I never imagined a scruffy rescue dog named Millie would be the reason I got my mornings back. For a long time, I felt like I was drifting through days with no real reason to get out of bed. Then Millie came along — and everything began to shift. This is the story of how a dog I didn't plan to adopt ended up saving me more than I saved her.
"The Days Were All the Same"
After I lost my job in late 2023, the days started to blur together. I was living alone in a small unit in Melbourne, and without work, my whole routine collapsed. Mornings turned into afternoons. Nights were long and quiet. My friends were busy with their own lives, and I slowly stopped answering messages.
I wasn’t sleeping much. I wasn’t eating well. And honestly, I didn’t feel like I had a reason to. I wasn’t in a crisis, exactly — just frozen. Flat. Numb.
"A Random Visit to the Shelter"
One Saturday, I walked past a pet adoption day outside a local Bunnings. I wasn’t planning to get a dog. I just stopped to look.
Millie was sitting quietly in the corner, not barking or begging for attention like the others. She looked tired but calm. Her eyes met mine for half a second — and that was it. I filled out the form, had a quick chat with the rescue team, and by Monday, Millie was mine.
🎨 Was this story a reminder of your own furry friend?
At Pawstralian, we turn real pet stories into timeless portraits — joyful, silly, loyal, unforgettable.
Whether it’s a memory you never want to forget, or a face that makes you smile every day...
👉 Explore our custom pet portraits and see how your story could look as art.
🐶 View Portrait Styles →"A Reason to Get Out of Bed"
The first morning she was home, she stood by the bed and stared at me until I got up. No barking. Just quiet, patient expectation. I pulled on some trackies and took her out. That 15-minute walk turned into the most structure I’d had in weeks.
Over the next month, Millie created a routine I didn’t know I needed. Morning walks. Feeding time. Park visits. Slowly, I was sleeping better. I started eating properly. I even reached out to friends again. I didn’t try to heal — I just had to show up for her, and in doing that, I started showing up for myself.
"Life Now"
Millie’s been with me for six months now. She sleeps beside the bed, keeps me company when I work from home, and insists on evening cuddles. I still have down days, but I’m not stuck anymore.
What Millie gave me wasn’t just companionship — it was momentum. And in those early weeks, that was everything.