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Some of the Many Reasons I Love my Dog

March 22, 2020

My dog, Shaina, is an absolute angel. There are many, many reasons to love having a dog, and I am going to just barely scratch the surface with this post. 

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I have had Shaina as a family pet since I was in elementary school. She is very small, loves being held, and spends most of her days sleeping. She has seen me through all the amazing things in life, like high school graduation, and the not so amazing, like when my grandfather was hospitalized. She is always there to listen and brings my family together even when things are rough or we are fighting. 

One of the best parts of having a dog is getting to relate to other dog owners. In high school and on breaks from college, I get to go on dog walks with my friends and catch up. I get to take long walks with my parents and have friends over whose dogs passed away so they can spend some time reconnecting with a dog. I volunteer at a senior respite care center, and one of my favorite things to do is talk about my dog and show pictures of her. The clients chime in with stories of their own dogs at home and throughout their childhoods. One man even carries a photo in his pocket of his childhood dog at all times, just to keep him close to his heart. My dog brings my grandparents great joy, so we sneak her into hospital rooms and their apartment so make sure they get to see her, since they have not been able to have a dog of their own for almost 50 years. 

My dog is not only a source of joy and emotional support for myself and fellow dog owners, but also brings joy to those who have never had pets before. One of my college friends was incredibly scared of dogs, but my dog seemed the least intimidating, so I sent her pictures and let her meet Shaina from a distance. She never became a dog lover, but Shaina and I started her on her journey to overcoming her fears. I also had Shaina certified to go into nursing homes. I would take her to the Hebrew Home for the elderly and she would sit patiently and be held and pet by people who don’t remember their own childhood pets and who have not seen a dog for years. We also let my mom’s parents watch her, and even though they were not interested in having their own pet, they have started watching lots of other dogs and find comfort in having her be a part of their lives. 

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Currently the world is in lockdown. We are living through history and it is scary. People are seeking out comfort but also trying to maintain some sort of a semblance of regular life, even when totally socially and physically isolated. Seeing my dog, even if it is only on videochat, is incredibly comforting, and my family gets out of the house to walk her each day, get some exercise, and maintain distance while getting to see their neighbors out walking their own dogs. Many dogs act as emotional support animals, even if they are not certified to do so. 

So, what does this have to do with feminism, activism, and the other themes of this course? Honestly, I am not totally sure. My aim in writing this post was to give a glimpse into something I care deeply about and how it impacts my life as well as the lives of others. I am not going to be doing my personal video essay on my dog, but she is such a large and important part of my life that I wanted to make sure she was included in the personal aspect of this course in some way to give a better sense of who I am and what I care about. 

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