A month after my brother died, a puppy bounded into my life.

Yes, you read that correctly — a few months ago, I lost one of the most important people in my life, as well as a piece of my heart. To anyone reading, this sounds like the most abrupt and underdeveloped decision one could make after so much grief. However, it turned out to be the best decision at the time.

After three months of having my best boy, Hudson, I began to wonder how much furry friends have helped others who have experienced tragedy, if anyone else out there relaxes with the best cuddler or exerts energy that showcases more athleticism in one moment than in years prior. I wonder, too, how much Hudson has helped me during such a difficult time in my life.

Dogs are miraculous in their ability to help their owners, from farm dogs herding hordes of sheep to super-sniffer dogs rescuing people from avalanches, but also in their emotional support capacities. Although there is no exact measure for how many people adopt dogs after a tragic event, the amount of registered Emotional Support dogs has increased with a rise in mental health issues, according to CBS News.

It is not necessary to train your dog at an Olympic level to find healing in them. People share a relationship with their pets much more differently than their peers. It is an unconditional love of rather few words that allows people to feel so comfortable crying, laughing and chatting (even if the pets have not figured out how to respond).

In my experience, I found value in this bond with my new puppy. After two weeks of mourning and more tears shed than four trips to the store for tissues could cover, I felt a bit lost and empty, losing such a strong component of my life and character.

In one particular moment, I recall sitting in my bed in silence, pretending that my brother had gone on a long trip just to feel more optimistic in my situation, even though it had been weeks since I last saw him. Around that time, my parents delved into the world of Goldendoodle puppies. Instantly, we connected with a bit of a timid fellow, but one we knew would fit right into our family.

We knew this puppy could never fill the tremendous hole in our hearts, but perhaps he could help us put a comically tiny band-aid over it. It was through the next few months with him that I found myself preoccupied with taking care of him to the point I often didn’t sit in silence anymore, waiting, waiting (not that this discredited my grieving process).

After a couple of weeks of picking him up in a town hours away, that magic faded a bit when I realized what a big responsibility my puppy was. It felt like such a bother to take him out every hour and a half or monitor his every move to make sure he did not eat something he was not supposed to. Nevertheless, I still found value in the time I spent working with him and learning more about myself through his care because he really was — and still is — a little bottle of sunshine pouring out at every dark moment.

It was extremely calming to lie next to my dog and watch reality TV shows with a best buddy by my side. I vividly remember that on Saturdays, I would sit down on the couch next to my brother to watch “Harry Potter,” “Lord of the Rings,” or other shows and movies we could both watch. When I realized that we wouldn’t be able to eat pizza and watch the next season of our favorite show together the following Saturday, I felt so broken.

To this day, I have not been able to watch that show. However, having a fluffy companion made me feel less alone sitting in my house during school breaks without anyone to talk to and filled a part of that gap.

My experience is not just unique to me, though; studies suggest dogs provide their owners with a boost of oxytocin — a hormone that reduces stress — when they interact with them. Increasing oxytocin levels can help people feel safer and perhaps endure rougher times. This is evident from my own experience when I have had days where grief affects me much more, but I have been able to calm down a bit with my puppy by my side.

The most healing aspect of caring for Hudson is witnessing his ability to respond to training and develop new skills. By directing him to “sit” and “stay,” I feel fulfillment towards a goal that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to attain without my puppy. Having a focus helps me work through my grief and process my emotions in a more positive light — especially when working with such a good boy!

Moreover, his puppy school friends bring a smile to my face every time they interact, and it’s fun to learn in conjunction with him. These training regimens, as well as other obstacles, have given me purpose. For example, when Hudson first apprehensively approached his first day of school, he was shivering in fear and hiding under chairs. He was even told to sit in the corner of the room due to his fear. My parents and I were concerned he would never grow out of this fear of the world, but with consistent desensitization and the best classmate to help him through his tough times, he was back to his treat-begging, tail-wagging self. I could not have been happier at that moment, because my efforts had a fruitful and efficient outcome.

A puppy is certainly not all good times; I should know from spending all day with Hudson Doodle, and maybe taking him in was an extremely abrupt change in my life. However, all of these times with my puppy have quietly accumulated to make me feel less lonely.

I just have not had the time to properly thank him for all his help, from herding me back to the squeakiest toy to rescuing me from an avalanche of emotions. Perhaps when he grows old, his springs worn down and no longer perking up for treats, I’ll finally be able to reciprocate the unconditional love he has given me all these years — the same kind of love my brother gave me.

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Madeleine Savage is a junior at AuSable Valley Middle-High School. She has previously been published in Wild Words 2023 and 2024. In her free time, she enjoys playing video games and taking her fluffball, Hudson, on walks.