Today I took my dog to have a blood test, for which he needed to be sedated. The vets did this in my van for his comfort. While they were monitoring his heart rate, the vets did would disturb him a little in order to elevate his heart rate from the 30s to the 40+BPM. It had little effect. When I stroked his belly and spoke to him, comforting him telling him is a good boy, his heart rate would rise to a safe 45B. While it’s amazing, it’s not, it is confirmation of the bond and meaning we have in each other’s lives. It was a beautiful, humbling experience.