The Power of A Puppy

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” As a dog enthusiast, this quote by Josh Billings encapsulates the attitude of puppies as a whole. We can almost guarantee that even if you are not a dog owner, you are certainly a dog lover. Dogs are the only animals that can sense the emotions of the people around them. They can sense when you are lonely, when you are going away on a trip, and will jump out of excitement when they sense your radiating happiness. Dogs original purpose in history was to be herders of sheep, cows, and various other animals, demonstrating how they are leaders as well as companions.

For all you anxious readers out there, dogs have been proven to increase a person’s happiness, ultimately affecting mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression in a positive way. They are able to sense your mood, and additionally can assist with physical health, proving that dog owners have lower blood pressure. In the world, these animals are used as Service, Emotional support, and Working animals. Service dogs are allowed to enter any space with their owner, typically assisting people with physical and mental disabilities such as blindness, autism, or epilepsy, alerting their owner when they sense an attack occurring. Emotional support dogs are trained to the specific needs of their owners, assisting them in lowering anxiety and depression levels. You have probably seen a working animal before in an airport or a mall, but these dogs are trained to sniff out public dangers or even sense illnesses such as cancer in patients. Not only are dogs there to support you emotionally, but they can save a life.

While dogs are amazing and loving animals, just like anyone, there have been stigmas placed onto certain breeds. We at The Edge are sure that you have heard about the dangers surrounding pitbulls. While there have been cases where pitbulls have been in the center of violence, these animals are only defending themselves against their pasts. Pitbulls were originally bred to be fighting dogs, and were abused throughout history in dog fights, making them from their survival instincts. Like any animal and any breed, once you show them support and true love, they will take their guards down and give you endless face licks.

For the readers who are interested in learning more about dogs, in need of a stress relief, or just want to play around with a dog for the day, Animal Services in Burlington does an amazing program that is beneficial not only for you, but for the animals as well. You have the opportunity to “adopt a dog for the day,” from dogs who are either up for adoption or in need of a foster home. On any day of the week, you can choose a puppy to take home from 9 am to 5 pm, giving a dog with no home a chance to feel loved.

Whether or not you are an animal lover, dogs are a man's best friend, and can help you through any struggles that you may have. It is important to treat dogs the same way you would with humans, and not judge them by their cover. Every breed is different, some more rowdy than others, but all have the same purpose; to find a forever companion. If you are ever feeling stressed, adopt a dog for the day, and not only put a big smile on your face, but the puppies too.