Unconditional Love

Many people who know me personally know that I have a slight obsession with my dog. I treat her like she is my child; she is beyond spoiled. If you really knew me you would know that my love for animals is something that helps me cope on a day to day basis. In December 2012 I had a major emotional break down I just moved away from my mom, got my first job, and started college all within those few months. I felt very lost, vulnerable and very overwhelmed, I let my emotions get the best of me and I felt completely broken. I was at work when I felt this feeling come over me, I told my work that I needed to leave early because I was not feeling well. On my way home I pulled over and called my mom and I was sobbing, I didn't have words I just knew I needed my mom who was two hours away. My boyfriend had to come pick me up and drive me back home, when I got home I got in the hottest shower I could stand and I just cried it all out. That night was one of the scariest nights of my life I felt so broken and torn apart and I didn't know what I was going to do. After crying myself to sleep that night I woke up the next morning and I knew that I could not just run back to my mom's and live with her again, I was an adult and I needed to figure out my situation on my own. I knew I needed something that could help take my mind off all the stress and heartache I had been feeling, I just wasn't quite sure what that "something" was. I knew deep down in my heart I wanted a dog, but my dad wouldn't let me have a dog inside his house, he has never allowed animals in his house. I begged him for about two or three months to let me have an animal, and the best compromise we could come up with was having an outside dog. I wasn't too fond of this idea of an outside only dog, so one night I brought a puppy to my boyfriend's parents house and they let me keep her there a few days until I could figure things out with my dad. Well of course my dad did not like the idea of her being inside so he told me no, so I brought her back to my boyfriend's parents house where she now lives full time inside. Lola helped show me what unconditional love is really all about. She not only saved me but she showed me that no matter how bad my life was I always had her by my side helping me along the way. I made sure I could be the best "dog mom" I could be for her, I always wanted to do right by her. For the first couple of months of her life I woke up at all hours of the morning to take her out to potty, cleaned up plenty of accidents, and watched her grow. There were many mornings I thought to myself, "what the heck was I thinking getting a puppy, I know nothing about raising a puppy." In my heart I knew that this is what I was meant to be doing, raising this puppy and teaching her how to be a well balanced dog. I have taught her many tricks and she was fully potty trained within three to four months of us continually practicing how to go outside. I never knew how much I could love a dog until I found her. I truly believe to this day that I did not save her that night, she saved me. She helped me out of a really dark place in my life and if it were not for her who knows where I would be right now. Lola just turned a year old on January 1, 2014 and she still to this day amazes me at how smart she is. She gave me a sense of hope when I had none, and she also helped me realize the potential I have. She has shown me my career path, which I never knew what I wanted to do until I had her. Now I know in my heart that I was meant to be a dog trainer and not only train dogs but help people. I have always wanted to work with animals I just never knew under what circumstances and Lola helped me to realize this. Training Lola helped me enjoy myself and figure out what makes me happy, while also making her an awesome dog (I may be a little bias). Unconditional love is an amazing thing to experience, the look in her eyes when I come home each night proves to me that she loves me no matter what.

My favorite quote: "Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them, and filling an emptiness we didn't even know we had."

Thank you for taking the time to go on this journey with me,
Caroline