this is one of my favorites. Thanks!
I was coincidentally checking out a Humane Society website when an e-mail link to this article popped up on my smart phone. I lost my 11 year-old black lab a few months ago and was rather sentimental about her today when – wham! – here’s your column. I spent the first several months of my MM treatment out of town and missed my dogs tremendously. My older border collie had to be put down while I was away – that was hard on me.
Thanks for pointing out just how important these critters are to our recovery and well being. I hope that you and your whole gang enjoy a happy, healthy, LONG retirement. I look forward to the next time you drop back in at the MB.
Hey Lou
Great article! I have an 8 month old puppy after being "dogless" for several years.I forgot how much joy these furry beasts bring into our lives
I'm glad to hear that you are doing so well.I'm with Sean in looking forward to hearing from you from time to time.
John
Our Portuguese Water Dog, Rio, was diagnosed with lymphoma two years before my MM diagnosis in 2008. He was treated with some of the very same chemo drugs I was later given prior to my auto SCT in Feb.2009. Rio (and our new cockapoo puppy, Buddy) never left my side when I returned home post transplant. By the end of August I was feeling almost like my old self. In early Sept. Rio died. I believe that he stayed alive to get me through the worst period of my life to that point, and to teach our puppy how to "carry on" after he was gone. Buddy is now my constant companion, very attuned to my ever changing energy levels, and provides comic relief just when I need it most!
Your column was a welcome respite from the test results, clinical trial summaries and drug side effects lists that often make up my usual reading.Thanks!
It's nice to read a column from you again, Lou! What beautiful pets' photos are posted too! Lucky Memphis to find such a nice home.
We had a puppy come into our lives last July...one of our daughters and her husband got a 'Goldendoodle' (cross between a golden retriever and a poodle). OMG...what a lively puppy he has been! He has been very good for all of us...getting us out for walks etc. He is very affectionate and just cheers everyone up! We hadn't had a dog for about 12 years so it took some getting used to. I don't look after him all the time of course, just part of the time, but he is a great new addition to our family!
Lou your right pets can be a god send -however as you said there is a problem with folks who are immune deficient , I don't feel dogs are that big a risk but cats on the other hand carry a couple of problems that can be deadly - one of them is known as Toxoplasmosis (spelling?) this disease attacks nerve tissue and women who are pregnant should not come in contact with cats in particular their excrement - so I suppose that would hold true for people with suppressed immune systems as well. N.G.
Lou, was thinking about you and wondering where the column has been. Glad to hear you are retired. Congrats! I retired in June 2012 and its very enjoyable. And it's so great you have a new puppy. So cute!! I just returned from LBI and I remember you liked to take Kodi there. I hope you can take Memphis there for some good times too. My dogs have always been such a comfort to me. May you and Memphis have much joy and comfort together. And I hope the spirit moves you often to write.
Hi Lou,
There is no doubt in my mind that pets enrich our lives, and this of course includes cancer patients, perhaps even more so. We have a 8 year old chihuahua named Dash. When my mom's myeloma went from smouldering to active and needed treatment, he was right there with us through the stem cell collection and the transplantation. His presence there was a great comfort to my mom, and I daresay that Dash was particular solicitous of her during those days, when she was just ill from the meds and treatment.
Dash is a valued member of our family, and is like another child to my mom. This is a huge change from a person who did not care for anything else other than goldfish prior to him coming to us six years ago.
Memphis is gorgeous, and I can already sense the excitement, love, and happiness in your column as you talk about him. May you, your family and he enjoy the many years to come, in each other's company.
This article caught my eye right away. I feel strongly that my pets helped me in my myeloma treatment. During my hospitalizations I would visualize my return home into the loving presence of my dog. I imagined petting her fur and that would calm me down in times of sadness. I'm also a cat owner and they are continuous comfort too. Thankfully my medical team only advised against birds as pets for the myeloma patient. Thank you for the wonderful account of your pet experience!
Dear Lou,
Enjoyed your article and agree 100%!!! When I was diagnosed over 8 years ago, I had a mixed border collie who was 10 years old. When they told me I would have to be in the hospital for a month for my BMT, I was devastated at the thought of leaving her for that long. Never mind that I had my husband, 85 year old mother and kids to think of...I was worried about Boo!! Two months into my treatment and before my transplant, SHE was diagnosed with cancer of her nasal cavity, and only had a few months to live!! Double whammy for me. I think I cried more about the thought of loosing her then the fact that I had cancer! She had surgery and drugs which didn't help. When I left in June for my transplant, I didn't know if I would ever see her alive again. I prayed that she would hold out until I got home. Well, bless her heart, she did. She lived until Labor Day, at which time we had to put her out of her misery. We tried to make her last few months as happy as one could. I'd like to believe that she new I was sick as well, and wanted to see me too..one more time!
I waited about a year and in true dog-lover fashion sought another dog at a local humane shelter. A feisty little half short haired German Pointer and something else, we named Olivia. My Onco. cringed when I told him I had a puppy, but she was just what I needed. She's my baby who follows me everywhere! She's 7 now, so hopefully we have another 4-5 years with her. After that....well, who knows!!!
Dear Lou,
Your right, pets can bring such joy into our lives(your Memphis looks gorgeous). I have been on immunosuppressors for a long time (on and off for ~ 2.5 years) but have wanted cats and was a bit worried about the risks associated with them. Funny thing is the doctors/oncologists that don't have cats (pets) were against it and the ones that did just said "to be careful and don't do the litter" - that was fine by me. Possum (a ragdoll) and Saki (Maine Coon) are the furry members of our family.
All the best for your retirement,
Libby
Pets enrich our lives! There is quite a bit of data about pets and the link to the health of pet parents. When I was going through chemo and post SCT my cocker spaniel -Gracie was promoted to nap attendant and she did a terrific job of keeping an eye on me. Thanks Lou for your comments and I'm delighted to see all the stories of dogs who have been rescued, it is the least we can do for these loving companions.
Cindy
Lou,
My day started today with a bit of coffee and reading your column. Memphis looks like he has the perfect combination of love and rascal. I cannot calculate how much our animals have brought to our family. We recently lost of beautiful lab Maya after over thirteen years of love, walks and dogliness. Her constant cheerfulness through all that life had brought us - both good and bad - made the road brighter. As did the appreciation she always showed for our love to her. Pets make us remember our value as well, whether we are at our strongest or not. Best to you. Susan
Hi everyone -- Thanks so much for your comments. Our pets find a way into the hearts of so many of us. For those of us who are cancer patients/survivors, these creatures often seem to help us get through even the hardest times. Thanks to all of you for reading this column.
Sean -- You are too kind. Thank you. I am sorry about your losing your black Lab. I know how hard that can be.
Lou - Thank you for writing about friendships that are so close to our hearts. On my return home after the stem cell transplant, I was so comforted by our three cats who would take turns napping with me. It could have been that they really missed me, but I also felt they knew I needed watching over. At any rate, they warmed my heart!
Best wishes for your retirement and your time with spunky little Memphis!
I hope a poem is not inappropriate, but I find this one by Wendell Berry soothing when I need to refocus and seek out the cats. Linda
The Peace of Wild Things
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
— Wendell Berry
Hi Brenda -- Good to hear from you. I hope all is well with you guys. Perhaps one day that black and white streak running past you on LBI will be Memphis.
Linda...thanks for your thoughts and your sharing...and thanks for the poem...
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