I never used to understand why people talked about their dogs like they were soulmates. I’d smile politely when a friend shared ten photos of their pup sleeping, or when coworkers left early because “Bella has anxiety.”
Now I get it. Completely.
Two years ago, I hit a low point in my life. I was living alone in Adelaide, working remotely, and barely speaking to another human face-to-face most days. What started as a “temporary break” from socialising became a full routine of quiet, coffee, scrolling, sleep, repeat.
I didn’t feel depressed exactly — just… flat.
One Sunday morning, I went for a walk down by the river just to get out of the house. I passed a local dog adoption stall — one of those pop-up events with rescue groups letting you meet the dogs.
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🐶 View Portrait Styles →That’s when I met Daisy.
She was this skinny little brown-and-white mutt, part Whippet maybe, with huge eyes and a nervous tail wag. She wasn’t jumping or barking like the others. She just looked at me like she already knew me.
Long story short: I brought her home that day.
The first few days were awkward. She didn’t know me. I didn’t know how to “be a dog mum.” But slowly, things shifted.
She started following me around the flat. She’d sit beside me while I worked. And then one morning, when I was feeling particularly heavy and disconnected, she jumped on the bed, curled up next to me, and sighed like, “Don’t worry. I’m here.”
It’s amazing how having a dog changes the shape of your day. Suddenly I had a reason to go outside. People at the park smiled at me. Strangers would ask about her. I started chatting. Laughing. Living.
Daisy became the rhythm of my day — morning walks, afternoon naps, late-night cuddles. She gave me purpose without ever asking for anything more than kibble and kindness.
Now, two years on, my life looks completely different. I’ve made new friends, joined a local dog group, and I even found the courage to start dating again (Daisy is, of course, the real star of my dating profile).
If you’re reading this and feel a bit stuck or alone, I’m not saying a dog will fix everything. But for me, Daisy didn’t just fill a quiet house — she filled something much deeper.
She didn’t save me. She reminded me to save myself. One walk, one tail wag, one quiet moment at a time.