Puppy Love

I was determined not to get involved. I had warned my friends there were to be no blind dates. One friend had other ideas and introduced me to Sally – against my better judgment, I was immediately struck by her dark eyes and strangely beguiled by that messy fringe of hers. Yet what really hooked me was her air of vulnerability. I wanted to take her home and be her protector. 

She was a small, purebred Maltese Terrier - only 18 months old - though in her short life had already been to hell and back. She had been starved, mistreated and neglected. A friend thought she was perfect for me. I felt I knew better. After all, I knew something about dogs. I had grown up with pet dogs – they were good, easy-going dogs. Here, I was being presented with one who had sizable ‘issues’. Whatever misgivings I might have had about Sally, something in those deep black eyes told me we were meant to be together. And, yes, she did come to live with me and for the next 16 and a half years, was a very dear member of my family. 

In those early days, knowing her past history, I congratulated myself for providing sanctuary to this poor homeless waif. But, it wasn’t too long before I realized that Sally had turned the tables and was giving me the unconditional love that I desperately needed. The bond that we have with our pets can have a far-reaching effect on our emotional wellbeing and overall health, in my household the ripple effect from Sally was undeniable. 

More than any other animal, dogs have evolved to become acutely attuned to humans, to both our behaviour and emotions. Dogs are capable of understanding many words we use and they’re even better at interpreting our tone of voice, body language and gestures. Often better than a good human friend, a loyal dog can gauge our emotional state and seemingly understand what we are feeling. 

I was happy to have Sally beside me, not just at home but also during my workshops where I worked with people on workplace issues such as effective communication, power imbalances and dealing with stress. She became my little mascot. I would put her basket in the room, she would sit in it for a time, peruse the room with all the participants there and then, suddenly, she was off. She would go up to someone, sit and wait. She would look at them with those piercing black eyes of hers and communicate some deep message, beyond intellect or ego. Sometimes the person would say, “I’m not a dog person” or “what does she want?” I saw these surface irritations for what they were and ignored them. Sally, I knew, would do her thing. Invariably, she would end up in the very lap of that person and would stay with them until she knew she had done her job. Sometimes an hour, sometimes the whole day. Better than any of us, I felt she knew just what was needed for that person and I left her to it. Animals, particularly dogs and cats, have the power to help us stay present and soak up the unconditional love that only they can give. 

Last year I had to farewell my beloved Sally. She had come into my life from a rescue home, a little orphan in need of love and attention but ended up giving so much more. Like Sally, many of us are crying out for love yet we wait for the perfect person or the perfect time. What Sally knew, when it came to love, she was always fully present - for the perfect time for love is always in the now.