Thank God for the service dog

As I walk through the hospital as a doctor, I often see dogs brought in to visit the sick. I wonder at what good they are really bringing. In America, there are so many technological advancements that allow people to live longer. What can having a dog around possibly add?

Yet reliance solely on chemicals and surgeries leaves a large gap in care, and perhaps inadvertently contributes to it. In times past, when that care came in the form of a family member, a volunteer caregiver, or a nun, love and spiritual connection was more obvious. When the care comes with a paycheck as a carrot and the threat of liability as a stick, the love is not so obvious, and may be missing altogether.

Thank God for the service dog. Never tempted to suspend presence with the patient to order a medication or do another X-ray, the service dog is unpretentious to the core. Perhaps if Jesus were here today, he would say: “If any would enter the kingdom of heaven, let him be like one of these service dogs.” Sit with the patient. Do not try to cure them -- leave that to someone else for a moment. Listen. Empathize. Lay hands on them in prayer and communion, not only to cut them open.

They may not live longer because of this. But perhaps they, and us, will become more human.

This story was originally published January 4, 2018 at 2:34 PM with the headline "Thank God for the service dog."