# 7 SOPHIE JOINS THE THERAPY TEAM

I adopted a little black schnauzer the summer of 2016. When I brought her home, it was obvious she had serious trust issues and didn’t seem to know exactly how to just be a happy dog. I wasn’t real sure how or if we would get past it all, but we started trying. Her little world got turned upside down once again with my surgery and cancer. However, Sophie really stepped up. As I began my recovery and therapy, Sophie and I became therapy for each other. She was therapy for me by encouraging me to get up in the morning and go for a walk with her every morning. That exercise helped me recover faster and I helped her begin to understand that people can be trusted. It was that exercise and companionship that really pushed me on to get stronger; strength I needed to be ready for another surgery later. Now she continues to keep me company as I exercise at home, following me around the house as I walk as part of even more therapy. She naps with me and sits with me and stays close by. She has come a long way and learned so much, including how to sit and shake and even “count”. She knows she gets TWO cookies in the evening. And will stay close by until she gets that second treat.