Alright, you made it to the first quarter! That reading load wasn't bad, was it? If so, let me know your thoughts.
On page 37 in Racing in the Rain, Enzo speaks of smelling the disease in Eve's brain before any human or machine could be aware of it.
My mother had briefly told me something about this not too long ago. My late dog, Del, died of cancer this past December, so dogs and cancer were topics of conversation among us quite often. I was hearing topics from cancer emitting a smell...to...dogs detecting cancer with their sense of smell. My obsessive cancer-googling was more within the frame of Del's particular cancer, Mast Cell, at the time, so I sort of forgot about those other topics of interest...until it came up in Racing in the Rain.
Here's an article talking about the research conducted on dogs sniffing out cancer, and there's more out there if you feel inclined to get "google'y". All I have to say is thank goodness I have both a Lab and a German Shepherd. Looks like we're good hands over here... ;-)
Have any of you ever heard of this, or even better, have any personal experience? I'm a believer. Dogs are extraordinary creatures!
I am so pissed. I just typed this super long comment to your topic and lost it because I forgot my password that I have to enter to publish my comments! I don't even know if I'm doing this right, I have never been a blogger. I am so computer illiterate! Anyway, here goes again, first of all, I have to say that I found chapter 11 to be anything but funny, to me it was heart wrenching. Poor Enzo being left alone to fend for himself for three days and then being hit because he went into a hallucinogenic rage. I have never hit one of my dogs, with the exception of one, who bit at a small child. I have seen my husband hit them though for percieved misbehavior. After having read this I don't think I could again witness a dog being hit without becoming irate. They are the most amazing creatures! I absolutely think they can detect cancer and a myriad of other things as well. Seeing eye dogs, therapy dogs, dogs who detect when someone is about to have a seizure, are just a few examples I have heard of. I know of a massage therapist here in Denton who is a diabetic and she has her dog with her at all times. He detects when her insulin goes too low before she even realizes it. I know dogs sense when their humans are stressed or sad. They just stay by us and love us and help to calm us. I can't even imagine living life without a dog.
ReplyDeleteYou did it, Darla! Sorry for the techie, woes, though :-/
DeleteI agree. Did not find Ch. 11 amusing. Although, in defense to those who did, I can see where the hallucinations aside from their cause could be perceived that way, but I did not initially find them humorous. I also must admit, I have hit my dog before. It's been a long time since I've done it, but I've done it. I can't imagine doing it now, though. I think I was young, naive, and simply following suit of men in my life who do it. Funny, I was just thinking back to times I've hit my dog(s) the other day while walking my own dogs, and I felt an immense amount of shame. Now that I think about it, it was probably the day after reading that chapter.
Dogs are totally supernatural! My Fred and Cinna are like Super Man and Sheera (sp?) waiting to save my life in both the physical and emotional world. In fact, I'm pretty sure Fred experience with me, and saved me from, OCD/Anxiety....
Thanks for your thoughts, Darla!
I truly believe dogs are capable of detecting cancer. Their sense of smell is much more advanced than our own. Wish more research would be done on that. Then there could be dogs available at your annual doctors exam.
ReplyDeleteAs for the zebra, well I can relate....sorta. I was reminded lately of a time my emotions were out of control and I did something I am embarrassed of. Only problem is I know it happened but now I don't 'remember' it, if that makes sense. That zebra is that demon inside that rears its ugly head whether we're prepared for it or not.
Thanks for sharing, Mandy :-) I totally have the zebra hidden in my closet. Glad you're reading with us!
DeleteFirst, - in looking back at chapters, I will start with Chapter 13 was the one I found hilarious. Crows. Not Chapter 11. I feel awful about the mix up.
ReplyDeleteI truly believe that dogs can detect a disease. Before my daughter, Regan, was diagnosed with Epilepsy our Shorthaired Pointer would sleep in front of her door. One night he started scratching at her door. I woke up to him pacing in circles. Shortly after, Regan started having a seizure. Our dog continued doing the same thing until she finally stopped having seizures all together.
I didn't care for Denny striking Enzo like he did. I could have done without reading that part however I do believe the emotion was needed for the book. We felt everything Enzo seemed to be feeling. We all have the 'zebra' in us.... even Denny.
Hahahaha, Vickie! No worries, girl ;-)
DeleteWow, I didn't know Reagan was epileptic. What an awesome dog! Pointers are super smart, too.