Throughout my life, dogs have been my protectors. Enduring abuse from 2 to 21 years old, the only solace I found was in the company of a dog. Their unwavering loyalty and love became my sanctuary, instilling in me a resilience and strength that I carry to this day.
My first dog was a large American yellow lab named Remus. He died when I was about 4 or 5 years old. I remember saying goodbye to him, and everyone crying. I knew I was too young to understand what was happening; however, I did know. So I held back my tears, pretending I didn’t understand. But I understood fully that my dog had just been put to sleep.
I had a dream that night that a tiny yellow lab puppy was born in the nook of a tree behind our old house. I remember thinking Remus’ soul would return.
In second grade, we watched our next American black lab be born.
We brought him home and all fell in love. He was my training partner. I was a long-distance athlete and trained for long hours. He could always keep up. He also slept in my room, reducing my nightmares and fears about dying in my sleep. I would wake up and see he was with me, and I’d know there wasn’t an abuser in my room because Blue would bark like crazy. He was my reality checker at night when I was afraid.
Ector came next. I adopted him in Colorado and trained him to be my psychiatric service dog. I took classes and trained with a private trainer to learn how to train a service dog myself. Ector was known as “Ector the Protector.” He was a tan pit mix with some American Bulldog and Labrador Retriever mixed in. He was smart as a whip and mastered intelligent disobedience: when I was struggling with an eating disorder and purging, he would bark to alert my parents, or block the bathroom with his strong body. He saved my life; he rescued me from an abusive relationship and kept me independent for the full 12 years of his life. He was my soulmate.
After Ector passed, I thought I’d never be whole again.
But in a miraculous turn of events, 6 weeks after Ector passed, a flight nanny delivered a perfect white English yellow lab puppy to my arms.
I spent two years training him with the program that picked him out for me. This training was not just about teaching him to respond to my medical needs, but also about building a strong bond and trust between us. Now, I have a medical alert and response service dog named Blizzard. I no longer need the psychiatric tasks, but my physical body has taken a turn for the worse, so Blizzard helps when I faint or my sugars drop too low. He keeps me from getting too dizzy and brings me things I need, so I don’t have to get up and use more energy than I have for the day. He’s an angel in a giant dog’s body, and I am alive for him.
I’m madly in love with my dog. To me, he is the reason the sun shines.
I could talk about Blizzard and obsess over how amazing he is for days on end, actually for his entire life. I hold back my enthusiasm around my family and friends because they all say, “It’s just a dog.” But I’ve decided to unleash my passion for dogs, especially my dogs. I’m going to be annoying about it. I’m not going to shut up about the dogs in my life, especially how intelligent and well-mannered Blizzard is. I’m going to take millions of pictures and videos of my dogs and everyone’s dogs and post them all over my pages online. Dogs are pure love, and while I already post 95% about Blizzard, I think I could bump it up a notch and get that to be 150% dog photos and stories. Because who doesn’t want to see a dog?
Watch out, world! Here comes raw, authentic, pure love for canines. And if it’s too much for anyone, they aren’t my people.
Featured image via Yaroslav Shuraev on Pexels
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Helping Your Senior Pet Stay Fit: Why Weight Management Matters More Than Ever
As our pets grow older, they slow down but that doesn’t mean their health has to. One of the most important yet often overlooked aspects of senior pet care is maintaining a kainer veterinary hospital. And trust us, it’s more than just about looks.
A healthy weight plays a massive role in your senior pet’s quality of life. From easing joint pain to reducing the risk of chronic diseases, weight management is key to helping your furry friend enjoy their golden years.
Let’s break down why it matters so much and how you can help your pet stay happy, healthy, and active.
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