@colleenyoung I actually have not had the benefit of having a pet for 11 years, long before my health problems started. I would love to have a dog again but my husband says if I add a pet I will be minus a husband!
JK

JK, @contentandwell

If I were you, I'd keep hubby and forget the dog!

Teresa

We have rescue cats, tho I grew up with a myriad of pets. Two of mine have a limb missing, one is 18, one has lymphoma, and one has IBD! It is such a joy to me to cater to their special needs, and they give love back in spades. Did you know that the frequency of a cats purr is healing? Both to the cat and to the doting owner?

@marylou705
I did not know about the purring and healing connection - but I certainly believe it's true! Great picture

Teresa

@hopeful33250 Yep, that's what I am doing. Sometimes I try to see if I can convince him but he took a good part of caring for our dog and he does not want that again, plus having a pet does impact traveling, not that we travel that frequently.
This is a picture of him when he was a puppy, at our lake cabin with our son who was about 12 at the time.
JK

@contentandwell

Aw - so sweet! Was your son his favorite in the family?

Teresa

@hopeful33250 Teresa, I think he was. We bought the dog for our daughter, she was going through difficult time, lots of angst, but the dog really took to our son, probably because he was more active although he never gave him care like bathing him. The poor little guy, he would be visibly depressed when our son and daughter left for college. It would take about two weeks for him to get back to his cheerful self.
JK

Oh my goodness, it's a Cavalier, aka The Love Sponges....the very best natural therapy and comfort dog. I now have my third. She has passed her AKC therapy test, received her certificate and now takes care of me in so many ways. She also was called into duty for my granddaughter when she was suicidal after being bullied as recommended by her psychiatrist. Amazingly compassionate creatures.

@artscaping When my daughter wanted a dog she and I pored over information about breeds to get a gentle dog and Keller really fit the bill. He was the sweetest dog, loved everyone. They really are a wonderful breed. I hope that now that they are AKC the breed does not get overbred. When we got Keller they were not in AKC and many breeders were opposed to them being in AKC for that reason.
JK

I have always loved and owned dogs - since six years of age. My older brother is a veterinarian, and as I grew up we had many wayward animals in the home. Thorough college, as an adult, and as my husband and I raised five kids, we fostered, adopted and bought dogs.

At age fifty, when severe depression fell from the sky and square into my being, I was personally witness to the healing, active, protective insights embedded in the souls of many dogs.

My personal benefit powered want to provide an opportunity for others to share in the glory.

I now own five different games: two who happily serve as therapy dogs to kids and adults with cancer, as well as kids in an alternative school due to behavioral health challenges.

Words pale. The sumptuous sensation from both feeling the benefit and watching others literally absorb the power is magical.

It is not for all. Not all dogs are appropriate to train for this service Cr. But when the stars align, magic does happen.