These are our babies- Lady the Lab, Buddy the Bassett/ Beagle and Max the Menace. We love them like they are our children, and boy do they act like children. Not only that but we know that if our dogs were people, each would have a mental diagnosis.
Lady is 9 years old. She has a combination of generalized anxiety and/or post-traumatic stress disorder. She was abused as a young dog and she scares easily as a result. She also has phobia. She is frightened to death of thunder and shakes like a leaf during storms. She also has a very hard time adjusting to change and when we moved 21/2 years ago, she got so stressed that she was put on an antidepressant. She has abandonment issues that are typical of PTSD.
Buddy is 31/2 years old. He was homeless when I found him almost two years ago. He has borderline personality and obsessive/compulsive disorder (OCD). He bullies my other dogs when he wants more attention. He closes our laptops with his paw when he wants our attention. He climbs on top of us and stands inches from our faces. In other words, he can't get enough. When he's not scaring off my other dogs, he carefully cleans their eyes and ears, indulging in one of his obsessions. He's either chasing them away or cuddling with them. And then there's his dirty underwear fetish, but we won't go there.
Max is our Dennis the Menace. He is the epitome of ADHD. Max never wants to stop and I don't think he could if he tried. He won’t stay in one place or sit still for very long. He is impulsive and even though he knows he will get in trouble, he keeps digging out of the backyard and running off. He refuses to come back until he's ready, and will walk up to us and then run off as if saying, "You can't make me!" He is disruptive in a group and cannot stay focused on one thing for long.
Yes, we have our hands full with our "kids." Every time we start to feel frustrated, they do something to redeem themselves. They are affectionate and have many great qualities too, but we love them quirks and all.
We love them unconditionally. That is what real love is all about. This means that we love them for who they are, although we will continue to try and curb their naughty behaviors. That's the way God loves us. Even when we are at our worst, he loves us the same. At times you may feel like you have no one but God is always there just waiting for you to accept His love. His love knows no bounds, it never changes and it only grows. He will never leave and he will always accept you. Come as you are and he will love, support, and help you.
Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like
the great deep.
You, LORD, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your
unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your
wings.
-Psalm 36:5-7
