Over half the households in Europe and North America have at least one pet. They range from cats, dogs and parrots to rabbits, mice and hamsters. Surveys have shown that nine out of ten pet owners believe that their pets understand what they say and how they are feeling. But do they really?

Let’s look at some recent animal heroics.

Just last week, America was glued to the FOX network as a firefighter named, Joe St. George was lowered from a helicopter to rescue a large dog caught in one of the Los Angeles river channels, and was fighting for it’s life as it tried to escape the water. (Click here to view the video.) As St. George reached the extremely frightened animal, he was able to grab him, but not without the dog first biting him several times on the arm and hand. St. George did not hold that against the dog, remarking, “What did I expect? I was in gear, being lowered from a loud machine, causing incredible wind, to a dog that was frightened to death….he didn’t exactly see me as a friend.” St. George spoke to the dog and held on to the dog with all his might and the dog incredibly gave himself over to St. George as the helicopter began to lift the two of them to safety. The higher the two went, you could see the dog continuing to “dog-paddle, as if swimming” but trusting the man who held him. The two were both retrieved safely. Did the dog understand St. George’s words and sense his true concern and intentions? What other explanation could exist, otherwise the dog would have fought him all the way.

Another story comes out of British Columbia where an 11-year-old boy was saved by his 18-month-old dog, Angel. A wild cougar was threatening the young man and his dog jumped in front of him and fought the cougar. An intervening policeman had to shoot the cougar, but saved the dog. Although the dog had some serious injuries he was expected to fully recover. Did the bond of love between this young dog and young man supersede the dogs concern for safety? I think so; the dog sensed the boys fear and was willing to sacrifice its life for the boy.

A woman in Pennsylvania collapses in her kitchen. Her pet Vietnamese pot bellied pig, Lulu comes into the kitchen when she hears her owner calling for help. The pig came over to woman and made what the woman could only describe as sorrowful crying sounds and the woman spoke to the pig telling her she needed help. The pig then raced out of the house to the side of the road. Witnesses said that the pig would wait for a car to come and then walk out into the roadway and lay down in front of the car. Motorist would drive around the pig, but finally a motorist did stop and get out, at which point Lulu led him back to the kitchen and he called for an ambulance. This event just defies explanation except one that might be of a miraculous nature.

There are so many more stories about parrots, snakes, guinea pigs, chickens and rabbits who all either helped their families avert a terrible danger or who gave their lives in the process of doing so.

Suffice it to say that God indeed imbued these beautiful creatures with a particular good that His Divine Providence guided to a loving if not sacrificial end. Nothing good is lost from God. He is aware at all times of all his creatures and He gives to each its unique character and abilities. Do animals feel? Yes. Do animals understand what we say? Yes.

The relationship we have with our domestic pets, our other family members is the inter-connectedness that God has given that unique human-animal bond. When we read stories about these incredible animal heroics, we should not be surprised. Nothing is impossible with God and there is certainly all probability that animals are connected intimately with their Creator, responding to Him first, thus being capable of extraordinary and miraculous actions.

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