Animal-Human Connection
Cats and Mythology
“The Egyptians, who no doubt valued the cat for practical
reasons, were the first to domesticate them. As one of the earliest urban
peoples, they most likely had a rodent problem on their farms and in their granaries,
as well as a problem with poisonous snakes. The cat became associated with the
goddess Isis and closely identified with Bastet, a goddess of music, dace,
joyous festivals and other pleasures. Bastet also protected the people from
disease and contagion. Hundreds of thoughands of carefully preserved cat
mummies reflect the honor that was paid to cats as well as the significance of
Bastet ( or Bast, or Ubasti) in the Egyptians pantheon. From Egypt, cats made their way to
Greece and Rome, where they were viewed as attributes of the goddess Artemis, or Diana.
Both the Greek goddess Hecate and the German goddess Hel had a black cat for a mount,
while the Norse goddess Freyja was pictured in a chariot drawn by cats. In
Welsh mythology, an enchanted human in the form of the sow Henwen gave birth to
the Great Cat, a terrible creature that could eat nine score warriors.
Zoroastrainism puts cats in the service of the evil Ahriman, just as
Christianity connects the cat with Satan, finding it an embodiment of lust and
sloth. In China, on the contrary, cats were thought to ward off evil spirits, and their images
were often employed as a talisman for good luck.”
[Source: Caspari, Elizabeth, and Ken Robbins. "Cats." Animal Life in Nature, Myth and Dreams. Wilmette, IL: Chiron Publications, 2003. 50-52. Print.]
Oscar the Cat
One story I have found is about Oscar the Cat, a story about his eerie ability to “predict” the death of someone in the elderly care home. The residents are part of the dementia unit of the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Oscar is the resident cat, who is rarely sociable, which makes his case more peculiar. Oscar has correctly identified dozens of patient's within hours of their death. When Oscar sits with the elderly patients on their beds, the nurses and doctors started to notice his alarming accuracy. They explain this phenomenon due to the chemicals that are released from the human body during their last hours of a natural death. Margie Scherk, DVM, president of the 'American Association of Feline Practitioners' and a veterinarian in Vancouver, British Columbia explains her thoughts, "I suspect he is smelling some chemical released just before dying. Cats can smell a lot of things we can't and cats can certainly detect illness."1 Oscar, as a cat with much more heightened senses and abilities to humans, was probably able to pick up on the scent of this chemical, allowing him to sit with the patients that were close to death. This case of Oscar the cat, I think, can be connected to the symbolism mentioned in Elizabeth Caspari’s research about cats and mythology and the cat associated with Bastet in Egyptian myth, “Bastet also protected the people from disease and contagion,” and in Christianity, “cats were thought to ward off evil spirits, and their images were often employed as a talisman for good luck.” Oscar becomes a predictor of death in a way, going to the people sick in their final hours. Although Oscar may not be warding off evil spirits, I can’t help but think his willingness to stay near the gravely ill during their last day on earth is like a protection and comfort to those people. Instances like this suggest tehre are connection beyond our understanding between human and nonhuman beings.
“We are mortals all, human and nonhuman, bound in one fellowship of love and travail. No one escapes the fate of death. But we can, with caring, make our good-byes less tormented. If we broaden the circle of our compassion, life can be less cruel.”
― Gary Kowalski, The Souls of Animals
Dogs and Mythology
“Dogs have often been symbolically linked to the concept of healing.
Aesculapius the Greek god of medicine, had a dog for a companion; the
Sumarian goddess Gula, who as a healer restored life to the dead, was
depicted with adog beside her throne. Like many animals, dogs will lick their
wounds when they are hurt, and there is a widespread folk belief that a dog’s
tongue (or saliva) has healing qualities.
Since animals usually represent instinctive life, those that willingly consort with
humans, such as dogs or cats, have historically been accused of being
familiars- creatures of witches, necromancers, or the devil. The Black Dog, a
spectral canine with fiery eyes, is a perennial motif in tales of haunting, and
usually a portent of death.
Given their instinct to guard, dogs have long been associated with guarding real
thresholds. So, it seems symbolically apt that one be placed at the boundary
between the world of the living and that of the dead. In Persian mythology, two
four-eyed dogs guard the Chinvot Bridge between those worlds.
In Hindu myth, the sun and moon dogs of Indra are guardians, and
several Native American peoples incorporate similar notions in their
mythologies. In Norse mythology, a dog Garm, guards the entrance to Niflheim,
the dark realm of the goddess Hel, and bars the entrance of any living soul.
Anubis, the Egyptian god of the land of the dead, is pictures with the head of
a dog.
Judaism and Islam do not hold the dog in much esteem. Both consider it an unclean scavenger, ritually taboo.
In Islam ‘dog’ is a term of shame and dishonor for unbelievers. In Christian culture, the dog represents faithfulness. Fido, a favorite pet name for dogs, means ‘I am faithful’ in Latin. Occupying a threshold between the world of the loving and the dead, a faithful friend and guardian of Hades, the dog can symbolize a connection between the conscious and the unconscious."
“Dog-An emblem of faithfulness, and it is in this sense that it appears so often at the feet of women in the engravings on mediaeval tombs; in the same way the lion, an attribute of the male, symbolizes valour. In Christian symbolism, the dog has another sense, deriving from the function of the sheep-dog: that of guarding and guiding the flocks, which at times becomes an allegory of the priest. In a more profound sense, though still related to the foregoing, the dog is— like the vulture— the companion of the dead on their ‘Night Sea-Crossing’, which is associated with the symbolisms of the mother and of resurrection. It has a similar significance when it appears in scenes depicting the Mithraic sacrifice of the bull. In alchemy, it was used as a sign rather than as a symbol. A dog devoured by a wolf represents the purification of gold by means of antimony.”
[Source: J.E. Cirlot, "Dog." A Dictionary of Symbols. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1971. 85. Print.]
Dogs Mourning Humans:
~“Ciccio and his owner lived in the village of San Donaci in the southern region of Puglia, Italy.
When the bells tolled each afternoon, he would accompany the woman, who was known in the village as
‘Maria of the fields,’ to church. But when Maria died suddenly in November, Ciccio appeared
devastated. He attended the funeral and followed his mistress' coffin as it was
carried into the same local church. Thereafter, he just kept coming back, day
after day. His devotion has so impressed the parishioners that they rallied
together to care for him, giving him water and food and allowing him to sleep
in a covered area outside the church. The priest, while hoping to find a new
home for the faithful pup, even lets Ciccio sit in front of the altar during service.”1
A week after the funeral, the family returned to the cemetery in central Argentina and found
Capitan there, howling. The heartbroken dog had found the cemetery and tomb on
his own, and has lived there ever since, sleeping on Guzman's grave.
‘I've tried to bring Capitan home several times,’ Damian, 13, says, ‘but he always
comes straight back…I think he’s going to be there until he dies too. He’s looking after my dad.’”2
Short video about Capitan's story Here.
~“Jake Baysinger, 25, is believed to have committed suicide in late June after going
missing from his home in Weld County, Colorado. His remains were
discovered on Sunday in the Pawnee National Grasslands, about 75 miles north
east of Denver in the Colorado plains. Cash, a German Shepherd
dog, was found alongside the body - still alive but badly dehydrated and very
thin.State authorities said the animal had probably survived six weeks in the
wilderness by catching mice and rabbits. They also said its presence had
probably prevented Baysinger's body being attacked by wild coyotes.
A local coroner has already ruled Baysinger's death a suicide - adding that although
the cause of death was not immediately confirmed, a gun had been found near his
body. The remains were discovered after a rancher noticed Cash roaming in the
area and wandered over to investigate. ‘At least we know it's over now,’ said
the dead man's widow Sara. ‘"We'd been looking for my husband for six
weeks, and this isn't how we wanted it to end. At least we can close this.’ Mrs
Baysinger said her two-year-old son, Lane, was very happy to see the dog again.”4
[Source: 1.“Italian dog finds god, frequents church”. Youtube, January
2013. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWMRx2IAFs8)
Hansen. “The phenomenon of grieving dogs: The ultimate loyalty,” The Week. January 2013.
(http://theweek.com/article/index/217815/the-phenomenon-of-grieving-dogs-the-ultimate-loyalty)
3.Katie, Kindelan. “Loyal Dog Spends Six Years at Master’s Grave”. ABC News, September, 2012. (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/09/loyal-dog-spends-six-years-at-masters-grave/)
4“Dog stands guard over dead owner's body for six weeks” The Telegraph. August, 2008. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/2549214/Dog-stands-guard-over-dead-owners-body-for-six-weeks.html)
“Animals are the bridge between us and the beauty of all
that is natural. They show us what's missing in our lives, and how to love
ourselves more completely and unconditionally. They connect us back to who we are, and to the purpose of why we're here.”
Animals as Comfort After Trauma:
TEDx talk discussion from Philip Tedeschi the benefits of having an animal companion, such as a dog, after a traumatic events such natural disasters or 9/11.
"Clinical Professor Philip Tedeschi coordinates GSSW's Animal-Assisted Social Work Certificate program and teaches forensic social work and experiential therapy approaches. He’s executive director of the Institute for Human-Animal Connection. A certified master therapeutic riding instructor and former course director/instructor with Outward Bound, Tedeschi has many years of experience in non-traditional therapeutic approaches with children, adults and families. He also has experience in interpersonal violence, including animal abuse and sexually abusive youth and adults...See more."1
Podcast with Philip Tedeschi with Voice America website:
paradigm of recognizing incorporating the bond and relationships between
people and non-human beings and and the implications for animal abuse
become an enduring feature in so many families, homes, and communities.
For centuries, the importance of animals in people’s lives has been
recognized beneficial effect that animals have on human health, well
being, and motivation- across age, race, gender, sexual orientation,
socioeconomic status, and life condition. Images of animals appear in
literature of all kinds art, celebrations, dreams, fables, folklore,
language, medicine, music, religion, work, and recreation. Animals are
found in nearly every aspect of life....See more."2
[Source: 1.(http://www.du.edu/socialwork/facultyandstaff/facultydirectory/appointed/tedeschi.html)
2.(http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/74838/the-changing-paradigm-of-human-to-non-human-relationships#.UrfLOsIV9o0.facebook)
“Lacking a shared language, emotions are perhaps our most
effective means of cross-species communication. We can share our emotions, we can understand the language of feelings, and that's why we form deep and enduring social bonds with many other beings. Emotions are the glue that binds.”
― Marc Bekoff, The Emotional Lives of
Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy - and Why
They Matter
"Animal Emotion; Do Animals Feel?"
"Grief in Animals: It's Arrogant to Think We're the Only Animals Who Mourn
There is no doubt that many animals experience rich and deep emotions. It's not a matter of if emotions have evolved in animals but why they have evolved as they have. We must never forget that our emotions are the gifts of our ancestors, our animal kin. We have feelings and so do other animals…Read more.”
In this article, Marc Bekoff discusses the grieving process for animals both domestic and wild. While in mourning, animals grieving behavior can be similar to human in terms of physical characteristics of grief; slow movement, sunken eyes, energy levels etc.. He also briefly discusses the effects losing a loved one can have on animals including post traumatic stress, a mental health disorder often only associated with human trauma. Bekoff briefly references instances of animal mourning and behavior similar to humans; behavior, depression, and seeking comfort from friends. The types of animals he mentions displaying grieving behaviors are chimpanzees, lions, wolfs, elephants, sea lions, llamas and magpies. The grieving behaviors among different species demonstrate emotional similarities and abilities humans and non humans can share. The commonality of sorrow and grief can be matched with other emotions, such as happiness and love, throughout the lives of human and nonhumans.
"How Animals Grieve: Saying Goodbye to Family and Friends:
“Dr. King also rightly notes that grief among animals can and will differ. Thus,'Goat grief, then, is not chicken grief. And chicken grief is not chimpanzee grief or elephant grief or human grief.' (page 7) I agree and emphasize that just because our grief or other emotions might differ from those of other animals this does not mean that we have them and they do not. Of course, one could easily argue just the reverse. And, there is no reason at all to believe that the way in which various emotions are felt and acted upon among
individuals of different species or even within the same species will be the same…Read more.”
Marc Bekoff discusses Dr. Barbara King’s book How Animals Grieve (which Barbara discusses briefly discusses in a video in the Animal Mourning tab.) King discusses in her book the presence of love while grieving. Because of common mourning and grieving behaviors which can turn into sadness, depression, illness and survival-like instincts, often the power and presence of love is overlooked. King and Bekoff’s research of animal grief is in hopes to further discussions and academics study and research about animal experience and expression of grief.
[Source:1. Marc Bekoff. “Animal Emotions: Do Animals Think and Feel? Grief in animals: It's arrogant to think we're the only animals who
mourn”. Psychology Today. October 2009.(http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/animal-emotions/200910/grief-in-animals-its-arrogant-think-were-the-only-animals-who-mourn)
2.Bekoff. “Animal Emotions: Do Animals Think and Feel? How Animals Grieve: Saying Goodbye to Family and Friends”. Psychology Today. April, 2013. (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/animal-emotions/201304/how-animals-grieve-saying-goodbye-family-and-friends)
"The Healing Power of Dogs"
"One boy confided in the gentle-faced golden retriever about exactly what happened in his classroom at Sandy Hook Elementary School that day—which his parents said was more than he'd been able to share with them. A little girl who hadn't spoken since the shootings finally started talking to her mother again after petting one of the "comfort dogs." Groups of teenagers began to open up and discuss their fear and grief with each other as they sat on the floor together, all stroking the same animal…continue reading."
This article discusses the comfort dogs provided for humans after a traumatic event. A few of the events mentioned are:
a 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut that left 20 children and 6 adult staff dead, 2008 school shooting at Northern Illinois University and hurricane Sandy in 2012. The dogs, or “counselors with fur” as the article calls them, have been trained to be quiet, listening companions for people recovering. The non-human companions help with comfort and guide those suffering to begin having difficult conversations with other humans in order to heal. The accessibility of the dogs and their friendly nature makes it easy for the humans to connect with dogs. Part of the article asks, “Do dogs have empathy?” From observational research, dogs will often respond to a human crying or in a state of sadness or panic; dogs will often approach the human and remain close to them, which appears as though dogs can mirror human emotion and empathize. There have also been many research studies about animal companionship to cope with health issues such as blood pressure and stress levels.1 It makes sense to me the healing power of human and nonhuman relationships; there is a bond that goes beyond oral language. Animal
companions, in everyday life or during healing, can allow humans to express themselves without having to explain themselves, unlike human conversations. The unspoken bond and emotion between man and animal is not just limited to dogs, but also cats, horses, rabbits, pigs, chickens and many others. I think the last part of the article says it best,
“To some, the idea of sending a dog to a grieving person might seem too simplistic…that very simplicity is part of what makes the connection between humans and canines so powerful…When humans show us affection, it's quite a complicated thing that involves expectations and judgments, but with a dog, it's a very uncomplicated, nonchallenging interaction with no consequences. And if you've been through a hard time, it's lovely to have that."2
Interactions: The Possible Role of Oxytocin" (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3408111/ )
2. Amanda Fiegl. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/12/121221-comfort-dogs-newtown-tragedy-animal-therapy/]
"The Human- Animal Connection in Social Work"
"In animal-assisted interventions performed to improve the physical or mental health of human clients, the animal essentially is a go-between to help foster a relationship between a social
worker and a client that will provide comfort, promote a sense of safety, and engender trust to expedite a therapeutic response. Social workers often see people who are resistant to trust, perhaps those who have been hurt by others and who may have attachment or other disorders. With such clients, Tedeschi explains, “Animals can often be a very valuable bridge back to establishing a human relationship. They help build trust and can give people the sense that they can have positive relationships again...continue reading"
In cases like these where animals are used in healing situations after trauma and in social work, it is important that the participants in the relationship, both human and nonhuman, are cared for and looked after in a healthy way. The animal companion relationship is not just one sided, not only beneficial for humans in recovery or healing, but it is necessary that the animals are also monitored by veterinary care and taken care of. Provided for the animals is not just their "job" of helping humans, but also given time to play and relax due to the reliance on them for emotional support by humans.
[Source: Kate Jackson. "The Human-Animal Connection in Social Work" Social Work Today, Vol. 13 No. 2 P. 6. (http://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/031513p6.shtml)
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