May 29, 2025 Maggie and Joe: The Power of the Human-Animal Bond
In 1991, DC veterinarian Earl Strimple published an article in the Journal of the Veterinary Medical Association (Volume 199(2):206-208) describing the impact of Maggie, a small Yorkshire Terrier, on Joe, the sexton at Dr. Strimple’s church, Maggie was the companion of the minister at the church but the minister was going out of town and she asked Joe to look after Maggie for her. Dr. Strimple said, “Maggie was a real charmer with sparkling eyes, a busy tail, and always eager to play.”
Joe lived alone, had diabetes, smoked constantly, and enjoyed drinking more than a few alcoholic beverages. Recently, he had lost two people close to him, including his sister. Dr. Strimple and the minister believed that Maggie would be good company for Joe. Two days after the minister left town, Joe was found unconscious on the fire escape outside his apartment during a heavy rainstorm. Standing on his back, Maggie barked fiercely, eventually attracting the attention of a neighbor.
Joe was later found to be in a diabetic coma. By the time the minister arrived at the hospital, Joe had a fever of 105°F, and his kidneys were not functioning correctly. He was experiencing hallucinations and did not recognize anyone, though he did ask about Maggie. Joe’s condition continued to deteriorate, and he developed a stomach blockage, after which he stopped responding entirely. The minister again rushed to the hospital, but when she arrived, she found Joe awake and happy to see her. She asked him what had happened.
Joe shared that after his sister’s death, he felt he had lost all hope and no longer wanted to live. The minister asked him what had changed, and he replied, “You and Maggie.” That night, the minister decided to allow Joe to keep Maggie permanently. Before Joe was discharged, she sat down with him to discuss his diet and life choices. Although he had previously received a written diet plan, he had thrown it away because he could not read it. The minister requested a new diet but was again given the exact written instructions. In response, she created a pictorial diet by cutting out images from magazines that Joe could use to make a visual representation for his refrigerator. A few days after Joe returned home, Maggie joined him. When Joe went for a check-up a few weeks later, the doctor was amazed by his progress. She had not expected him to survive, and to see him back at work, healthy and happy, felt like a miracle.
Dr. Strimple noted that Joe has quit drinking and smoking, adhered to his diet, and learned to monitor his blood sugar. Maggie adores Joe and follows him without a leash, but the changes have challenged her. When the minister is present, Maggie tends to look towards her, but Maggie has never failed to come when Joe calls.
Dr. Strimple concluded his description of Joe and Maggie by stating, “As veterinarians, we know that the human/animal bond works and makes our profession exciting and worthwhile.”
The connection between Joe and Maggie reflects the diverse experiences of many people and their companion animals. And yet, these personal anecdotes are often not represented in much of the research literature on the human-animal bond. One particular anecdote may shed light on this lack of documentation. At Tufts Veterinary School, a volunteer initiated a small pet visitation program, including visits to a local nursing home. Before starting the program, the nursing home residents were consulted to determine their interest in having a dog visit them. Of all the residents, only seventeen understood whether they wanted a dog to visit. Among these seventeen, only five expressed interest in having a dog, while the other twelve did not wish for a visit from a dog. If a standard questionnaire were used to assess the benefits of the dog visitation program, one might predict that five residents would respond positively, while twelve would respond negatively. Consequently, any single outcome measure evaluating the program’s impact would likely not reflect a positive effect.