I'm staying alive for my dog and my cat

[BlueKota]

38. The companionship of pets certainly helps.

One of my dogs Riggs passed away a few years after I was diagnosed with depression. My Mom was heart broken because she and Riggs were bonded like glue. She didn't want us to get another one because the pain of loosing him was hard for her.

My therapist actually called her and said, "I understand your pain, but your daughter needs to have a dog to make her feel safe and needed. She loved Riggs and misses him to , but she told me he and the cats, are her main source of purpose in life. She needs them." My Mom listened and let me get Maxie, who helped me get through loosing my Mom. Then after Maxie passed, I got Marnie, and after she passed my Dakota. I have accepted he will be my last shepherd because now my sister and I are both in our sixties it's getting kind of difficult to handle a big dog. If Dakota where younger I am not sure we could still do it. He's six. I hope he stays with me for a number of years. I am open towards adopting a smaller one, if I outlive him, but I am particularly in love with GSDs because they have always made me feel so safe and loved.