Featuring Matt Dolan and Luna the Dog
Images captured on Oct. 30, 2023 at Sunset Park in Vancouver, BC by Jenn Lin © All Rights Reserved
Story by Matt Dolan; Edited by Jenn Lin
“As a Dad, I couldn’t stand the whole dog scene. The mere idea of scooping up dog poop in a bag was enough to make my stomach churn; it just wasn’t my thing. I preferred cats, and have a cat now named Karuna. So whenever my kids brought up the subject of having a dog, the answer from my wife and I had always been a hard no. But after suffering from two layoffs since the pandemic started, and experiencing the lowest of lows, I plunged into a state of depression. Living in Vancouver, where expenses are high, added to the pressure. To make ends meet, my wife had to increase her workload, making her presence at home scarce. Seeking help for myself, I started therapy and made the decision to stop drinking alcohol in July, hoping to improve my mental health. Things got better for me after meeting my friend’s puppy and a few other parents’ dogs. My heart started to warm up to dogs, and I started toying with the idea of getting one.”
“Back in my teenage years, I did have a canine companion named Tuffy. He was a Shepherd Collie mix, and let me tell you, I loved that fur-ball to bits. Sadly, life threw a curveball our way when he got diagnosed with cancer. As the illness spread through his body and reached his brain, he began having seizures, and it was heart-wrenching to see. Eventually, we had to make the tough call to put him down. The whole ordeal was devastating for my family and me. Looking back, maybe that’s why I convinced myself dogs weren’t my thing—or so I thought.”
“At the end of August, my neighbour happened to be fostering a rescue pup from Mexico. I wasn’t sure of the puppy’s breed, but she was super cute, tan, black, and her paws were big. One day my neighbour asked if my daughter and I would like to help walk her. So I ended up doing the unthinkable… I picked up its dog poop! I thought, what did I just do?! I’m not a poop picker-upper! Weeks went by, and eventually, my neighbour asked if we would like to adopt her. We really liked her but the idea of taking on a dog seemed too much, especially since we were about to leave for a month-long trip to Japan. On top of that, Karuna did NOT like her one bit. But my wife said ‘why not?’ So we decided to adopt her once we got back.”
“When we returned from Japan and finally adopted Luna into our family, I still had some anxiety about the decision and wondered often if we made the right one. With the kids back in school and my wife back to work, I was home alone with Luna on the daily. Since I was home and not working as often, I could bond with Luna and really get to know her and on a level I couldn’t have otherwise. Her and I would cuddle up on the couch while I searched for jobs and she slept. Then we would go to the dog park and meet other dogs and dog owners. Once we fell into a routine, it was starting to feel really good to have her and my anxieties started to dissipate.”
“Lots has changed for the better since Luna joined the family in September. When we come home now, Luna is always there to meet us and is so happy to see us. Wagging tail, hugs, kisses and the whole nine yards. It is always great to be greeted by her. We bring her along everywhere we go—the farmers market, afterschool pick-ups, etc. I’ve also become more connected with my family and spend more time working in the communal areas of the home, as opposed to alone in my room. My wife adores her, makes homemade food for her and they often sleep together. The three of us have even started going on nighttime walks together and I really enjoy that because it feels like her and I are getting closer because of it.”
“More recently, a visit to the vet confirmed Luna’s diagnosis of hip dysplasia. Having someone to care for comes with the good and the challenging; sometimes the family doesn’t all agree on what is best for her, but we try to make it through the best we can. I’m not sure how my relationship will develop with her as time goes on, but I know that I love her lots. I really don’t know what life would be like without Luna now, and I’m pretty happy to have made that decision to get her when we did. I still struggle daily with my mental health, but it is nice to have Luna and cuddle up together on the couch and go for walks often, rain or shine. It makes me wish I had gotten a dog sooner, but the timing wasn’t right and it wouldn’t have been Luna, then.”
“Overall, Luna’s a great addition to the house and everyone loves her… even our cat Karuna has warmed up to her, no longer hissing or swatting at her when she comes close for a butt sniff. A calm and friendly dog, Luna always leads with a kiss when she meets other dogs. She isn’t a big barker and is very confident and secure. Just the kind of dog I need.”
Do you have a story to share about your dog? Contact Jenn today and you could win a free photoshoot plus 3 digital images!* A few ways you can share your story: over the phone/Zoom/Facetime, in person or via e-mail. And even if you don’t have the story all thought out, don’t worry—Jenn can help you with that.
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