Should You Get A Dog?
It is not for everyone, though it ought to be.
A year into raising a puppy unexpectedly, and reaping tremendous joy from the process, I can certainly vouch for the value that having a dog will add to one’s short life. I hope you get one, or better yet adopt one, especially if you are sometimes constrained by mental health challenges.
But raising a dog is no mean feat. It is, in many ways, like raising a child. I have known this for years, which is why I had never gotten a dog of my own. The dog I have now, a 1-year old Maltipoo named Billy — is an inheritance. Had the dog’s master — my dad — not passed, I would probably still be dogless.
That would have been unfortunate. The benefits I now reap from my furry friend far outweigh the costs. I am easily the happiest version of myself when I am with Billy. He made me realize that what sustains me is having something in my life that I am able to keep alive. And because I am with him every single day, I feel untouchable. That is no small thing when all our lives are pock-marked with various forms of struggle.
The reality is, like any relationship, there are attendant costs and compromises. My dog’s meager demands have forced me to rethink and reformat the way I live and work. I have become so attached to Billy, my most loyal friend who has helped me overcome unexpected grief and…
