Asking for Help is a Sign of Strength
Senior dog Bernadette @ DDR kennel
As I write this blog post at my desk in the DDR kennel, I hear a few of the dogs barking, reminding me as if I need a reminder) that dinner time is now! My turn to take care of the dogs is every evening, except Sundays when Noemi takes over. The nightly routine of feeding and preparing them all for bed gives my life purpose. I never tire of seeing how excited the dogs get just before the food bowls come out of the kitchen. Their unwavering trust in me and all of their wonderful daily caregivers (Jenny, Shyann, Debbie, and Daniel) is constantly displayed by their wagging tails, zoomies, and puppy-like energy, even in the senior dogs.
Kobe has been in our adoption program 3+ years
I appreciate our kennel crew, not just for the work they do with the dogs, but also the opportunity they offer me to grow spiritually as I learn to trust people more, one day at a time. Writing my thoughts really reminds me that I have always had trust issues which prevented me from experiencing all the joy in life that I deserve. Until recently, I did not understand that I could be happy on a daily basis. There was always part of me preparing for the time when someone was going to disappoint me or let me down. That is what I believed most people did if I allowed them into my life.
Growing up with a father who was diagnosed as bipolar, I learned to be quiet, helpful, and kind, and not to cause problems. I never trusted anyone to be there for me when I needed help. From an early age, it was always easier to take care of everything on my own as this gave me a sense of control over my life. No matter how much my dad tried to be “normal”, he couldn’t. Violent mood swings followed by depression resulted in an often chaotic existence. The one solid part of my life was my German Shepherd, Heidi, who was always there for me – in good and bad times – licking away my tears and making me laugh. She and I had a magical bond that no one understood.
Maybe that is the reason I have always had a fascination and love for dogs since I was four years old. Dogs are exactly who they are. They do not make promises they won’t keep. As anyone who has ever lived with a pet knows, their love for us is unconditional, as is their trust in us. I always wished I could trust people as a dog does rather than the person I grew up to be. Even when someone has “proven their loyalty” to me over months or even years, there has always been a thought in my mind that perhaps this will not […]