I just wanted to add - during the height of the pandemic - well suffice it to say nurses were suffering ptsd & it was most interesting & telling - a dog post on IG was a therapy dog for hundreds of nurses coz we could take a wee break & look at this one dog in particular whose soul purpose from her wildlife photographer owner was to provide " oxytocin" to those who needed it. Dogs are truly wonderful🐾
I have four friends all first responders & all have ptsd - the toll their work takes is beyond words. This captures their worlds pawfectly.
How wonderful that dogs have such a profound impact - doesnt surprise me - dogs raise oxytocin levels & that connection between dog & human is real. Therapy dogs are special.
Thank you as always for sharing -- All you do Kerry raises oxytocin levels. 🐾
Thank you so much for this insightful guest article, Christy. I was married to a firefighter for 12 years. The first year, he went to the hospital to check on any patients he’d helped, comforted or saved the shift before. Then one day, he stopped going. He stopped telling me about his shift, the horrifying things he saw and the terrifying things he did. He did indeed put everything in that box and never, ever opened it. We began having problems in our marriage. He built a very successful business and when he wasn’t on shift, he worked tirelessly and wasn’t home much. He had family of origin issues and that was the oldest and fullest box. We married in 1981 and divorced in 1993. We were amicable after a few years and then became friends after that. When he was 57, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He put it in a box. He ultimately passed away when he was 60. I am positive the stress, the divorce, the cancer, the ability to stuff that box as full as he could all contributed to his death, if not downright caused it. How I wish I knew then what I know now, thanks to your article.
I am so sorry for your loss and everything you have gone through. Your story is one that I hear way too often. I hope you know that there is nothing you could have done to save him from his demons. We have to ask for help and want help. There is just no other way around it. Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you, Christy. It took me a long time to finally accept that I can’t control people, places or things. Please keep sharing that there IS help for mental health and mental illness (two different things, as I’ve learned in my own mental health journey)!
Thank you for being so open, transparent, and vulnerable in sharing your story. It gives me a much better understanding of the folks we visit with our therapy dogs and how to be a better partner for our dogs.
An incredibly well written story. Thank you for sharing on such a personal level. I am grateful for first responders every day. I have never been in the role and a story like this increases awareness. Thank you.
I just wanted to add - during the height of the pandemic - well suffice it to say nurses were suffering ptsd & it was most interesting & telling - a dog post on IG was a therapy dog for hundreds of nurses coz we could take a wee break & look at this one dog in particular whose soul purpose from her wildlife photographer owner was to provide " oxytocin" to those who needed it. Dogs are truly wonderful🐾
I heard that a lot during that time - YOU are all heroes too!
It was a strange awful time -- bless the dogs who helped us all🐾
What a powerful article Kerry! Thank you sharing and continuing to educate us in the gift that DOGS are!!
This article is amazing! I am not a first responder, but my family & I have experienced the "therapy" from a beloved pet. Dogs are the best!!
Thank you so much for sharing this insightful perspective.
Excellent and well written article. Thankyou for sharing!
Thank you for sharing! Really great to read and understand how helpful dogs can be.
What an important perspective. Thanks for sharing this!!
Excellent! Wonderful insight ..
I have four friends all first responders & all have ptsd - the toll their work takes is beyond words. This captures their worlds pawfectly.
How wonderful that dogs have such a profound impact - doesnt surprise me - dogs raise oxytocin levels & that connection between dog & human is real. Therapy dogs are special.
Thank you as always for sharing -- All you do Kerry raises oxytocin levels. 🐾
Thank you so much for this insightful guest article, Christy. I was married to a firefighter for 12 years. The first year, he went to the hospital to check on any patients he’d helped, comforted or saved the shift before. Then one day, he stopped going. He stopped telling me about his shift, the horrifying things he saw and the terrifying things he did. He did indeed put everything in that box and never, ever opened it. We began having problems in our marriage. He built a very successful business and when he wasn’t on shift, he worked tirelessly and wasn’t home much. He had family of origin issues and that was the oldest and fullest box. We married in 1981 and divorced in 1993. We were amicable after a few years and then became friends after that. When he was 57, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He put it in a box. He ultimately passed away when he was 60. I am positive the stress, the divorce, the cancer, the ability to stuff that box as full as he could all contributed to his death, if not downright caused it. How I wish I knew then what I know now, thanks to your article.
I am so sorry for your loss and everything you have gone through. Your story is one that I hear way too often. I hope you know that there is nothing you could have done to save him from his demons. We have to ask for help and want help. There is just no other way around it. Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you, Christy. It took me a long time to finally accept that I can’t control people, places or things. Please keep sharing that there IS help for mental health and mental illness (two different things, as I’ve learned in my own mental health journey)!
So well written, as always. Powerful and impactful and True. Thank you, Christy, and Kerry. Such an important message.🫶🐾💗
Dogs simply are the best! Wonderful article! 🐾♥️🐾♥️🐾♥️
There are not enough superlatives to describe this, so I will just say thank you SO much!!!
Thank you for being so open, transparent, and vulnerable in sharing your story. It gives me a much better understanding of the folks we visit with our therapy dogs and how to be a better partner for our dogs.
I live right next door in Walnut Creek! What breed dog does she have, or can I assume it’s a Golden?!
Harriet just happens to be an English Standard Golden! The bestest dog ever!
Lets face it a dog is the best 💕
An incredibly well written story. Thank you for sharing on such a personal level. I am grateful for first responders every day. I have never been in the role and a story like this increases awareness. Thank you.
Just read this... and Wow. It really makes one stop and think. Thanks to Christy for writing it and to you for sharing it.