Me and Tiger: The healing power of pets

When I moved to Canada, away from family and friends, it was tough. During my school time, I was injured from basketball and needed to pause, I was slowly falling apart, as school work got more demanding as well. 

Then Covid hit, complete isolation, I had moved to a new apartment with a stranger and a dog. It was my first time living with a dog, I didn’t know what to expect or even how to react when the dog walked towards me.

That was the time I experienced the healing power of dogs. I am not a scientist, not a therapist or psychologist, just someone who shared moment of peace and serenity with the dog named “Tiger”. 

“Tiger” was a golden retriever with short brown fur. He was less than a year old when I met him, so he was energised. We shared lots of ups and downs, moments at the kitchen where I throw him a bone, where I caught him sneakily eating from the trashcan and the winter snowy walks around the neighbourhood. 

Through covid, I was doing online school, it was tough as I’m not the kind to sit still, better yet stay indoors. Those times, Tiger would gently walk into my room and ask for my attention, with curiosity in his eyes. He was the perfect distraction, great companion during those times. I recall as I had to move out of the apartment, Tiger somehow felt that I was leaving as I was packing up my luggages. It was an emotional farewell. Tiger was such a cheerful goofball, a force of positivity and held such strengthening  impact on my mental health during those tough and dark times.