Rachel Maddow just said...
"The most important component of my mental health is my dog."
💕
I don't know if my 2 fur-kids are the most important but they are definitely, absolutely essential to my happiness.
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Keep me sane. 
Even when they drive me crazy. 
We are keeping each other going at this point. When I heard Rachel say that I made sure she got an extra long hug. 
Remind me what kind of dog she is. 17 is getting really up there. Tell her happy birthday from me. 🎂
Got my therapist puppy 5yrs ago from Lab-rescusing DUer, MiniMe. Just as your baby does, my girl hangs the moon and her brother is a spooky smart, Einstein dog. 😉😅 Love them both.
I didn't know they came in that variety and I got her at 8 weeks. Her hair kept growing and growing and growing after her puppy-coat fell out. I have her shaved every 3-4 months but now I am going to do it myself next time since the last time she came home with kennel cough and she is too old to take chances with.
She says "Woof" in response to your Happy Birthday greeting. 
Do you celebrate your dogs' birthdays?
My brother & his wife have 4 little Chihuahuas, their babies. These babies have chosen their favorite parent. It's a divided household. 
Missy (Mimi) will be 5 on my late daughter's b.d., Apr 29th.
When DUer MiniMe wrote to ask if I were ready for another girl (lost our sweet BC 4yrs earlier & had a long grieving period), I knew it was finally time, especially when she told me Missy was born on 4/29.
Kismet!
We drove up to Maryland to pick up the very timid little runt of the litter who has now grown into a big 120lb girl.
Last yr we inherited O.G. the Einstein, an older black Lab, when my mother died. He had just showed up at her house so we don't know his exact age but decided to celebrate his b.d. with Missy's. He'll be a spry 10.
The celebration takes the sting out the painful memory of that date.
We'll have cake & sing to them. May even have it outside this yr & invite their neighborhood buddies - more Labs & a Golden.
