Dogs

Having a strange dog run up and treat me like a long-lost friend is always a wonderful feeling. Add to that having the owner tell me that their dog doesn’t usually like people that much – and I’ll remember the encounter forever. That’s happened to me a few times and I really do cherish each memory, the recollection of which still give me a solid hit of dopamine. I consider a dog’s approval to be the ultimate of approvals.

I’ve been lucky to have had many wonderful dogs in my life. These dogs not only include the few that I’ve owned, but also the many I’ve boarded. For about a year I ran a small dog boarding service from my home, which taught me a lot about dog psychology as well as my own. It’s amazing how much you can learn about yourself from how you relate to dogs. Being a good dog owner doesn’t necessarily make you a good person, but it’s a good start.

I don’t subscribe to any religion, but I find sources of spiritual experiences from many things – mainly nature, space, science, meditation and DOGS. The past couple of years have been particularly challenging for me and I’ve found myself in some difficult situations when it comes to relationships, family and work. Add the isolation and insecurity that COVID has brought about, and I’ve got all the ingredients for a total meltdown. I consider myself to be lucky through it all for a few reasons, the absolute most important being my little dog, Ruby. It almost doesn’t sound right calling her a dog, as she is, by my estimation, the most incredible little creature to have ever existed in the entire universe and beyond. It’s not an exaggeration to say that she’s saved my life. Every day, she makes me laugh and brings joy to everyone she meets (unless you are a soulless, heartless monster…no offence).

She’s not the only dog to have saved my life, and I’m sure she won’t be the last. People find what they think of as ‘God’ in many places, as do I, but it can’t be an accident that the word itself is ‘dog’ spelled backwards.