Let me borrow your heart for a sec

[sl8]

(cross-posted from Lounge, don't know if you guys have already seen this)

From https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-kindest-thing-a-pet-has-done-for-you

One of the myriad responses to a 'Quora' question, "What is the kindest thing a pet has done for you?":

Sara Booth, unpaid employee of Teddy Halftail and Nibby Pantherfoot
Answered Jul 6, 2016

I don’t remember this myself, because I was too young.

My parents had a dog named Charlie who was absolutely terrified of the vacuum cleaner. But after I was born, any time my mother vacuumed, Charlie would stand steadfast between me and the vacuum cleaner. “Trembling in every limb,” my mother says, but determined to protect baby-me from the monster.

[Sophia4]

1. I put my cat in a small room with her kitty litter and toys when I vacuum.

Even my grandson was scared of the vacuum when he was very young. Your dog was really brave.

I love this story. Thanks for posting it.

[sl8]

5. Just to be clear, I'm not Sara.

I came across the story while web surfing and the story really messed with my emotions for a minute or two and I felt obligated to pass it on to you kind folk and maybe mess with your emotions for a minute or two.

[MaryMagdaline]

2. Sweet

Dogs are the best people

[radical noodle]

3. It's amazing what a dog will do

for his people.

[democratisphere]

4. Person's best friend will never let you down.

[MLAA]

6. Okay, you owe me the 20 wonderful minutes I just spent reading sweet stories! Thx for posting.🙂

[Maraya1969]

7. Thank you for that page! Something very interesting happened a couple days ago when I brought my

2 chihuahuas to visit my mom at the nursing home she is in. While Peanut was sitting on my mom's lap Paco got away from me and went fairly fast down the hall to another room and went in. I followed him and found him standing next to a bed of a man I had seen every day since my mom had arrived there.

This man can't walk and can't move much at all that I can see. He always smiles though. I think he has had a bad stroke. I asked him if he wanted to have Paco on the bed with him and he just smiled so I picked Paco up and placed him on this man's bed. The man was kind of curled up on his side and Paco went right around to the man's stomach area and cuddled next to him. It was like he had done it a hundred times and that they were long lost friends. I just left him there for awhile and went back into my mom's room. I can't wait until I take them there over the weekend so Paco can bond with his new found buddy.

There was a paper award on the man's door thanking him for his service in the US Air Force.

I know Paco sensed something and I love him for that.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. My brother has Irish Wolfhounds that are rescues,

and at times he and his wife take them to local nursing homes. Wolfhounds are humongous, although pretty much universally gentle and sweet. Sometimes the residents are a bit afraid, and of course my brother never forces anyone to interact with the dogs.

I think bringing animals like that to the nursing homes is wonderful. Beyond wonderful.

I happen to be a cat person myself, and I've told my son that if I ever need to be put in a nursing home, make sure it is one with resident cats. I know that no matter how senile I might get, I will always love cats and want to be around them.

Our canine and feline friends are the best. And they make me hold out hope that our species isn't completely doomed.

[sl8]

9. That's a little more than very interesting, and if I were better with words I'd tell you how.

That's a wonderful story and I thank you for sharing it.

It was very good that you followed Paco and followed through with putting him next to the man.

May I ask, how did you know to do that? Was it a hunch, or ?

I'm not good that way, myself, but I appreciate that there are people like you that are.

[Maraya1969]

11. I just followed Paco's lead. It seemed like he wanted to be near this man. He was the one that

went into the man's room, with his leash trailing behind since he walked out of my mom's room without me noticing. There were a couple rooms between my mom's and the man's but Paco went straight into his room.

Maybe Paco knew this man wanted him to be near him.

[sl8]

12. Thanks.

[mopinko]

10. our boxer informed my dad, who he adored, that

spanking children was not acceptable any more. took his hand as he was about to spank me, sat down, and just gave him a look that said- hell no.

my dog biff is an amazing therapy dog. we do hospice visits, and i cant tell you all the things that he has done to help people.

[BigmanPigman]

13. Dogs ARE the best medicine and actually

make you healthier. And they give unconditional love. No person has ever done that as far as I know.