For my first Best-friend Friday I will focus one of the top reasons to recruit a dog as your best friend, unconditional love. Studies from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America show that in 2016 more than 15 million adults in the United States suffer from depression. Dogs are known to have unconditional love for their best friends. This has a huge effect on people who suffer from depression. An article named "Mood-Boosting Power of Dogs" talks about a dog's impact on depression.
Let me step back for one second. I refer to dogs as best friends because they are more than just a pet that you own. Dogs have a way of sensing emotions and understanding facial expressions of their human best friend. In my own experience, when I am sad, Zeplin snuggles up on my lap to comfort me. He understands that I am in a depressed mood. When I am mad he stands next to me trying to lick my hand or my face, which ever he can reach at the time. He does this until I crack a smile. After I smile he becomes excited because I am starting to be happy again. Most dogs love their people more than they love themselves. This is unconditional love. Whenever I need a friend I always know I can count on Zeplin.
Unconditional love is a special thing to have. I wouldn't say I suffered from depression, but I had my moments. In every one of those moments I turned to my best-friend.
In conclusion of all of my Best-friend Friday posts I will supply a link to a pet adoption website that I believe can be helpful to people looking to adopt a dog. Think of this, for every person that suffers from depression there is a best-friend that is waiting to be adopted to comfort them. This weeks featured adoption site is The Shelter Project.
The image above features Zeplin showing love to my girlfriend while she is trying to take a nap.
I'm not a big fan of dogs unless they're really small. But it's really sweet how your dog is your best friend. I'm hoping to someday get a dog, I haven't made up my mind quite yet. But after reading your blog I think I might get one. Looking forward to the links to the adoption places. Great blog.
ReplyDeleteI love that you include links to adoption sites. I've always had a dog growing up, and I can't imagine life without them. I have a German Shepard who weighs as much as I do (literally) and still thinks he's a lap dog. He's my thunderstorm buddy.
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