Someone who has never had a pet, especially a dog, will never understand the power that a single animal can have in your life.
Overnight, a dog can make the most depressed person into a much happier human being that wakes up with a smile on their face when they see a big fluffy pile of fur on the pillow next to them. A dog is a big responsibility, but if you are willing to tackle that head on, adopting one will most certainly be the best decision of your life.
A little over a year ago our family dog passed away at only four or so years old. It took a toll on all of us. We were blindsided when it happened and I was distraught. Jessie, our old dog, was my absolute best friend. From day one when I comforted her on the ride home from her adoption, we bonded beyond belief. Everywhere I went, she was by my side and I absolutely loved every second of it. Jessie ate, slept, and breathed for me and my family. Not a single day went by where she did not dig herself deeper into our hearts.
After she passed away, I went into a mini downward spiral.
This dog was my life and now she was not in it. Even though for the past year I was away at school and did not see her much, I still knew that she would be home with a smile once I opened the door to my house. I stopped sleeping, no matter where I was, at a friends, at school, and especially at home. I lost a lot of focus on school work. Nothing really mattered too much to me at that point. My parents saw it. My friends saw it. And at that moment, there was nothing anyone could do to help me.
For months I was on autopilot, going from class to class without really paying too much attention. Even when I hung out with friends I did not feel like I was really there. I could not get past the fact that my best friend was not going to be there the next time I walked through the door back home. It took well over a year for me to become more comfortable without having a dog around all the time. However, no matter what happens, nothing, be it a cat, dog or even a relationship. Dogs find a way to your heart unlike all else in this world and nothing can replace that.
Flash forward to today, and I have just recently rescued yet another dog from a shelter. He is nothing like Jessie, and I do believe that it is for the better. I did not want to replace Jessie. I am not expecting to have Brody fill in where Jessie left off. I am at a point in my life where I am ready to start making new memories with a new best friend. So far, I can feel myself being happier and more upbeat than I was just a week ago. There is no better feeling than walking into a room and see your dog's tail wag uncontrollably until you go over and rub his belly. No matter how sad, upset, or angry you are, it all melts away at the touch of their soft fur.
To say that my dog saved my life is an understatement. Was I in such bad shape that my family feared for me? Maybe right after we lost our past dog, but not in recent months. However, I can already feel myself becoming a better person. A more responsible and caring person, much like I was when we had Jessie in our lives. I cannot explain how excited I am to start a new chapter of my life with another rescue to partner me along the way. I am ready to make new memories and live a new lifestyle with a dog at my side through college and hopefully for many years to come.
Can something as simple as a dog save a life? You tell me, but I know for a fact that without a dog in my life, I would be much more empty than I am now. If I continued to just get by and not care about much, would I really be living at all? If you do not believe me, ask anyone you know who has a dog and I promise you, once you ask them about their pet, their eyes will light up and an uncontrollable smile will cover their face.
P.S. If you are going to adopt a dog, rescue one from a shelter! They are the sweetest, most caring dogs on the entire planet and they know that you are saving their lives, that is what makes them pay it forward and save yours!
