Pets:emotional Support

[trying2movefwd]

Do you have any pets? My kitten is awesome. I have been down in the dumps feeling like I need a hug. She came up to my neck to snuggle. I smiled and told her (Bella) that I needed that. How have your pets been supportive to you?

 

[Gs172003]

My chickens are fun. They follow me around like puppies:chicken:

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Sure do, a dog and two cats and they are amazing for my mental health! All rescues as well!

 

[Eagle3]

My dogs know when I'm not feeling well or needing extra cuddles. Big dog nestles in close, and little dog snuggles a lot. Both dogs are rescues, one is my retired Service Dog, the other is just an ESA. The little one is 70#. They both do things that make me laugh, and drag me outside for walks.

 

[Gaining-clarity]

I don't know what I would have done without the dogs that I've had. One dog in particular... taught me how to love. Such a beautiful dog. He had such high emotional intelligence. A big dog... Rottie/husky cross. I really don't know what I would have done without that dog. I think he saved my life. I just absolutely love dogs.

I don't have one now, though. I'm trying to connect with people, and if I had a dog I think I would just be to happy to just connect with my dog and leave people in the dust.

 

[watundah]

I had the best cat in the world. He was an 18 pound Tom who died about a year and a half ago. I miss him to pieces.

Cat B is nowhere near as affectionate but still loves petted and brushed on the floor.

New Cat C adopted.to replace Cat A is cute and has moments when he'll lay on my chest for scritches.

No.one will ever replace my big guy, but I love what I get when these two have a lapse and want petted. So it goes with cats. I love their presence and passion for eating and watching TV on the couch. Just a little something we have in common.

 

[Nessa7]

My cat is a rescue, and I spend a lot of time with a rescue dog. I feel like they can relate to what I'm going through. My cat needs me to watch her when she eats, because she is paranoid about other animals attacking her for her food. The dog has to put a lot of effort into socializing because of the bad experiences she has had. It's like my pets also have PTSD, which helps reassure me when I think that no one really understands.

The dog is also great at greeting me extra enthusiastically when I come in after a therapy appointment.

 

[ShodokanJenn]

My husband and I foster kittens for a local no-kill cat rescue. We take the kittens that need to be bottle fed. We have a cat that we adopted from the humane society, and four more cats that we adopted after fostering them and raising them on bottles. My cats make life SO much better. My husband loves them, too. I wouldn't trade them for the world. That said, when the cats are gone, we're not getting any more cats. A dog, yes. But no dog until we're down to at least 3 cats, maybe less.

 

[EveHarrington]

I have a dog.

There was a pig running around the yard and rooting in the ground yesterday. I wanted to keep him but had nowhere to put him. (I'm being serious-------roaming pig! Called the local town cops but they didn't answer. It's just as well, they probably would have thought we were pranking them. Calling the cops about a pig? Take no offense, supposed to be funny!)

 

[trying2movefwd]

That does sound funny. I have heard some do have ESA pigs thst have flown on airplanes. Wouldn't be my choice. "Different Strokes for different folks". :)

 

[watundah]

Pigs are amazingly smart. I quit eating pork because of it. Now I only eat stupid things. :)

 

[sassyannie54]

Two years ago I took my new truck and two dogs on a driving journey that lasted for 10 months traveling around the western USA. I don't travel much right now but when I start packing for a trip they can hardly wait even though they'll be sleeping in cramped quarters most of the day. If I should have to go to the store before we leave on another trip they sit next to each other watching me go out the door with the most dejected and forlorn look, truly pitiful. . We stayed at many motels and I think they began to what I consider was tag team for me. If there was a sound they didn't like the smaller one would bark at the door and the larger one would calmly come and sit right next to me. They are my companions, friends and family. As I was intentionally isolating myself and still frequently do it would be very lonely without them.