Pets and Recovery
Guest
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,262
Great thread! I have a little dog (Cody) a cockapoo. He's my constant companion, always by my side, waits patiently for me to come home when I go out, is VERY smart (knows hundreds of words), sleeps with me in my bed everynight, and also thinks he's a human
When I had many days hungover and could only lie on the couch, he would be constantly by my side and it DID help. What a gift these animals are to us.
I never really neglected him while drinking but he's so sensitive that I could tell he was affected emotionally. He seemed to be scared of me when I drank and would sometimes go hide to be away from me. I never hurt him EVER but I think when I drank I was generally more wild and out of control and he could sense that.
He is one of my motivating factors in staying sober!!! I love him so much -- he's only 2 years old so I hope we have many happy years together.
When I had many days hungover and could only lie on the couch, he would be constantly by my side and it DID help. What a gift these animals are to us.
I never really neglected him while drinking but he's so sensitive that I could tell he was affected emotionally. He seemed to be scared of me when I drank and would sometimes go hide to be away from me. I never hurt him EVER but I think when I drank I was generally more wild and out of control and he could sense that.
He is one of my motivating factors in staying sober!!! I love him so much -- he's only 2 years old so I hope we have many happy years together.
My dogs were a big reason to get and stay sober so I could/would take better care of them. They love me drunk or sober but I love them so much better sober.
And being sober means I can foster a dog at a time for my rescue friend (from whom I got two of my three dogs) so that helps her rescue to help more dogs.
I love my dogs more than I love life itself and will do anything for them to make them happy and healthy. They are my daily therapy and my reason for being - just to give them the best lives possible. One is a 14 yr old beagirl, the second is a 10 yr old blind diabetic shiba inu, and the third and most recent is a shiba inu who just had heartworm treatment and is now heartworm free!! They all sleep with me and love me no matter what. I wouldn't have such a good life if it weren't for my dogs.
Here's my elderly beagirl and my blind shiba
And being sober means I can foster a dog at a time for my rescue friend (from whom I got two of my three dogs) so that helps her rescue to help more dogs.
I love my dogs more than I love life itself and will do anything for them to make them happy and healthy. They are my daily therapy and my reason for being - just to give them the best lives possible. One is a 14 yr old beagirl, the second is a 10 yr old blind diabetic shiba inu, and the third and most recent is a shiba inu who just had heartworm treatment and is now heartworm free!! They all sleep with me and love me no matter what. I wouldn't have such a good life if it weren't for my dogs.
Here's my elderly beagirl and my blind shiba
Awesome! What happy, healthy looking pups you have!
I'm working from home today, so took the dogs to the park in the am...its nice, now that I don't drink I'm making friends at the park:-)
I'm working from home today, so took the dogs to the park in the am...its nice, now that I don't drink I'm making friends at the park:-)
Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,237
Great thread!!!!!!!!!
I love animals!! always have...when I was little I would feed all the strays and the neighbourhood cats!!! I wasn't allowed to have a dog growing up, all my friends had dogs so I played with them,and alot friends had farms so that was even better!!! Now as an adult I have my own pet care business...so I get the pleasure of looking after so many different dogs,cats,birds,hamster,gp's,bunnies... and I have a tuxedo kitty Boo Boo who is 7 who I just adore.... ( my other kitty was hit last week...tore my soul apart) Pets have been my lifesaver..they to me, are fur angels...so full of love and kindness...who give so much and ask for such little in return...my life would be empty without them! So here's to our beloved pets!!!
I love animals!! always have...when I was little I would feed all the strays and the neighbourhood cats!!! I wasn't allowed to have a dog growing up, all my friends had dogs so I played with them,and alot friends had farms so that was even better!!! Now as an adult I have my own pet care business...so I get the pleasure of looking after so many different dogs,cats,birds,hamster,gp's,bunnies... and I have a tuxedo kitty Boo Boo who is 7 who I just adore.... ( my other kitty was hit last week...tore my soul apart) Pets have been my lifesaver..they to me, are fur angels...so full of love and kindness...who give so much and ask for such little in return...my life would be empty without them! So here's to our beloved pets!!!
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: London
Posts: 337
I was such a bad dog owner when drinking heavily that I actually had a visit from the RSPCA (like the ASPCA) for leaving him shut in the hallway with no food or water for an entire day while I was passed out drunk. It really shook me out of it and made me decide to try to get sober again. I love my dog and will never forgive myself for the day (or all the other times I forgot to feed him or walk him) so a lot of my sober time is spent taking much better care of him and giving him a happier life.
Animals are such smart creatures, they can really tell that we're ill when we're drinking. Oscar used to lick me and paw at me to try to get me to wake up and howl constantly while I was puking, he was always whimpering and nervous when I was drunk. I repaid his concern and love by accidentally singing his fur with my cigarettes, leaving bottles around that he'd drink and get sick, falling over him and dropping him. I have a LOT of making up to do!
I know I don't deserve him but I want to become the sober responsible owner that HE deserves. I now walk him daily, groom him twice a day, feed him good food and (most of all) his anxiety levels have gone down and he now comes to me when I call him!
He was there for me when I was drunk and now he's there for me while I'm sober and more importantly *I* am there for him too!
Animals are such smart creatures, they can really tell that we're ill when we're drinking. Oscar used to lick me and paw at me to try to get me to wake up and howl constantly while I was puking, he was always whimpering and nervous when I was drunk. I repaid his concern and love by accidentally singing his fur with my cigarettes, leaving bottles around that he'd drink and get sick, falling over him and dropping him. I have a LOT of making up to do!
I know I don't deserve him but I want to become the sober responsible owner that HE deserves. I now walk him daily, groom him twice a day, feed him good food and (most of all) his anxiety levels have gone down and he now comes to me when I call him!
He was there for me when I was drunk and now he's there for me while I'm sober and more importantly *I* am there for him too!
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