She begins with the story of Lulu, a pot-bellied pig that saved the life of her human guardian. It’s as uplifting a story as I’ve heard in quite a while. Reading it, I was reminded of a similar story at the beginning of Ram Dass and Paul Gorman’s inspiring book, How Can I Help? (Knopf, 1985), in which a scuba diver, who has just accepted the horror of his death by drowning, is rescued at the last moment by a dolphin that nuzzles under him, lifts him to the surface like an underwater angel and then risks its own safety to bring him all the way to shore. Stories like these demonstrate the perceptiveness, intelligence and sensitivity of other species and call into question any assumptions of human superiority.

Hering reports on a series of research studies that demonstrate how the presence of animals improves the health of those who care for them, in cases ranging from cardiovascular disease to stress reactions to allergies. I found the allergy connection particularly striking since its conclusion ran counter to my expectations. As reported in Journal of the American Medical Association, infants in homes with at least two animals were up to 77 percent less likely to develop allergies.

Expecting and Embracing Change
Here at Cleveland Chiropractic College, we teach our students that what they learn in school is part of a lifelong learning process. We tell them to expect new discoveries throughout their careers and encourage them to incorporate these new insights into their work on an ongoing basis.

Surprises come with the territory. Change can be good for us. These are the watchwords of the emerging global culture. Open-mindedness is the key. Sir Thomas Dewar said it best, “Minds are like parachutes: they only function when they’re open.”

Daniel Redwood, DC, is editor-in-chief of Health Insights Today.