Today is National Love Your Pet Day. Pets bring so much love and companionship to many peoples’ lives. Their unconditional love is a reminder to us humans that maybe we should forget more about the past and savor each moment in the present. Their companionship keeps us from getting lonely. Who else will tolerate us rambling on and on while just being happy to be with us?
For those that know me, you’ve witnessed all the Standard Poodles we’ve had over the years. It all started when my oldest daughter was just five and became frightened by the German Shepherd that lived across the street. Stein would run as fast as he could to come see my daughter and stop within inches of her face. He would never hurt her, but it scared her to death. I didn’t want her to become afraid of dogs, so we felt it was time we got one of our own.
My daughter had asthma, so we talked to the doctor before making any moves. He advised against getting a dog, but he also realized we probably would ignore his advice and do it anyhow, so he said if we were going to do it, we should consider either a Poodle or a Schnauzer. These two dogs cause less allergy problems than others.
A good friend of ours showed dogs, so we went to her for advice. She encouraged us to attend a dog show so we could see all the breeds together in one place. We did so and immediately fell in love with the Standard Poodle, not only for their beauty, but also because of their high intelligence.
Shortly thereafter, we bought Chelsea. Although Chelsea was show-quality, we never had any intentions of showing her. That changed, however, when so many people told us we should show her. With the help of our friend, we took Chelsea to a Puppy Match where she went on to win among over 400 entries. We became hooked.
We began showing Chelsea in AKC sanctioned shows and she did okay, but she was now going up against a lot of stiff competition. We ran into the owner of Chelsea’s stud and he also helped us, but advised us if we really wanted to get into showing, we needed a higher-quality dog. That’s when we bought Luna. Luna went on to become the Number 9 Standard Poodle in the country.
We had one litter out of Chelsea and one litter out of Luna. From this, we saw many champions, but more importantly, our dogs touched the lives of all those that adopted them. All of those dogs have since passed. We now have two rescued Standard Poodles and they are my best friends.
There was a time when my wife was living in a home we purchased for retirement in North Carolina, while I was still working in Iowa and getting ready to retire. Those were the loneliest times of my life. Not only did I not have family, but I also didn’t have a dog. I had become so used to being greeted at the door or having one of them think they were a lap dog as they curled up on my lap, that it felt empty. I just kept looking forward to being able to have a dog around once again.
We’re now living in Louisiana with our two rescues, Oakley and Teeter. They keep me busy with their antics and our daily walks. They are my therapy dogs. They’ve never had therapy training, but it just comes naturally for most dogs. They know exactly what we want and need.
With Myasthenia Gravis, I need the kind of therapy my dogs provide. They keep me active with our walks and they comfort me when they can tell I’m down. They’ll cuddle up next to me on the couch or lay at my feet when I just need them around. They make me feel wanted and loved.
Owning a pet isn’t practical for everyone, but if you can handle it, the rewards far exceed the effort. While a young puppy can be a handful, there are plenty of older rescues that are just looking for that special person to love and support.
If you have a pet, make sure you let them know how much you love them today. If you don’t and it would work for you and your situation, then you may want to think about getting one. Having a dog, a cat, a bird or any kind of animal around is therapeutic and comfort for your soul.
If you’re unable to have a pet, then make friends with someone who does. Joining them on a walk or having them lay at your feet during a visit may be all you need to feel the love.
With Myasthenia Gravis, it’s so easy to get down and focus on your troubles, your aches, your pains and the discomforts. A pet may help you channel your focus onto something more positive, the love and affection your pet is offering and hope you will return.
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