Something to think about...

Some mornings I just don't want to get out of bed, today was one of them. My Chihuahuas however, had other ideas, they wanted me to get up and Mickey let me know it in no uncertain terms by burrowing to the end of my bed under the covers and biting my big toe! Now before you go off half cocked thinking my baby boy is aggressive let me explain something to you. I suffer from clinical depression, and my Chihuahuas Mickey and Minnie are my therapy dogs. It is their job to get my butt out of bed in the morning, and to get me moving so I will not allow the depression to take hold and stay in bed all day.

Many people scoff at the idea of two pint sized Chihuahuas as therapy dogs but they have done me a world of good. While there are still some days that I stay in my PJs all day (it's okay I work from home most of the time) for the most part I have been much better since adding these two little furry doctors to my pack. Some days they are literally the only reason I get out of bed in the morning. Just having them in my life has changed things immensely. There was a time I would have shied away from being so open and honest about who I am and what I do for fear of criticism. I no longer feel that way, and the credit goes to my Chihuahuas, two little dogs whose previous owners didn't think they were worth much. When I look into those trusting eyes I know I am loved, and that is something that is worth more to me than my weight in gold.

I had never had Chihuahuas in my pack until Minnie came along. Truth be told, most of the Chihuahuas I had encountered before Minnie were snarly snappy little beasts, and I always thought it was a breed trait. I was wrong, it was a lack of training thing. Chihuahuas are the most loving little dogs you have ever met when raised properly. Our Mickey hardly ever barks and when he does you know there is a reason.

I am not sure why two little Chihuahuas are able to keep my depression at bay. Perhaps it is their quirky funny personalities, always doing things that have me laughing hysterically. It's hard to be depressed when you can't stop laughing. Or perhaps it is the way they look up at me with love and loyalty in their eyes almost as if they are saying "Don't worry Mom, we're right here with you." Whatever the reason, I know (and I am sure my husband would gladly tell you) that their presence has changed me. My moods don't swing in the same large arch they used to, I am more balanced more predictable, and I hardly ever burst into tears over nothing anymore.

Why am I telling you all of this? Firstly, because we as a society don't want to talk about mental illness, we would rather sweep it under the rug and pretend it doesn't happen. We would rather millions of people suffer in silence than talk about something that affects people regardless of race, religion, or social status. We prefer people to think that depression is something that only affects the poverty stricken, or the homeless. We act as if people with decent jobs and no money troubles never become depressed, and that simply isn't true. Depression can affect anyone, I am just fortunate to have found a way to deal with it.

Secondly, I handle my depression by staying close to my two little therapy dogs. While this is not a solution that will work for everyone, it will work for many. So, why are we as a society not trying to implement this solution on a larger scale? Therapy dogs of all sizes can be taught to help people with many different medical issues. Not all working dogs have to be large breed, although that is what we are lead to believe. Naturally for some jobs a dog's size is important, but small breed dogs can do the job just as well in some cases. Not all working dogs have to be pure breds either, although many agencies which train dogs to work with human insist they have to breed their own stock. This is a fallacy as many of the dogs bred by these agencies don't make the cut and end up as rescues themselves.

So that brings me to the question; why do we not seek dogs for therapy training at shelters or rescue groups? Many people involved in the training of these dogs will tell you it is because therapy dogs must be trained for their jobs from the time they are a puppy. Again a fallacy, there are many dogs in rescue that would fare very well in training as therapy dogs. I know this because not only are my Chihuahuas therapy dogs, but both are rescues!

Something to think about anyway!

Have a great weekend!