WRITE TEAM: My dogs are my therapy

When sad or feeling the blues, pets help comfort

I never really enjoyed the responsibility that having a dog entailed until I turned 30 and began to appreciate the company a dog could bring. Little did I know that my new-found love for dogs would bring a sense of calm and amusement to my life that I desperately needed.

On a last-minute trip to Ikea, I came across a flier for puppies and decided to take a closer look. As a family, we had casually entertained the idea of a dog, but after a few trips to the local animal shelters and scouring the internet for a puppy who would fit our family perfectly, we hadn’t found what we were looking for.

Until then.

When we got into the area where we could mingle with the puppy, we immediately knew this long-haired dachshund in front of us was different. He was fluffy, well-mannered and as we continued to get to know him, we learned he had been adopted at one point, but had been returned for one reason or another. While we were a little interested in what the details of that return had been about, we decided to take the plunge and take Russell home.

He fit into our lives seamlessly. He potty-trained easily, played well with Kennedy and slept mostly through the night. He loved walks, cuddling and it was clear to see that he was good for all of us. After moving into a new home and spending some time away from Russell for work and sporting events, we decided to look into getting a brother for him.

Along came Kevin, my Valentine’s Day pupper. Where Russell loves to play and wrestle, Kevin loves to eat, sleep and cuddle. He is calm and quiet and generally calms me down as well. I had no idea the positive calming effect these two would have on me. While it is sometimes hard for me to sit down and relax and be contemplative, these puppers have helped me to enjoy a quiet moment with them on my lap. J.J. came along soon after and now we have three beautiful and fun dachshunds that keep us busy and on our toes. I am partial to Kevin, because he favors and cuddles me the most, but I love each of their different personalities.

While I am a strong proponent of normalizing therapy and having therapy accessible for all people, I have found that these dogs have become my version of therapy. When I am sad or feeling the blues, they are there to cuddle and generally make me feel better. When I feel lazy or unmotivated, they remind me it’s time for a walk and get me outside. I continually try to make sure they are healthy, taken care of and of course, have enough sweaters and toys for the apocalypse.

I now understand the bond people have with their dogs and appreciate the new relationships with my own dogs. Russell, Kevin and J.J. have been the most wonderful blessings and I am honored to be their fur-mama.

Bethany Zavada is a resident of Streator and English teacher at Putnam County High School. She loves to geocache with her family, cuddle her three adorable dachshunds and all things Harry Potter. She can be reached at tsloup@shawmedia.com.