She is Better Than Any Friend

In the end of 2015, my mom’s friend decided that she didn’t want a dog anymore because she was going to have another baby and in her apartment was too small for a dog and 2 kids. She talked to my mom and asked if my mom wanted to have her. My mom was never a dog person, but my sister always wanted a dog, so she gave in. My mom talked to her friend and said she wanted to keep the dog. This was the best decision my mom ever made after having 3 kids, clearly.

Peteca came into our world. She was a little grumpy at first. Didn’t want us to come near her or her house. But, after 2 days she was so cheerful, made our house way better. We played with her every day. When I got home after college I would just cuddle her all day. My sister always got really sick every year and hospitalized, but after Peteca came into our lives my sister never got her anxiety under control and barely was in any hospital. That’s how important Peteca is to us.

In 2020, we had a pandemic crisis (COVID 19 worldwide) that led to economic problems in Brazil. I lost my job and started looking for things to do in the Internet. I had to pay my bills somehow. I started blogging, but wasn’t getting the results I needed. I was discouraged all the time. One day, I just looked at Peteca with my eyes full of tears and she looked me back as if she was saying don’t give up. And I didn’t. I started pushing myself harder so I can accomplish my goals. I went to full time job far from home to working a part time job at home.

Peteca is more than a regular dog. She is the one that keeps me going every day. I stay home alone every day and I start talking to her about my goals this year and she looks at me and appears to be listening. My sister works all day and I work home office and take care of her. She is more than just a dog, she’s my friend.

In the beginning of the pandemic, it looked like Peteca knew what I was thinking and going through in my head. I was depressed, anxiety flooding my lungs, suicidal thoughts, with so many bills to pay and no clue what to do. One day, I was really sad and cried all night and in the morning at 7 o’clock, she started scratching my bed wanting to cuddle and play. It was like she was trying to comfort me. Let me tell you something. Dogs know what were going through and they try to be there for us.

She is better than any friend. She listens. She cares. She is there. Every single day that I was discouraged and tried to give up in everything I was doing, she looks at me with those big marble eyes like she is telling me: “Don’t!” And I didn’t. If I had given up I wasn’t here writing again. Everyone needs a Peteca in their lives. She makes our lives better. And I give her my unconditional love for always being there for me.

Peteca you are so special that you wouldn’t even know the measures. You helped me in my job, encouraged me to continue the journey and I’m so grateful for you joining our family. We needed you. Our family was a shattered vase and when you came you gathered all the pieces and made a whole new one. That’s how incredible you are. You’re not human, but you have more love than some of them. You deserve more than a title of EmPAWee of the month, you deserve the world for saving me from myself. For being there when no one wasn’t. I promise to cherish you always till death do us apart.