Hedging away anxiety
Growing up, I always had an animal around. At the age of four my family adopted the first animal to join our family, a Samoyed puppy.
At the age of six I got my first hamster, and by the age of 10 I was the master of caring for tropical fish.
Now, being a senior at CMU, I own a tank full of tropical fish and a hedgehog. Many people have never seen a hedgehog, let alone taken care of one.
Before I get into why my hedgehog, Carl, is my emotional support animal, let me help you understand what an emotional support animal (or ESA) really is.
According to the National Service Animal Registry, “ESAs are also sometimes referred to as comfort animals, comfort pets, or companion animals. Dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, mini-pigs, hedgehogs, and many more species may qualify as an ESA. These animals do not require specific task-training because it is the very presence of the animal that mitigates the negative symptoms associated with a person's disorder. An ESA can be any age.”
You wouldn't think a hedgehog would be considered an ESA, but let me tell you, they’re great for that.
I have been diagnosed with anxiety, and I have to deal with it on a daily basis. My hedgehog, Carl, helps me de-stress at the end of a long, busy day.
Carl is a spiky creature who is only soft on his belly. He is a grumpy little thing, but the point is not to cuddle with him like a cat or a dog, but to watch him run around and give him treats. It’s amazing how watching him move his little feet relaxes me. Whenever I watch him, it just makes me forget about everything for a little while, which is just what I need.
There are 15 species of hedgehogs that run wild in Europe, Asia and Africa. Carl is an African Pigmy hedgehog, which are the most common domesticated hedgehogs. Hedgehogs are not rodents, nor are they similar to hamsters or porcupines. These are common misconceptions.
Hedgehogs have quills that line their backs, and they have soft, furry undersides. They have long snouts meant for smelling out insects and to aid in digging for bugs.
The reason Carl makes a great ESA is because he opens up to me and allows me to love him. I have a responsibility to take care of him, and knowing that I’m giving him a good life is a great feeling. Carl brings a smile to my face, even when he’s hissing because he’s grumpy. I know that no matter what happens in my day, Carl is at home waiting for me, and just that thought makes me less anxious.
Not to mention, hedgehogs are just adorable to look at. They float if you put them on their backs in the water, scare themselves from time to time, and when they run on hard surfaces their feet make little pitter-patter noises. And it always drowns out my anxiety.
