Ptsd And Pets

[Blondie362]

I don't know about anyone else but for years since the age of 5, I have always rescued little animals, drove my mum mad bringing home wounded pets, strays etc... I was thinking the other day about how my relationships with all my animals has kept me sane ( in the normal sense lol), and by that I mean they gave/give me the reason to keep going on days that I think I am going to break.

My relationships with other kids when I was young , then adults was always hard and i felt isolated, but my relationship with animals that needed help came naturally, even today I have 5 dogs and 4 cats with people still bringing me animals to help nurse back to health.

Animals don't ask for anything, they want nothing from you except love , its unconditional does anyone else connect better with your pets than people?

There must be a subconscious motivation as I always end up helping the animals with emotional and behavioural issues, which I work with , most of whom have also been abused.

The pets I have with me now, know my moods and when I am down, there is nothing nicer than a snuggle and a greeting waggy tail and loving little eyes wanting you for who you are, not what society expects you to be.

I would be interested to hear how other people who have pets relate to their animals over humans.. or is it just me??
Katye x

 

[Sues]

I've always like animals a lot better than people. You know what to expect from animals, people, eh.

I was at court today for a restraining order and it's been a very stressful few days. There was a woman there with a service dog waiting in the hallway. That little dog came right up to me and I pet him and it made me calm down a little and feel better.

I think animals are awesome like that. I can't wait until I can have dogs of my own.

 

[Smushroom]

I am the same. I was always bringing home animals and nursing them back to health. I used to live near a river and people would set fish nets and crab traps. Every afternoon, I would sneak down and let all the crabs out of the traps, I couldn't bear to see them killed.

I have cats and horses now, and feel more comfortable, safe and loved around them. I have so much love to give, but can't give any of that to humans. I can't show them I'm weak or vulnerable, but animals don't judge!

I go and rescue a horse or two from the doggers (where they are sent to be turned into dog food or meat for human consumption), nurse them back to health and move them on to loving homes, and I'll go and rescue a few more again. It may not be making much of a difference, because so many are killed, but to that one horse, it means life! And the love and acceptance I get from these animals is worth more than diamonds or gold to me.

Give me animals any day!

 

[AngelKeeperJ]

My "Buddy" is my best friend! I've had him for over 13 years, and he's 'winding down'. But he sleeps at the foot of my bed every night. Poor guy is losing his sight, and is fairly deaf, but he still runs circles every time I come home, and no one else ever did that!

His favorite thing...FOOD...mine, too!!

 

[Britt.f7]

I was that same kid, I brought dogs home all the time. One dog I brought home kept coming every time my mom called my name, when my mom called the owners we found out her name was Britt, same as mine.

The first pet I had when I was able to move out of the house was a cat. Normally, I didn't think I was into cats. However, I really wanted a pet. She became my life line. She picked up on all of my moods. I had her for about 16 years. She was there through both of my boys. She did wonder why I brought them home, but she was good with them and watched over them.

Since then I have had a couple more cats and a few more dogs over the years. All but one of them were from a shelter. I will not go without a pet. My husband has limited me because, due to my health, he has to take care of them. I have two dogs and two cats (and two boys, do they count? ;)).

One of the cats and one of the dogs are the most attentive to me. They both come to me and comfort me when needed. When I am sick, my cat follows me and stays near by. My dog does the same. If I'm scared and feeling unlovable, they pay attention to me. I am very blessed.

 

[Bill Dickerson]

I always relax when I'm around my dogs. Part of it is I think is I can let my guard down a little since I know they will let me know if someone is around. There isn't any threat but I'm still hypervigilant. The symptoms can be a pain in the a$$ and wear you out. I know the dogs would perceive a problem before I would so I can relax a little. I guess no evil can sneak up on me when they are around.

 

[Britt.f7]

That reminds me, I loved having my bigger dogs around. Though I'm in a fairly rural area, we have a lot of traffic up and down our road and I live close to the street. I would take walks with them out in the middle of no where and not be afraid. They were two great danes. I always felt safe.

Now that I have a medium size dog(in comparison to the danes) and a small dog, I don't feel as secure. I don't walk them, my husband does. Not because I don't want to walk them but because I don't feel safe. I have to say, though, it is usually the little one who growls and starts to bark if she hears anything out of the ordinary.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Britt, I think the little dogs are the more intense barkers. For the longest time my little dog did not bark but she is starting to do that now with people she does not know. She is a friendly little beastie.

 

[Britt.f7]

Gizmo, I think she may sound a little threatening with that growl, and that high pitch bark might hurt their ears, but, I'm pretty sure, she would just lick them to death. :roflmao:

 

[Deleted member 12723]

LOL:roflmao:

 

[Bill Dickerson]

Small dogs are the best alarms systems around.

 

[aka]

I have always been able to understand and connect better with animals than people. People are so complicated but animals, what you see is what you get. There is no worrying about being deceived or being judged by them. I have a standard poodle who is my guard dog and a black kitty who is my bed companion. Both help me to get through each day. :)