Our home was full of stress . . . until the pups arrived
CLAIRE METCALFE, 46, a midwife, lives with Gary, 52, a builder in Lancaster. They have four children and two black labradors, Maddie and Bailey, aged seven months. Claire says:
EARLIER this year, my husband’s dog, Moss, died. We didn’t intend to get any more dogs, but heard about a litter of 12 pups.
We went to look at them and before we knew it, we’d paid £1,500 to bring one boy and one girl puppy home when they were eight weeks old.
The timing couldn’t have been better. Not long before, I had visited my GP because I was waking every morning feeling stressed. I was suffering from palpitations, too, and told her at times I felt so bad, I was suicidal.
This mental trauma came after a year of mood swings and experiencing very red ‘Aunt Sally’ cheeks, as well as feeling warmer than usual.
My GP prescribed HRT patches — and then we met the puppies.
Though I’ve had dogs for most of my life, I simply can’t explain how deeply I’ve fallen for these two, whom we named Maddie and Bailey.
They’ve helped me immeasurably with my menopausal symptoms, the worst of which was my see-sawing emotions. I’ve been irritated by the most simple things, like my children leaving pots in the sink or my husband dropping clothes on the floor. But the dogs have calmed me down no end. They seem to sense I’m vulnerable. If I’m feeling irritable, they’ll come up to me and just running my fingers through their velvety fur and giving them a bit of a cuddle is enough to lower my blood pressure.
In short, their presence reminds me what love feels like. If I’ve had an argument with my husband or am cross about work, they don’t care. They don’t mind whether I’ve got red cheeks or I’m feeling unattractive. They make me want to get up in the morning rather than lie in bed.
In the evenings, when I’m watching television, they cuddle up to my chest, which is wonderfully soothing. They’re full of joy and it’s infectious. You just can’t be miserable when there’s a puppy around.
They’ve changed the dynamic of our family. Before, everyone was treading on eggshells. It was a house of stress, thanks to how I was feeling.
But now the puppies are the centre of attention. We go out for long walks as a family, which is so good for all our mental health. And these outings have made me feel closer to my husband and children again.
Of course, the HRT patches have played their part, too. I know they’ve brought me to an even keel. But I honestly think that the dogs have saved me.
After all, they give me something HRT doesn’t — joy and unquestioning love.