Healing Journey: Interview with Ana and her dog George

We all know that dogs are the most loyal friend man can ever have. But did you know that they can heal? We all talk about how our pup's smile can make our day better. We also talk about the comfort of cuddling with a dog gives us on bad days. Well, now science also agrees with us.

There have been various studies on the impact of dogs on mental health. One such study undertaken by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) concludes  -87% of Dog owners agree that dogs have a positive impact on mental health       -69% of pet owners agree that dogs help reduce stress and anxiety

We also agree and started talking to amazing dog moms out there. One such dog mom- Ana is here to share her story with us.

Here is where you can follow the shenanigans of George- Instagram. Want know what goes through George's mind here is his twitter account

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Conversation with Ana on her Journey as a Dog Mom

Ana is amazing the dog mom to George, the cutest dog you will ever see. Plus he has his birthday next month. Happy Birthday in Advance George! Ana and George are always there for each other. Let's find out more about their pawsome journey

1. Can you share your journey to becoming a dog parent?

“We have been wanting to adopt a pup for many years but don't get approved for lack of experience. We are first-time dog owners.  We turned to Kijiji, an online advertising website. We found George and instantly fell in love. His photos caught our hearts looking like he needed love and attention. He was with his second owner for only 2 weeks when they sold him to us. Although we bought George, it felt like we rescued him. The first few days of being a first-time dog owner were very challenging. We didn't know he had a lot of issues. He was on medication for heartworm disease. We spent a few sleepless nights as he was probably looking for his original owners and adjusting to us. After a couple of weeks, he settled down with us. Then he started showing some other issues. He was reactive most especially to male strangers and other dogs. We tried everything to help him with his reactivity and separation anxiety: 1 on 1 trainer, online training and reading books to name a few. Our vet even prescribed meds for stressful occasions. After almost 3 years and a lot of ups and downs, we feel that George has come a long way. He is not as reactive to situations. We have learned so much about how to manage him. With a lot of love and socialization with other dogs and people, he is not as reactive anymore. He has endeared himself to our family and made so many dog friends too on social media and in real life."

One can say it was love at first sight for George and Ana! They bonded with each other by being patient and there for each other.  So remember it takes time for your pup to adjust!

2. Can you share a heartwarming story about you and your pup?

"The reason why we got George was for my daughter to cope with anxiety and panic attacks. The bond she created with George got her through the rough times. George would stay by her side and lick away her tears when she feels overwhelmed with emotions." The bond they share shows how much the love of a dog can help us.

3. How does your dog inspire you?

"We have bonded and gotten close with each other as a family ever since we had George. The love and loyalty he has shown us inspired us to be better human beings." Like Ana, we also have to appreciate the love and trust the pup show us after reading more about their journey.

4. If your dog had a superhero alter ego, what superpower would it have?

"George AKA The Flash can zoom and run at incredible speed"  We would love to see the adventures of George as he brings smiles to everyone

5. Any advice for someone thinking of adopting a dog?

Having a dog is a full-time till the end of his/her life responsibility. We may all have our reasons for wanting to adopt or rescue or even buy a furry companion. We can't turn away from this responsibility when life-changing events are happening to us. They only have such short lives. We need to make those years meaningful to them.

"Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever."

From conversations with Ana, one thing is clear the love for dogs one dog parent has is limitless. The loyalty one pup gives to the parent is the reward for it. From bad days with anxiety to good days filled with sunshine George and Ana can face it all as they have each other.

So here is to all the amazing dog moms out there, things may seem hard but as Charlotte said this too shall pass. So cuddle your fur friend and play with them and keep rocking you. We interviewed more dog moms - So to read about Lila and Latisha click here

Want to share your story? Drop us a dm here@petdrifts

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