My fear of dogs disappeared when I met the one that transformed my approach.

“Moose offered silent support, precisely what I needed at that time.”

Some people might be surprised to know I didn’t always like dogs. But I’ve taken care of every dog my family got. I’ve always loved puppies, and I’ve wanted to get a Great Pyrenees for a long time.

For most of my life, I’ve been scared of dogs. When I was young, I saw a neighbor’s Siberian husky attack stray kittens. Another neighbor’s dog even killed my cat when I was 7. These dogs were nice to me, which made their aggressive actions even scarier.

So, you could say dogs and I didn’t become friends right away. But then Moose came along.

I remember when I first saw him. He was standing with my friend Izzy at the door of my college apartment. Moose had soft, shiny, blond fur that sparkled in the autumn sunlight. What stuck with me was how he didn’t bark or rush inside when he saw the Maine coon cat resting near me. Even when the cat, Smuggz, hissed angrily at him, Moose stayed calm next to Izzy, waiting for us to start the road trip we had planned together.

Even though Moose upset Smuggz, he stayed calm on my welcome mat while I finished packing. Moose respected Smuggz’s space, and during our trip, he behaved just as well. Moose was so relaxed during the journey that I forgot he was even in the car at one point.

Throughout the trip, whether we were driving or walking in the city, Moose stayed calm and followed Izzy’s commands. I had never met a dog like him before.


I didn’t see Moose for a couple of years after that. When we met again, it wasn’t a happy occasion. I had just moved back home after my first long-term relationship ended. It was a tough time, and Moose tried to help. I’m not sure if he sensed I wasn’t fond of dogs or for another reason, but he didn’t try to lick my face or jump on me.

Instead, he sat quietly with me while I struggled to hold back my tears. Moose was my rock when I needed support.

for the next two months, Moose was by my side. My friend Izzy allowed me to work from her house whenever I wanted, and Moose would stay close while I wrote. Whenever I felt struggled, Moose would happily be my partner on walks. He gave me the most comfort during this struggles. I Can’t Pray more than anything than Moose.

From my hometown to New York City, I understood how much Moose had changed me. In Greenwich Village on the way to a bar one evening, I saw a lone dog on the sidewalk. Where was its owner? Even though she appeared well, I felt concerned about it. In the past when I did not know Moose, I would not have given a damn about an unfamiliar dog and could be scared by it too. Now, thinking about another person’s worried pet made me sad. Without noticing it, it was all due to Moose that turned me into a lover of dogs.

After half-a-year in NYC, I returned back home in Brooklyn. Even though leaving NYC was the right thing for me, I still felt let down by myself. Though defeated or failure as I thought of myself at that time, Moose remained my growth partner.

Now This time round at Izzy’s place there were no obligations for me to work anymore but each day l went there to see Moose anyway. We cuddled and took strolls together as we used to do before that moment came. He always jumped up at me with joy and l reciprocated this feeling towards him in equal measure.

In the past year and a half, when I needed someone who could understand me better than my friends and family, Moose was there. My loved ones are different from him in that He never demands to know why I am sad or anxious or blocked or stupid. I can’t even try to say that he is the one who fixes my problems. Whenever I need him, Moose will always be there for me regardless of his mood.

He has even managed to become a friend of my cat. For example, a few times Smuggz has napped together with Moose.

Moose will always be the dog that made me into a dog person no matter how many other dogs I meet. This little guy is just incredible and I owe him everything forever.