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[securitysix]

First of all, this may seem a bit long and rambling and I apologize in advance for that, but I promise I'll get to a point...I think. 

As most of you know, I am single and have been for quite a while now.  As you also know, I am a dog lover.  A few years ago, I had two dogs die just over a year apart.  Shortly after the second dog went, I was laid off from my job and it took me about 2 years to find another one.  What you may not know, and what I didn't know at the time, is that it hit me harder than I thought.  It was subtle enough that I didn't notice it, which means it was probably a flashing neon sign about 12 inches in front of my face. 

My mom and my friends noticed it for what it was.  I noticed that I felt a little off, but couldn't quite put my finger on it.  Mostly, I just constantly felt bored.  A couple of years ago, my mom evidently decided that enough was enough and brought home a puppy.  She didn't warn me about it beforehand, she didn't bring him to my room when she got it home, she just put him down in the living room floor with the other dogs.  They, of course, were all over the place.  Her dog in particular went nuts, because he hates new dogs.  Now, being part Toy Poodle and part Maltese, it's not like he could hurt the poor puppy, but his "ferocious" barking was enough to terrorize the newcomer.  I came out to see what the commotion was and was compelled to "save" the new puppy from the "ferocious beast".  From that point on he was my dog, not so much because I claimed him as such, but I was his hero, so he wanted to spend every moment with me.  Being the dog lover that I am, that was pretty much enough to seal the deal for me. 

Again, the change seemed subtle, but it seems pretty drastic in hindsight.  I was in a funk because I was lonely.  Sure, I have friends, and I spent and still spend plenty of time around them (a couple of days a week pretty much every week), but something was missing.  I am still very single and thus "alone", but I am no longer lonely.

Does that make sense?

[Moonbeam]

Your commentary does make sense. I'm sorry that you had such lonely moments. We all get in a "funk" from time to time. I think it's incredibly heartwarming to read about how you "saved" the puppy and the puppy "saved" you

I wish you many, many good years with your loyal friend. BTW, what is his name?

PS - Your Mom is a gem!

[knobster]

Aaah mothers...  Such wonderful, wonderful human beings.

So glad you found companionship SS.

[MamaLiberty]

Yes indeed. I'm so glad for you. And even mothers sometimes need to find that special companion. I'm still looking for one. It's been a little more than 7 months since my old darling died and I miss him something terrible. I'm just looking for the right one... or hoping that the right one will come to me out of the blue as Rascal did.

So glad you found your companion. I do know how important it can be. We can be lonesome in a crowd, or quite content all alone. It isn't the number of people or things around you that make the difference, it's how you think and feel about them.

Good for your mom. She had exactly the right idea.

[casca-503]

i feel for your loss,   hope  all will be  very good with  your new friend.../  good on your mother.../   had  something  similar  go on with my adult son  about a year ago.../   pretty   much  same solution...

[securitysix]

I wish you many, many good years with your loyal friend. BTW, what is his name?

His name is Ranger and he's a Blue Heeler mix.

[casca-503]

there is no such thing as a  BAD   dog,  only  badly  treated   dogs  that  react or respond to   the  bad treatment.../   again wish you a long ....  healthy   relation ship with  Ranger... i was one many years ago... 

[Cappy]

First of all, this may seem a bit long and rambling and I apologize in advance for that, but I promise I'll get to a point...I think. 

As most of you know, I am single and have been for quite a while now.  As you also know, I am a dog lover.  A few years ago, I had two dogs die just over a year apart.  Shortly after the second dog went, I was laid off from my job and it took me about 2 years to find another one.  What you may not know, and what I didn't know at the time, is that it hit me harder than I thought.  It was subtle enough that I didn't notice it, which means it was probably a flashing neon sign about 12 inches in front of my face. 

My mom and my friends noticed it for what it was.  I noticed that I felt a little off, but couldn't quite put my finger on it.  Mostly, I just constantly felt bored.  A couple of years ago, my mom evidently decided that enough was enough and brought home a puppy.  She didn't warn me about it beforehand, she didn't bring him to my room when she got it home, she just put him down in the living room floor with the other dogs.  They, of course, were all over the place.  Her dog in particular went nuts, because he hates new dogs.  Now, being part Toy Poodle and part Maltese, it's not like he could hurt the poor puppy, but his "ferocious" barking was enough to terrorize the newcomer.  I came out to see what the commotion was and was compelled to "save" the new puppy from the "ferocious beast".  From that point on he was my dog, not so much because I claimed him as such, but I was his hero, so he wanted to spend every moment with me.  Being the dog lover that I am, that was pretty much enough to seal the deal for me. 

Again, the change seemed subtle, but it seems pretty drastic in hindsight.  I was in a funk because I was lonely.  Sure, I have friends, and I spent and still spend plenty of time around them (a couple of days a week pretty much every week), but something was missing.  I am still very single and thus "alone", but I am no longer lonely.

Does that make sense?

Completely makes sense to me.  Single with 3 dogs and I honestly don't know where I'd find the time to fit in a relationship into my life.  I'm alone but definitely not lonely!

[Sandra Burlton]

So I'm not lonely, I'm just alone. That's a good thing though! 

[securitysix]

So I'm not lonely, I'm just alone. That's a good thing though! 

Well, I don't know about you, but that's the observation that my little self-discovery led to regarding myself. 

I'm not saying that I don't want to ultimately find human companionship that makes me feel the same way, but at least my dog was able to remind me that there's more than just going through the motions every day.

[padre29]

To me, the difference is having some form of companionship, be it four or two legged, and desiring to have companionship and there is none forthcoming.

For example if one is in a social situation, and feeling alone, then one is "lonely" if one is content then one is simply "alone".

[MamaLiberty]

Exactly, padre... It took me a number of years - after my husband died - to accept the fact that I actually prefer my own company most of the time. If I want company, there are dozens of ways to get it, but that is simply not necessary for everyone, all the time.

Enjoying one's own company does not make us anti-social. I am alone most of the time now, since the dog died, but I am never lonesome. All I have to do to get some company is pick up the phone and either invite people here, or arrange to visit them. Most of the time I socialize all I want just going to the library and grocery store.

[Julio]

I have been volunteering for an organization called
Save-a-Vet (save-a-vet.org)
 they rescue military working dogs and police dogs when they are at the end of their work cycle or if they have messed up.
I have a police dog that that was miss handled and put three JBT's in the hospital, good dog in my book.

I am asking that everyone at least check them out.
maybe you can help save a dog, or do something to help out the group.

anyway my dog is now like a puppy, you wouldn't think he was trained to be bad, unless you come in the yard unasked. 

Dawg

[MamaLiberty]

I am asking that everyone at least check them out.
maybe you can help save a dog, or do something to help out the group.

Yes, I've looked. Afraid I'm too old to consider trying anything like that. I raised AKC black Labradors many years ago, and understand what such high energy dogs require. I could not do right by one now.

[Greyhawk1970]

To me, the difference is having some form of companionship, be it four or two legged, and desiring to have companionship and there is none forthcoming.

For example if one is in a social situation, and feeling alone, then one is "lonely" if one is content then one is simply "alone".

That is the best way I have seen it put, and talk about the simple thing hitting you in the head.  So now I know where I am at in things, thank you guys.