The Real-Life Fox & the Hound: How Willard Saved Foxy
Friendships are important
I had an entirely different post settled in my head for today, but I’ve abandoned that one. It was sort of important. It was about my sort-of-uncle, Sam Katz, and the measles vaccine.
That one has gone on hold.
Instead, I want to talk about this story from our local SPCA in Hancock County, Maine. I’ll link to them at the bottom.
Here’s their Facebook post from today. It made me cry.
“Just a few months ago, Willard and Foxy were living completely separate lives. Their worlds couldn’t have been more different, and yet, fate brought them together at the SPCA of Hancock County. Willard’s calm, gentle nature seemed to balance Foxy’s nervous energy. They became unlikely companions, having play dates and walks together.
“Then, this past weekend, Foxy spent a few days away from the shelter, but something went wrong. He got spooked and took off. Though searchers spotted him several times, he bolted every time a person came near. Frightened and in survival mode, he refused to trust anyone.
“That’s when someone had an idea: what if the only one Foxy would trust wasn’t a person at all?
“A staff member brought Willard out into the woods near the latest sighting. As soon as his paws hit the ground, instincts kicked in. Willard caught Foxy’s scent and let out a series of chaotic, excited howls.
“Within moments—through the trees, across the brush—came Foxy, sprinting straight toward his best friend. No hesitation. No fear. Just relief. He ran to Willard and allowed himself to be safely secured.
“Now, they’re back at the SPCA-HC, side by side: small but mighty Foxy and big but gentle Willard. A pair of best friends who remind us that healing doesn’t always happen alone.
"‘Copper, you're my very best friend.’
"‘And you're mine too, Tod.’
"‘And we'll always be friends forever, won't we?’
"‘Yeah. Forever.’”
I cried because I’m a softie, but also we just rescued a very calm puppy (currently nameless) yesterday who is the counterbalance to our somewhat high-strung Pogie pup. Pogie is still adjusting to the fluffy lovable presence of Sir Smiles A Lot, but I’m pretty sure they will be besties.
And that’s the thing, right?
According the the American Journal of Psychiatry, when people have good friends, they tend to have less depression and more life satisfaction. According to PLOS Medicine, there are health benefits and we live longer lives when we have good friends.
And what is a good friendship? It’s connection. It’s understanding. It’s feeling safe enough to come out of hiding and to sniff and bark and tell your story. It’s about Willard and Foxy. It’s about Cooper and Tod.
It’s about feeling safe and supportive, but also being supportive and safe back.
Us Americans are all blah-blah-blah about romantic love (and romantic love is awesome), but we tend not to talk quite so much about how important real friends actually are, as Zara Abrams expresses in a great article at the American Psychological Association.
Abrams writes, “‘In the face of life’s challenges, having a close friend to turn to seems to be a buffer or protective factor against some of the negative outcomes we might otherwise see,’ said Catherine Bagwell, PhD, a professor of psychology at Davidson College in North Carolina.
“Friendships protect us in part by changing the way we respond to stress. Blood pressure reactivity is lower when people talk to a supportive friend rather than a friend whom they feel ambivalent about (Holt-Lunstad, J., et al., Annals of Behavioral Medicine, Vol. 33, No. 3, 2007). Participants who have a friend by their side while completing a tough task have less heart rate reactivity than those working alone (Kamarck, T. W., et al., Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol. 52, No. 1, 1990). In one study, people even judged a hill to be less steep when they were accompanied by a friend (Schnall, S., et al., Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Vol. 44, No. 5, 2008).”
How cool is that? How powerful is it?
So powerful that it changed an outcome for Willard and Foxy and maybe one for you, too?
LINKS TO COOL PLACES YOU MIGHT WANT TO SUPPORT IF YOU LOVE ANIMALS
Here’s a link to our local SPCA.
And here’s a link to where we adopted our adorable, currently nameless pup, Pup Starz Rescue.
Love this story so much! Lovely way to start my otherwise uninspiring Monday. :)
Congratulations on the new pup, as well!