Caring, Compassion and Other Lessons Safety Professionals can Learn from Dogs
Over the holidays, I had the privilege of watching my friend’s dog while she and her husband visited out-of-state family. I have been entrusted with Cocoa’s care several times before, and I never take it for granted. It is a big responsibility to care for someone else’s beloved companion, but it’s also a great gift.
This visit was filled with cuddles, presents and freshly boiled chicken—same as always. But Cocoa’s most recent stay was imbued with greater significance.
Cocoa is still the sweet and sassy girl I know and love, but I was forced to acknowledge that she’s now a senior dog. She doesn’t fly up and down the steps. In fact, I was so worried about her slipping or hurting herself on our hardwood stairs that I carried her.
I also had to find new ways to communicate with Cocoa since she has lost much of her hearing. I found that making eye contact, putting on my coat and waving were effective ways to prevent startling her, tell her it’s time for a walk and have her follow me.
These gestures only worked because Cocoa trusts me completely. I am fortunate to have known Cocoa since my friend rescued her about 12 years ago. During that time, and in our many visits together, I have proven that I will make sure she is warm, dry and fed. I will give her plenty of belly rubs, play tug or fetch with her, and let her lead us on our walks. In exchange, she lets me brush her fur, touch her paws, and remove her eye crusties. She does not let most people do these things, and I’m honored to be an exception.
As any pet parent or human parent knows, caregiving is a round-the-clock job. I found myself waking up at odd hours, checking to make sure she was alright and keeping tabs on how much she ate and drank. I also found myself wanting to be a better person, the person I thought she deserved.
Once, I was on the verge of tears because I felt like I had failed her. My partner gently said something to the effect of “Look at Cocoa, asleep next to you. She’s fine! I don’t think you did anything wrong, but even if you had, she’s clearly forgiven you.”
When you care for another, it’s all too easy to focus on your shortcomings, real or imagined. In times like these, it’s difficult to see that the very act of showing up, trying your best and loving unconditionally proves you are worthy of the responsibility bestowed upon you. It is both awe-inspiring and awesome.
There are so many lessons to be learned from others, including pets. I found that while I didn’t sleep as good as I normally do, I wasn’t all that tired. Beyond a mere duty or obligation to take care of Cocoa, I felt like I had a purpose. Yes, it can be stressful and overwhelming at times, but seeing her smile, swish her tail and play with her Lamb Chop is worth it everything, every single time.
To a certain extent, I imagine this is how you must feel most days as safety professionals.
You create programs, conduct training, purchase personal protective equipment and install technology to keep people safe on the job.
You spend your days thinking of new, better and more ways to protect your colleagues.
You get frustrated when your warnings are not heeded because—more so than any fines or citations—you dread the phone call, text or alert that there’s been an accident.
You put your whole heart and self into caring for others, making sure their physical, emotional and mental needs are met.
You worry you’re not doing enough while also doing everything you can to make workplaces safer.
You have every reason and right to be worried about the potential safety risks and to focus on mitigating them.
Still, I encourage you take a cue from Cocoa and pause to enjoy this present moment. Recognize—and be proud of—your accomplishments, for which there are many. Even when it doesn’t feel like you’ve done enough remember that those you care for know how you feel, trust you because of your past words and deeds, and care for you in return.
