Do Animals Remember Us?

There are dogs and cats, and then there are Sam Phinneys. You animal lovers know what I mean. When you look into their eyes, something special looks back at you. Yes, all animals are special, and I believe they all have souls. But Sam Phinneys have old souls. Perhaps they have more wisdom or intelligence, or maybe they are even our pet soul mates. I don’t know which, if any, it is, but I’d like to tell you about my Sam Phinney.

Sam was a Chow Chow. Chows are often misunderstood, because some are temperamental. But I’ve always liked them–especially Sam. Sam’s guardian, Mike, did business next door to my veterinary office. Mike would go do his errands, and Sam would stand outside our glass front door with his joyful tail-wagging, until someone would notice him and let him in. Sam loved everyone, and I mean everyone. He would visit with all of us — clients, other patients, staff, docs — until Mike was finished and ready to leave. He was the hit of the office.

I sold that practice to go back to school for advanced training. A couple of years went by, and I was having a typical neurology resident kind of day — crazy busy. As I was walking through the treatment room at my normal fast pace, out of the corner of my eye I noticed a Chow on a gurney. I heard someone say he had been hit by a car. He had a doc and plenty of caring students all around him, so there was no need for an extra pair of hands. I kept walking until I spotted a small tail wag. I about tripped over myself when I stopped dead in my tracks. Sam? Is that you? The tail went nuts. Sam had recognized me. And what’s more amazing is that even in his pain, Sam showed us what animals are really about. Love. They express it unconditionally, in bad and good times. Perhaps there’s a lesson there.

Oh, by the way, Sam made a complete recovery. No car was going to rain on his parade.

Dr. Susan Wagner is a board certified veterinary neurologist whose pioneering work acknowledges the bioenergetic interaction between people and animals. She is an advocate for change in the area of interpersonal violence and animal cruelty, and works toward a greater understanding surrounding the health implications of the human-animal bond.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Gerald M.

3:54PM PST on Jan 28, 2012

From personal experiences, I fully back those here who also believe that animals never forget us. It's one of their most endearing qualities which makes me admire and respect them so much.

Dr. Masson, in his book, 'Dogs Never Lie About Love', recounted and incident in which he hadn't seen a particular dog for years. By the time he encountered the dog again, it had been trained to attack. And although it initially approached Masson aggressively, when he got close his tail wagged and he reverted to his old friendliness.

send a green star

Past Member .

11:07PM PST on Jan 4, 2012

animals have such instincts & vibrations we have to yet understand.

Howard C.

4:58PM PDT on May 25, 2011

I have personal experience of this. My father in law had to be taken into hospital, long term, he had senality and was so agressive that it we could no longer cope (not his fault). As is the way in the UK he was bumped between one hospital and another before we eventually found somewhere he could live where they were able to help and care for him. He had been away from home for nearly 2 years, he hadn't seen his dog, a border collie called Prince, for all that time. Prince loved Dad, he used to sleep on his lap, he was 'his' dog (although Dad - who Prince Ioved very much) used to say that he lost Prince when I came around - it wasn't true, I used to play with Prince and I loved him but he was never my dog. Now Dad was in a long-term (he only made a couple of months) care home we asked if we could take Prince in to visit him; the home was more than happy for Prince to visit. We took Prince in, not at all sure how he'd react; Prince immediatley tried to climb on Dad's lap, unfortunately Dad didn't remember him and pushed him away. Prince didn't suffer, one of the other residents, who had apparently not talked for 3 years, told me how she had kept dogs and how much she loved them; she proceeded to feed Prince the better part of a packet of biscuits (cookies). We took Prince back every week until Dad died, Dad never remembered him but Prince got pretty fat! Prince died a few months after Dad. Rest in Peace both of you, gone but never forgotten. We still remeber and love you both.

Charles B.

8:26AM PDT on May 22, 2011

Of course, and I can say that from experience!

May H.

10:23AM PDT on Apr 10, 2011

I love all animals,i feel i can trust them more than people and they will not let you down or talk about you behind your back,they are very loyal

Elizabeth J.

5:38AM PST on Feb 7, 2011

I trust an animal more than a person because they do things for you withoutb expecting anything in return; they are loyal & trust you even if you are a bad owner. I have no doubt that they remember you & love you unconditionally. " well said LUBE C

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Anne B.

9:41AM PST on Feb 4, 2011

My cat remembers me and she certainly seems to ID friends she has seen in the past few months...but long term memory? Personally, I'm not so sure but I'm also NOT closed to the idea that it is possible...

Lupe G.

11:20AM PST on Feb 1, 2011

Lori K.

9:19PM PST on Jan 31, 2011

My daughter's best friend moved 400 miles away. We didn't see her family for 2 years. When we went up to visit them, their dear old dog, Jake, barked at us until we got out of our car. As soon as she heard us say "Hi, Jake!", she started wiggling like she would turn inside out. Boy, did she remember us! It made us all feel very happy!

christine c.

2:02PM PST on Jan 28, 2011

Thank you for your beautiful and tear inspiring comments L.C.N.! I am sure you have touched many hearts with your kind and loving words. Thanks again and bless you as well as all of God's creatures.