4 of 110

Write now Article Tools

As a young girl, I was afraid. Fear was part of my daily life; fear of school, fear of ridicule, fear of something bad happening to my family, fear of not having a home to live in. The continual stress of our home life caused me such anxiety and depression, which developed into what I now know as OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).

One of my greatest desires when I was young was to have my own dog. We had an old decrepit cat that I loved dearly, she waited at the bus stop for me to come home in the afternoon and was clearly fond of me. But a cat is not the companion I yearned for; the constant unconditional love, the friend to take for walks, the pure love of a dog to watch over me.

When I was old enough to have a little job for extra cash, my mother told me I could get a dog. We could not afford another mouth to feed otherwise. So the search for a dog began.
It didn't take long.......I found Sammie 2 miles from where I lived.

A simple sign that said "FREE PUPPIES" spoke volumes, and with my heart in my throat I stood in a veritable junkyard while 2 black puppies jostled each other for attention, and a third, a brindle bear cub of a pup, sat and watched me cautiously. The owner of the pups told me that she was shy and timid and that she probably wouldn't find a home for her, since she was afraid of people. I had eyes only for the brindle, and when she came over and sat on my feet, my heart was lost.

Sammie was the light of my life from that moment on. My fears of school diminished as I looked forward to going home to be with my wonderful dog. My worries over my family faded as I knew Sammie was home with my mother to watch over her. My fear of having to move away disappeared; home was where Sammie was, and nothing else mattered. Friends came and went, but she was constant. She loved me with such strength that I was overwhelmed; who knew that this angel of a dog would come to me, and show me that there was such beauty in the world as the friendship of a dog?

Sammie was the turning point in my life, and with her by my side I turned from a shy and fearful child to a confident and happy young woman.

She was by my side for 13 years, and she saw me married with 2 babies before it was her time to leave me. The heartbreak of having to put her to sleep to end her suffering was unparalled to any grief I had ever known before. She had given me a gift, she had eased my heart and mind, I felt I would never be the same again without her with me.

Sammie walks by my side, in spirit. And at those times when the old fears and obsessive thoughts threaten to cloud my mind, I step back so she can catch up to me.

Learn more about this author, D. Ashley.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Memoirs: Personal experiences with the healing power of dogs?
We want to hear your view. Write now!