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A True Story of How Pets Can Make All the Difference

Recently, I posted an article about how pets can save your sanity. Well, it looks like I wasn’t the only one who thought that pets are a great way to keep you in a good mood. I received nearly 50 comments on the post, where you told wonderful stories and anecdotes as to why your pets are so important to you.

One story stuck out in my mind, though, and so instead of putting the comment up where the story might go unnoticed, I decided to dedicate a post just to this heartwarming tale of a cat and two bulldogs, and how their love changed the lives of their owners in an amazing way.

This is a retelling of the story of Jonna, her husband, and their pets, Merlin, BabyGirl and Beau Ashley…

We have two English Bulldogs and one cat. I wouldn't trade them—or even one moment with them—for anything. When the doctors diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia, they suggested I get a pet to help with some of the symptoms. My husband is gone a lot due to being in the Army, so we got our cat, Merlin, first. He is my “animal double” and has helped so much. He knows when I am having a really bad time and lays with me and doesn’t let anyone else around.

Then the doctors diagnosed me with Rheumatoid Arthritis and early stages of MS, so that’s when we got our female bulldog, BabyGirl. She was—and still is— the biggest clown. We wanted to breed her, and thought, “let's get a boy bulldog of our own,” and boy, is he ever a clown, too!  The boy, Beau Ashley, takes such good care of me now. I fall a lot, and when I do, he comes and stays with me until I can get up. He moves so that I can hold on to him and he slowly moves forward until I am able to slowly get up. So I say, if you have any medical problems, the best thing for you is a pet. In my case they have done more for me than any of the meds I have to take.

So for my babies, I am going to give SAM-e a try, and maybe I will feel like spending more time outside with them. If I can't, though, they won't care. And as for Merlin, he prefers his mommy to be in bed where he can lay on me, and purr until we both go to sleep— which is about the only sleep I ever get. I don't know what I would do without my pets, they are my heart and they are our babies. So give a pet a try, you’ll be glad you did. – Jonna

Jonna’s husband—an Apache Helicopter Pilot in the U.S. Army—says that BabyGirl may have saved his life.

My very best friend, who is more like a brother than a friend, was shipped to Iraq in November, and on December 26th of that year he was killed. I used my “grief” to get through getting him back to U.S. soil, and then attending the memorial for him. Then, the day after his memorial, I began to fall apart and fill with anger. I had to go to the field for training the first of January, and I was not home when Jonna brought our “bully,” BabyGirl, home. I called, not expecting her to have BabyGirl for another few days, so when she told me she already got her that day, I received permission to go home from the field. When I picked up BabyGirl, it was like the world was lifted from my shoulders and my anger was so much less. I would never have been able to deal with the loss of my brother, but BabyGirl felt my pain and anger. She knew just what to do for me, and I will never be able to pay her back for all that love and care she has given me since day one. She goes with me everywhere I can take her, and her favorite place to go is work with me. (She follows me every step I take.) She and my wife have given me back my life and a reason to always make it home safe and sound. The hardest thing I have had to do is leave them to go to Iraq. I am leaving for my second tour there this month and my wife says teasingly that the hardest one for me to leave will be BabyGirl. When I call home, I always have to talk to BabyGirl on the phone, and I love to hear her talk back. So yes, pets can be lifesavers, I thank her and my wife everyday for saving my sanity. Try getting a pet; you will only gain from their love, but if you get a bulldog watch out for their drooly kisses.

This couple’s story proves that something as simple as having a pet can truly bring out a good mood naturally. Pets know just what to do when you’re down, and as Jonna and her husband have proven, they can be real lifesavers, too.

Check out the slideshow below for some pictures of these adorable and amazing animals. If you have a story to share about something in your life that has helped your good mood, please let me know in the comments section. I might even use your story in a blogpost soon!

pets can save your sanity. Well, it looks like I wasn’t the only one who thought that pets are a great way to keep you in a good mood. I received nearly 50 comments on the post, where you told wonderful stories and anecdotes as to why your pets are so important to you.

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