Anyone who talks to me for more than a few minutes will soon learn I am overly attached to my dogs. Alice and Arlo, both rescue dogs, have been a big help to me both emotionally and helping me learn to manage responsibility.
Alice came to live with me in 2016, shortly after I graduated from Mississippi State University. I had just moved into my apartment for the summer and realized I, a college graduate with a place to live, could finally realize my dream of having a dog of my very own. I grew up with dogs, so the 3 years spent in the dorms was difficult – though I had a few roommates whose behavior was similar.
Alice is a great dog and a good friend. She put up with me through grad school, my internship, living in Greenville and is now having the time of her life in Newton County. This column, however, is not about her; it’s about Arlo. Don’t tell Alice or she’ll make me sleep on the couch for a week!
Monday marks one full year, 365 days, since Arlo came to live with me. The animal shelter told me he was lab and rat terrier, but looking at him, he’s obviously part pit. I don’t subscribe to the pit bull paranoia, so that doesn’t bother me, but I understand why the shelter might fudge the truth to increase his chances of finding a home.
At that point, Arlo had been in the shelter for several years. He wasn’t aggressive, just very excitable and poorly socialized. Before coming the shelter, he was a bait dog with the scars to prove it. Worst of all, his rough play style made him a pariah, with no other dog at the shelter willing to play with him.
Those first few days were tough. Arlo, not used to affectionate human contact, tucked his tail and cringed every time I came near. He had never been allowed inside before, so he was constantly hiding, thinking he would be in trouble when I “found” him. Alice, luckily, has a strong maternal instinct and immediately set to work teaching her new brother how to dog.
These days, Alice and Arlo are inseparable. They love running after a tennis ball or stick in the yard, visiting their cow neighbors and going on car rides. Both dogs know what, “lets go get pizza” means, and they’ll extatically run to the door upon hear it. Every morning when I sit down to enjoy my first cup of coffee, Arlo joins me, snuggling up in the crook of my arm, often splashing both of us with the steaming drink.
Pet ownership has been shown to have a multitude of health benefits, from easing depression, PTSD and anxiety, to encouraging their humans to be more active, decreasing obesity risk and improving overall health. Rescue dogs, in particular, hold a special place in my heart, and after a great first year with Arlo, I won’t be changing my mind anytime soon.
Thomas is the managing editor of the Newton County Appeal. He can be reached at thoward@newtoncountyappeal.com
