“Hi.   I have a dog story that is special to me because I believe it saved my life.  I was trying to deal with depression, anxiety and social phobia.   I was at a very low point in my life, I had just gave birth to a new baby, I already had 2 other children, and I couldn’t leave the house.

 Also when my new baby was only a week old I found out that his father wasn’t who he said he was (but that’s another story).  Anyways, I was sitting on the couch in the little house I was renting, crying my eyes out which  had become a regular event.  I was holding my son and wondering what I was going to do, I felt so sad and alone extremely depressed, and felt useless to my children and was even considering “taking myself out of the picture”. 

I began to pray, I prayed for an angel to help me, to guide me, to make my life better.  I then put my son to bed and then cried myself to sleep.

The next morning I woke with an unexplainable urge…I was anxious and excited and I could not get the thought of going to the Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (S.P.C.A.) out of my mind.  I tried to quit thinking about it as another “being” in the house is just more work but I couldn’t, I had to go!

 I got a friend to watch my kids and I drove to the SPCA.  As soon as I pulled up a bunch of dogs came out into their runs, they were bouncing and whining and barking…all except one.  She was the most beautiful dog I had ever seen, she was huge but I couldn’t take my eyes off her.  She too just sat staring at me sitting there in the car.  I don’t remember what any of the other dogs looked like…I don’t think I even took notice of them except all the noise and commotion they were making.

 I got out of the car and couldn’t help but smile at her…her ears pricked up and she cocked
her head to the side. I went into the building and asked what kind of dog she was.  I was told a 2 year old Lab/St. Bernard cross (so you can imagine the size).  She said normally they would give a big dog like that to a farm but because she chases cattle (which was the reason she was there), they wanted someone in the city to adopt her…plus she seemed more of an indoor dog.

 Well we went into the back where the pens were and I walked straight over to this beautiful golden brown/white girl.  I couldn’t get over her size!  She was huge!  I reached into the little hole of the pen and she came up and flipped my hand onto her head with her nose.  I laughed at this, she was strong, but yet so gentle.  She wasn’t jumping or barking just sitting there happy to have my hand on her head.

That’s when I saw it…just above eye level was a little name tag…I had to look twice because it shocked me…but yes there it was her name and it was ANGEL!!  I knew at that moment it was meant to be.  I said I want her, I want to take her home with me now.

And so it was done, there she was, this “gentle giant” in my little house.
It was like a miracle…suddenly I was out of the house everyday taking Angel for walks.  I felt safe for the first time in a long time.  And, I realized I was happier.

 I still had moments of sadness of course but it was like Angel could sense them…she always came to me and put her head on my shoulder like she was giving me a hug…on particularly sad days if I was on the couch or my bed she’d get right up on my lap and curl up…I couldn’t even move from the weight of her!  But she always cheered me up.  She would constantly check on the baby or lay at his feet like she was protecting him.   I put him in a jolly jumper and Angel would lay at his feet while he jumped on her.  She would even sleep as he crawled on her, pulled at her ears ect.  she was definitely a gentle giant.

  Then one day she got out and ran,……I couldn’t find her and was very panicky when suddenly a phone call came in.  It was a very nice man who had picked her up and he said he was going to drop her off.  Well he did drop her off and the nice man and I have been together ever since.

 This Angel saved my life…if she hadn’t came into my life when she did I may not be here today to share this story.  I believe all dogs are angels…no matter how big or small or breed.  They love you unconditionally, and always seem to know when you need them most.  I still have my “big girl”   and now my family lives on an acreage where she can run free…and guess what?  She DOESN’T chase the cattle!!

Deanna