I got a dog and it changed my life

Having a pet is so great, and it’s no wonder so many people get puppies. Dogs are loyal and loving animals that help their owners exercise, strengthen social bonds, and even boost their mood. If, after you got a dog, you thought, “Wow, my dog ​​changed my life,” know that you are not alone! Here are four stories from four incredible women whose lives were changed forever after they adopted a dog.

Help in overcoming fears

Meet Kayla and Odin

The first negative interaction with a dog can make you fear for life. If a person encounters an aggressive, ill-mannered animal and something goes wrong, they may develop fear and anxiety that are difficult to overcome. But this does not mean that the problem is insurmountable.

“When I was little, a dog bit me very hard on the face. He was an adult golden retriever and, by all accounts, the cutest dog in the area. I leaned over to pet him, but for some reason he didn’t like it and bit me,” says Kayla. All my life I have been terrified of dogs. No matter what size or age or breed they were, I was just terrified.”

When Kayla’s boyfriend Bruce tried to introduce her to his Great Dane puppy, she was uneasy. However, the puppy didn’t let Kayla’s fears ruin their relationship before it could begin. “As the puppy grew, I began to understand that he knows my habits, knows that I’m scared, knows my rules, but still wants to be friends with me.” She fell in love with Bruce’s dog, and a year later got her own puppy. “My life has completely changed because of this and I think it was the best decision I have ever made. My little puppy Odin is now almost three years old. Taking him was the best decision Bruce and I ever made. I love not only him, but every dog. I am that weird person at the dog park who will play and cuddle with literally every dog.”

Looking for new hobbies

Meet Dory and Chloe

One decision can change your life in ways you didn’t expect. When Dory was looking for the perfect dog, she didn’t think it would change her life in so many ways. “When I took Chloe, she was nine and a half years old. I didn’t know that saving older dogs was a whole mission. I just wanted an older, calmer dog,” says Dory. — The decision to adopt an elderly dog ​​completely turned my life around. I met a whole new community of friends both on social media and in real life. I tell people about the problems of older dogs who need a home, and I also help other animals find a home.”

Since Chloe’s previous owner could no longer take care of her, Dory started an Instagram account about what the dog does so that the previous family could follow her life, even from a distance. Dori says: “Chloe’s Instagram quickly took off, and I became more active in dog rescue, especially older ones, when I learned about the status quo. When Chloe’s Instagram hit 100 followers, she raised $000 for a very old or terminally ill animal family finder program — just one of the many ways our lives have changed. I ended up being so happier doing it that I quit my day job as a graphic designer and now work from home so I have a lot more time and energy for what Chloe and I do.”

“Working from home has allowed me to adopt another older dog, Cupid. We spend most of our time talking about the challenges of rescuing older dogs, and especially focus on the problem of older Chihuahuas in shelters, where they often end up when their owners can no longer care for them. Before I had Chloe, I never felt like I was doing as much for society as I should. Now I feel that my life is really full of what I would like – I have a full house and a full heart, ”says Dory.

Career change

Sarah and Woody

Like Dory, Sarah became interested in animal welfare after adopting a dog from a shelter. “When I moved for work, I volunteered for a local animal rescue movement. I couldn’t become an “overexposure” (meaning she had to keep a dog long enough for another family to adopt her) and kept an off-bred beagle, says Sarah, who already had two dogs she brought with her. – So that

changed my life? I realized that the more I get involved with these dogs and the problem of homeless animals in the US, the more I get satisfaction from the relationship with dogs and from the work that I do for them – it’s better than any job in marketing. So in my 50s, I radically changed jobs and went to study as a veterinary assistant in the hope of one day working with a national animal rescue organization. Yes, all because of this little half-breed beagle who sunk into my heart after he was sent back to the shelter because he was afraid to sit in the aviary.

Sarah currently attends Miller-Mott College and volunteers with Saving Grace NC and Carolina Basset Hound Rescue. She says: “When I looked back at my life and my place in it, I realized that I am very close to people who are involved in saving and caring for animals. Nearly all of the friends I’ve made since I left New York in 2010 are people I’ve met through rescue groups or families who have adopted dogs I’ve looked after. It’s very personal, very motivating, and once I made the decision to step off the corporate track entirely, I’ve never been happier. I went to school and enjoy going to class. This is the most fundamental experience I have ever had.

In two years, when I finish my studies, I will have the opportunity to take my dogs, pack my things and go where the animals need my help. And I plan to do this for the rest of my life.”

Leave abusive relationships behind

Meet Jenna and Dany

Life changed radically for Jenna long before she got a dog. “A year after my divorce from my abusive husband, I still had a lot of mental health issues. I could wake up in the middle of the night in a panic, thinking that he was at my house. I walked down the street, constantly looking over my shoulder or flinching at the slightest sound, I had an anxiety disorder, depression and PTSD. I took medication and went to a therapist, but it was still difficult for me to go to work. I was destroying myself,” says Jenna.

Someone suggested that she get a dog to help her adjust to her new life. “I thought it was the worst idea: I couldn’t even take care of myself.” But Jenna adopted a puppy named Dany – after Daenerys from the “Game of Thrones”, although, as Jenna says, she usually calls her Dan.

Life began to change again with the advent of a puppy in her house. “I quit smoking right away because she was so tiny and I didn’t want her to get sick,” Jenna says. Dany was the reason I had to wake up in the morning. Her whining as she asked to go outside was my motivation to get out of bed. But this was not all. Dan was always with me wherever I went. Suddenly, I realized that I stopped waking up at night and no longer walk around, constantly looking around. Life began to improve.”

Dogs have an amazing ability to bring changes into our lives that we never dreamed of. These are just four examples of how having a pet has had a huge impact on someone’s life, and there are countless stories like that. Have you caught yourself thinking, “Did my dog ​​change my life?” If so, just remember that you made a big difference in her life too. You both found your real family!