Sometimes, when we experience a mental health issue, it can be difficult to find relief. Did you know that a dog can help you when those moments happen? They are there for you when others are not around due to work, geography, or other reasons.

There’s something about the unconditional love of a dog that is truly healing. They don’t judge you for your struggles or ask for explanations. They simply offer their presence and support. It’s hard to feel alone or isolated when you have a loyal companion who is always there to comfort you.

They can be helpful for days when you don’t want to leave your bed. They can motivate you to get up and start your day. Remember – they still need to be walked, fed, and played with. Those responsibilities alone can give you a sense of purpose. If you’re struggling with a mental health concern, perhaps consider finding a furry friend to support you along the way. It may just change your life for the better.

We wanted to give you a few ideas of what you can do to help you find comfort from a furry friend.

RESCUES – These are a great place to find a family member who is quite literally looking for their forever home. There are several out there to choose from. First decide what type of dog you think you may be interested in and look for a rescue that has that type of dog or size of dog you are looking for. To help you out, we are providing the link to AARCS here – https://aarcs.ca/ – They are in both Edmonton and Calgary and can transport dogs to either city.

FOSTER – If you are looking for a more temporary to permanent solution, the rescues are always looking for foster homes for the dogs until they can find a forever home. This method though could have you becoming a “Foster Fail” (which is GREAT for the dog that you have been temporarily caring for).

DOG SIT – This is another way to have a temporary furry companion around. This is also a way to make more money for those extra activities you would like to do. A great site to use for this is https://www.rover.com/ca/.