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Dogs
How A Dog Saved My Life
The healing powers of dogs. My journey to emotional recovery.
Life is beautiful, but it’s also unpredictable. An unfortunate event can turn our lives upside down and push us into a journey of sadness and despair. Everyone handles death and sorrow differently; some find comfort when expressing their feelings. I admire that. It’s healthier than suppressing them. Many years ago, I experienced a loss. I am not ready to share that story, but I will share how a dog taught me to cope and saved my life.
I felt depressed, angry, unhappy, and lost. My mind was on autopilot while I worked. Three friends at work knew what happened; the rest remained unaware of the situation, and I preferred it that way. I knew I would break down if I shared my feelings. I didn’t want to mix my professional life with my personal one. I used work as a tool to distract myself from the sorrow. I smiled, joked, and laughed. People assumed I had a happy life; nothing could be further from the truth. I was overwhelmed with sadness. I couldn’t cry much or at all. Maybe because my little Chihuahuas comforted me. I don’t know what I would have done without them. They were an important factor in my recovery, too.
I became a hermit, and although that is not always a bad thing, the negative emotions I was feeling only stressed my depression. I loved running, but I was not about to force my little dogs to run with me for five miles. I didn’t want to jog with other people either. I love German Shepherds; I grew up with them, so I pondered about adopting one. Ethical breeders are hard to find nowadays. Most couldn’t care less if the dogs they are breeding are healthy; they only care about the profit. People shouldn’t contribute to the ongoing puppy mill problem. There are so many dogs in shelters and rescue organizations that need a home. I applied to The Virginia German Shepherd Rescue. I had my eye on a special needs dog named Toby. He was gorgeous; I hoped to adopt him. A family was ahead of me for consideration. They were approved, and Toby went to live with them. I was disillusioned, but things happen for a reason.
