With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I thought I would write about Heart Dogs. What is a heart dog? Well, there are many definitions about there about this. In 2020, The American Humane Society defined it as , “A heart dog is your soulmate – your soul’s true counterpart and forever a part of your emotional existence.” Some say it is your canine soulmate. What would I classify as a heart dog? I believe it is a dog that enters your life and leads you down an unexpected path. This path can open your eyes to the world or help you understand what you were destined to do with your life….
About 2 years ago I wrote a blog post on heart dogs. At the time I said I had been blessed with 2 heart dogs in my life. First Keona whom I lost tragically when she was too young. Second, with Zelda Sayre who is still with me today. I really spent some time looking at what people defined as a heart dog, and I know there are no definite set-in stone guidelines, but I realized looking back I have really only had one heart dog. If you had told me 2 years ago I would write another blog contradicting my thought on having 2 heart dogs I would have called you “crazy”. Here it goes…..
Keona was a huge part of my life and yes she helped me get through lots of health issues and diagnoses. She was my first service dog. I grieved so bad over her ask anyone close to me. I was inconsolable for over 6 weeks. I walked around like a zombie. I hardly ate and only moved when it required to do so I had just launched my business, so it did not require 9 to 5 hours thank goodness. Was she my heart dog maybe but looking back now especially over the last few years I think she was preparing me for my Heart Dog.
Let me explain most people say heart dogs rarely leave your side and they respond to your moods. They seem to enter you life unexpectedly and during a period of grief. They read your soul and emotions, and you rarely need words.
Enter Zelda Sayre whom I happened upon unexpectedly and about 3-4 months after losing Keona. I was still grieving but at least functioning at this point. The long and short is I had a brief period when I thought I had made a mistake by adopting her and felt tremendous guilt. My hubby God bless him (he is my human soulmate), told me literally talk to Zelda Sayre tell her about Keona ( yes, I talk to my dogs always have since a child). Furthermore, he told me this I want to think about how you would feel if she was ripped out your life. I will give you 24 hours and if you still feel like you have made a mistake we will call the rescue and find her another home. We all know how that ended. She is currently laying at my feet as my service- soul- heart dog.
Zelda Sayre has brought more into my life than I have time to explain. She “appeared” at the perfect time. She has a natural alert I will explain that sometime later, believe me its rare. She rarely leaves my side and is my safety net. She will get stubborn with me if I chose to ignore her and she has shown intelligent disobedience more than once. She has literally helped me up off the ground.
It is really in eye of the beholder what their definition of a heart dog is, but I can tell you when you find that dog it will change your life. You may never know it until the dog passes but at least you will know that true feeling that one cannot put into words until you experience it. I will always love my Keona and she will have a unique special place in my heart that doggie taught me so much and has helped shape me into the person I am today. Without her I truly believe with all my heart I would not have been ready for Zelda Sayre.