Happy President's Day - Meet Truman and Coolidge

Editor's Note:  Guest blogger, Janet Hieshetter has served as DMRF Executive Director since 2004. She has over 25 years of experience in non-profit, disease organization management.  She has also been invited to join the National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke Council, the advisory organization to the NINDS, and chairs the American Brain Coalition.

Several years ago while attending a DMRF scientific workshop and after a productive day of discussing the direction of dystonia research, I had the pleasure of dining with the Foundation’s Scientific Director, Dr. Mahlon DeLong and several other researchers. The topic of dogs came up – the funny things they do, what kind of mischief they get into, and what they mean to us. The conversation went on for thirty minutes or so and one of the researchers at the table was silent and looked bored. He didn’t have a dog. Later he mentioned to me that he was surprised by the table talk – really – people talk about their dogs like that? He was polite but I could tell thought the dog talk might have been a bit much.

About a year ago I got a call from this same researcher. After heartfelt begging from his youngest daughter – his family got a dog. He called to tell me that he now understood why we had gone on and on about our dogs! He then went on to share a couple of stories about his dog with me. I guess the point is – people who don’t have dogs have a hard time understanding how those of us who do feel about our canine companions.

I have always had a dog in my life – they are part of my family. We currently have two dogs. Truman who is 14 and Coolidge who is 11. They are both yellow labs and are both nutty, wonderful, loving characters. They have comforted us when we were devastated by the loss of a loved one, snuggled when we have been under the weather or just had a lousy day, helped my kids learn how to care for others and learn responsibility, and they have helped us celebrate good times like a Cubs World Series victory.

People ask us now that we are empty nesters and when our current dogs leave us, would we get another dog. My answer is confirmed every time I walk in the door and am greeted by the enthusiastic tail wagging pups who are so glad to see me – Absolutely – can’t imagine life without a dog in our house and in my life. They are work, certainly, but the love and companionship they give back is the best bargain on Earth.

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