I think I'm ready for another dog. I still miss the old ones & always will, & still grieving the one I lost this past January. But I don't feel like a new dog would be *replacing* him now, which says to me that I could get a new dog now & it'd be OK. I'd still miss the old one but I'd love the new one a ton.
Trouble is I live with someone who's allergic to *everything*, & is disabled w/vestibular issues & a TBI that fucks up their vision. They can't have a dog unless they get their allergies managed, because if it's not managed then the allergies set off their vestibular stuff which sets off the TBI & starts panic attacks & related issues.
They're trying to get disability so they have the resources to treat everything they deal with. The process is going on 3 years now.
Housemate loves dogs & cats & furry & feathered & scaled friends of all kinds, at least - it's just the allergies that are a problem.
Although if they didn't like pets at all I wouldn't be around them.
@Impious_Jade maybe until they’re able to manage their allergies you could volunteer at a rescue or shelter. My Gson did and it helped him a lot, helped the dogs and of course brought him a new best friend.
@NorCalCherylLyn Yeah I've been thinking about heading over to the local Humane Society shelter to see about getting a dog fix. I also need to find a 2nd job & am looking at dog daycares to see if any are hiring.
@Impious_Jade that would help the need for puppy kisses.
@Wbtphdjd Thanks. Yeah they finally got an attorney in September when they visited the SS office in person and found out they'd been denied *in JUNE* and nobody told them. The SS office worker told them what the next steps are, and pointed them to the disability atty's office literally across the hall. I think they're in good hands now.
@Impious_Jade There's always a fear when you're depressed that you're not good enough to get love because of your depressiveness.
Dogs don't play that. They instead give us something to live up to.
@AskTheDevil YES. Dogs don't even care, they just love you. & they seem to know when you're down & need care. When I had crying jags my old pup would climb up into my lap and lick my face and *insist* on snuggling. It always helped.
@Impious_Jade you don’t replace the old love with new. You find love again with a new pup. ❤️
@NorCalCherylLyn Exactly! New pup, new love. The old ones teach us how to love the new ones. <3
@Impious_Jade that’s it!! ❤️❤️
@Impious_Jade Someone gave us one of those plaques with the little cutesy sayings.
"It came to me that every time I lose a dog, they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog that comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. Someday, all the components of my heart will be dog and I will be as forgiving and loving as they are."
@AskTheDevil I love that saying.
Plus I've recognized how essential having a dog is to my mental health. I have severe, intractable Major Depressive Disorder (-10/10, do not recommend, this shit sucks) & having a dog seems to provide a kind of emotional support & unconditional love essential to me feeling okay from day to day. Pups don't solve every depression-related issue I have but boy, they're a big part of it.