& How it helped me cope with the loss of my own dog.
One of the few good things that happened in 2020 was that I got to spend an entire year at home with my elderly Labrador, Daisy. In February of that year, the vet called with devastating news: my loyal companion of 11 years had cancer. As a college student dealing with the onslaught of Zoom classes, her calming presence made the pandemic bearable.
It’s not just me — researchers have verified the positive effects owning a dog can have on your well-being. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), dogs are proven to “reduce stress, anxiety and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and improve your all-around health.” You can’t underestimate the healing power of a cuddly canine friend, especially when millions of people are experiencing this period of isolation.
My beloved Labrador, Daisy, waiting patiently to go on a walk in 2017.
After Daisy’s passing, my mother suggested I take up dog walking. Not only would I be spending time with some adorable pooches, but I would also be making money (I charged $12 for every 30 minute walk). I decided to give it a shot.
Within a few hours of my post on the neighborhood platform Nextdoor, five dog owners in the area had contacted me. Once I narrowed down my list of prospective clients based on distance, I settled on a proposal that looked promising: only an 18 minute walk from my house was a family that needed someone to walk their Golden Retriever.
At six years old, the family’s dog was overweight at a whopping 85 pounds. For reference, the American Kennel Club lists 55-65 pounds as the average weight for a female Golden Retriever. Like humans, obesity can lead to numerous digestive and heart problems for dogs. Despite the fact that my own dog had never weighed more than 68 pounds, and I didn’t have any experience with canine obesity, I saw a real opportunity to improve this pup’s quality of life.
The first two weeks were difficult as a combination of summer heat and unfamiliarity caused the Retriever to be uncooperative. After she got more accustomed to my presence, she allowed me to take her on longer walks and in return she received treats and belly rubs.
Two months have passed since our first walk, and I see a definite improvement in my walking companion. In addition to having lost weight, she now looks forward to her walks and seems generally happier — not to say that the positive outcome is one-sided.
After all, dog walking has helped me come to terms with my loss. While I will always live with a Daisy-shaped hole in my heart, I’m able to keep her memory alive by making other dogs as happy as she once made me.