Can dogs be sad? That's a good question, and Allen Schoen, DVM, MS, CVC, CVA, of Sherman, Conn., came up with the answer years ago. Long before pet owners considered herbal treatments and nutritional supplements as adjuncts to traditional medicine -- and before veterinarians steeped in science considered pets as emotional beings with feelings -- Schoen was dancing on a high wire between science and spirit.

Schoen is the author of How the Remarkable Bond Between Humans & Animals Can Change the Way We Live: Kindred Spirits (Broadway Books, New York, NY, 2001; $14). He begins the book with a safe, slow dance using scientific evidence. "Our dogs and cats have the same neurotransmitters we do, and the same neuro-hormones -- and at the same parts of the brain. Why shouldn't they feel emotions?"

As he continues, his discussion subtly shifts from science to spirit, and his dance becomes shakier -- yet he's careful never to fall off the high wire. He never completely veers from his roots as a scientist.

"For example, pets feel jealously," he says. "Just a few minutes ago, I was petting Chi [his 14-year old cat] who was just purring in my lap, when Shanti [his 13-year old Golden Retriever] comes over. Then, there's this big paw in my lap - and he places his muzzle carefully under my arm to steer my hand to pet him. You don't need to be a scientist to see that Shanti wanted to be petted. What would you call this? I can't see how it's anything but jealousy."

Many of his colleagues maintain pets just don't feel emotions. "Well, they may not feel emotions like we do," he says. "Your jealous dog won't conceive a plan to shoot you because you went for a walk with another dog. I'd argue being forgiving is perhaps more a part of the nature of our pets than it is of us. It's true, dogs and cats don't feel emotions like we feel them, but that doesn't mean they don't feel them."

Schoen is delighted with the increasing number of human physicians, psychologists and veterinarians who are all hopping on board the "pets are good for us" bandwagon. However, as is typically his way, Schoen goes a step further.

He maintains that companion animals are so empathetic, so entrenched in our lives that they actually pick up our diseases. In Kindred Spirits, he includes the story of Tom and his Scottish Terrier, Taffy. They both suffered from the same kind of heart condition--a heart problem veterinarians rarely see in dogs. Whenever Tom became ill, so did Taffy. When Taffy was "smuggled" into the hospital to see Tom, he'd rally. If Taffy became ill, it adversely affected Tom's physical condition. As Taffy's condition improved, so would Tom's. This cycle repeated back and forth many times.

"I make no absolute conclusion. You decide for yourself," says Schoen. "Coincidence -- sure, it might be. To me, these stories are so commonplace, the connection seems obvious." Schoen says.

There's a growing body of evidence that companionship with a cat or dog is healthy for people, and your companionship may also be healthy for your pet -- as long as you're a pleasure to be around. If you're an old grouch, your dog or cat may be stressed. "I have no doubt anxiety can lead to illness,' he says. "I believe it's proven in people, and I see no physiological explanation for why that can't be just as true for dogs and cats. Of course, my idea of stress may not be my dog's idea of stress. For that matter, my cat's idea of stress may not be my dog's idea of stress."

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Pet Product Manufacturer's Association's pet owner surveys, there are more pet birds, reptiles and dogs and cats than ever before. First, there's Schoen's standard logical and scientific reply. "Well, there are more people in America," he says. "So, it's no surprise that there are more pets." Next, he dances to the spiritual side, "Anyone who has ever experienced even the slightest relationship knows that it feels good to have a pet. We're unconsciously self-medicating ourselves. We need to. Also, in our ever-changing world, our pets are a constant -- they're always there for us. Sadly, in society, your pet may be the only one who will always love you no matter what. Yes, we do have a lot we can learn from them."

~~~~~~~~

By Steve Dale