Laura Greaves - The Rescuers

A funny thing can happen when you write books about remarkable dogs. You can start to think that your own dog is a little, well, ordinary.

Thats not to say that all dogs arent magical, wondrous love bugs that human beings clearly do not deserve. Obviously they are. Every single pooch on the planet fits that description.

But when youre meeting people whose four-legged friend has literally saved their life you could be forgiven for seeing your own pup snoozing on the couch, or hearing him licking his nether regions in the middle of the night (why always in the middle of the night?), and thinking, What have you done for me lately?

Would my dog save me from a burning building, as Buddy the labrador did for Judy Scrivener? Would she throw herself in the path of a speeding motorcycle to stop it from hitting me, like street dog Kabang did for two little girls in the Philippines? Would she give me the impetus to stick with recovery from addiction, like Clove the pit bull does for P.j. Regan?

Personally, I dont know about that. My dogs are pretty lazy. Im just not sure theres room for rescuing in their busy schedules of napping, eating, harassing my guinea pigs, and producing the enormous fur balls that seem to occupy every corner of my house.

But heres the thing Ive learned while writing three books about amazing canines: dogs are rescuing us even when we dont realise it.

All dogs are rescuers. Sometimes, as many of the stories in this book demonstrate, they save us in the most literal sense. But even if theyre not physically standing in the way of death or disaster, our dogs are saving our souls in tiny ways every day.

Sounds a bit highfalutin, doesnt it? But I can prove it.

I have two dogs, Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers called Tex and Delilah. Tex has always been my problem child. From a young age, hes had a laundry list of illnesses and ailments that would have bankrupted me if not for the wonders of pet insurance. When he was just three I learned he had arthritis. Next came a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, for which he takes twice-daily medication (and will for the rest of his life). When Tex was six he had what I can identify with the benefit of hindsight as something like a mental breakdown. With the support of an incredible veterinary behaviourist who diagnosed an anxiety disorder, and also with daily anti-anxiety medication, we helped Tex make sense of the world, calmed his behaviour and gave him back his quality of life.

Tex is now eleven years old and, at the time of writing, has just been diagnosed with both cancer and epilepsy. I know when is this dog going to catch a break?! He may have a couple more years with us, he may only have a few more months, but today, at this very moment, he is well and he is happy.

He is so happy. Thats what is really remarkable about Tex. Even on days when he must be feeling physically terrible, or when his head starts to spin in a cycle of worry and fear, he manages to find contentment. Ill spy him sitting in a patch of sunshine in the garden, a beatific expression on his handsome face. Or hell roll into roach position mid nap lying on his back with all four feet in the air and let out a long, satisfied sigh. And in those moments I think, This dog knows how good hes got it.

So what, you may ask, does this have to do with me? Is she trying to say that this sickly, neurotic dog has somehow rescued her?

Yes. Thats precisely what Im saying.

You see, I also struggle with anxiety. Ive also battled depression. Ive had my share of strange health issues. I have felt like an outlier, a misfit, a weirdo. Sometimes I have real problems with being present; with enjoying where I am instead of worrying about what lies ahead.

Like many of us, Ive had days where I have felt overwhelmed. Many times Ive wanted to throw my hands up in the air and wail, I give up!

But I dont give up. And I wont give up. Because my dog has shown me that giving up is not an option.

No matter what life throws at him, Tex finds the good. He pinpoints the beauty and he surrounds himself with it. He loves fiercely and he knows hes loved in return and he doesnt question it.

Helping Tex with his issues allowed me to identify my own. In choosing me to be his person, Tex has saved me from myself. Hes saved me from worry, from frustration when life is challenging, from being ashamed of my own idiosyncrasies. He has saved me from the exhaustion and sadness that comes from feeling uncomfortable in your own skin. Tex has rescued me from a life spent apologising for my perceived flaws, because Tex doesnt apologise for who he is. Tex is Tex, and frankly, he doesnt care what anybody thinks about that.