Adopting a Pet - Save Your Life

Lately the Second Chance Humane Society Pet Column has been promoting the many ways that pets benefit our human companions.  The truth is that when a person or family adopts a pet from a shelter they never know how their lives will be impacted – but as shelter pets like me are often aware of being given a second chance at life –we quite usually do what we can to repay the favor.  Let me share a recent such story that strongly exemplifies this point.

The story is of a dog named Juno, who was adopted just days before she was to be euthanized at a shelter in Tennessee.  Upon arriving at her new home she immediately began  to offer pay back by seamlessly taking on the role of rescuer and protector to a terminally ill child in the family.

Four-year-old Lucas Hembree suffers from Sanfilippo syndrome, an inherited, metabolic disease that causes children to lose the ability to speak, walk and eat. The disease also causes severe neurological damage that leads to aggressive behavior, hyperactivity and seizures.

With no cure or treatment currently available, Lucas isn’t expected to live past the age of 15 and may be in a vegetative state by the time he is eight. Realizing that every moment of their lives together was extra precious, Chester and his wife, Jennifer, wanted their son to experience as much as he could while still having the capacity to enjoy life.

When the disease started to take a toll on Lucas’ joints, Chester looked into getting a service dog to keep Lucas steady when he walked.  He soon realized he could not afford the $15,000 fee he was quoted for a service dog and that Lucas’ deteriorating abilities and behavior excluded him as a candidate to receive one.  So instead the family went out and found Juno, an emaciated dog days away from being euthanized.  When Juno and Lucus met they took to each other immediately, like kindred spirits.

The Hembrees brought Juno home and showered her with love and affection and returned her to health.  They immediately noticed there seemed to be something instinctive about the dog and child’s relationship. One day, Chester noticed Juno circling Lucas while he was in his wheelchair, whining and nudging him with her nose.  Chester checked Lucas’ oxygen levels to find they were dangerously low.  After giving him oxygen, Lucas returned to normal and Juno greeted Chester with licks and affection.

Juno’s ability to pick up on Lucas’ neurological changes only increased from there and she alerts the family when Lucas is about to have a seizure or if his oxygen levels drop really low. She has saved him several times.

Juno has become a literal shoulder for Lucas to lean on when walking, and a calming influence when agitated. And while Chester makes sure that Juno gets time off, he says that it’s hard to get Juno to leave Lucas’ side, where she knows her true role is. 

Stories such as this make it hard to dispute that animal’s range of sensitivities are not impacting human lives in countless more subtle ways than this.  If you have a pet pay attention next time you are down – see who may be sitting a bit closer to you than usual, offering some gentle comfort.  If you don’t have a pet to provide this in your life…well…my name is Elvis come pay me a visit…

Call the Second Chance Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter Financial Assistance, Volunteer & Foster Care, or other Programs.  Visit our shelter pets online: www.adoptmountainpets.org.  Direct Pet Column questions to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  Photo by Real Life Photographs.