Seriously, This Adopted Puppy Has Saved Me During Quarantine

If you need a boost to your mental health during quarantine, I strongly suggest adopting a puppy from your local shelter. I assure you, it’ll be the best decision you’ve ever made. 

I know what you’re thinking, but watching the global pandemic play out from the comfort of our couch was an emotional undertaking that, frankly, my girlfriend and I were not ready for. The gaudy breakfasts, the lackadaisical work responsibilities, the insulated freedom to do whatever we wanted with our days—it was truly paralyzing. But now we have Roscoe.

The current state of the world is causing unprecedented uncertainty, and having something to count on is imperative. So when Roscoe soils the couch in the middle of my conference call, I’m reminded that we’re all going to be okay.

There’s nothing quite like the joy of waking up to Roscoe emphatically scratching our bedroom door at 3AM. We’re so fulfilled by the opportunity to take him out for an early morning tinkle, we don’t even mind when it’s a false alarm. Plus, repainting the bedroom door will be the perfect “home project” to take our minds off the pandemic.

My job is also going really, really well. Even while my company pivots to remote work, my productivity has never been higher. Probably because every 2-3 minutes I receive a much needed break in the form of violently fighting shoes out of Roscoe’s clenched jaws. I always return to my computer with raging endorphins and a rapidly approaching deadline.

Last week, I even had the opportunity to skip an important company meeting to take Roscoe to the vet. The adrenaline rush of telling my boss that I had to get my dog neutered now—as opposed to the next available appointment in 2 weeks—was a welcomed thrill of normalcy. Even during a government mandated stay-at-home order, I explained to both my boss and girlfriend, you can never be too careful. Roscoe’s intense reaction to the anesthesia and the 8 vomit piles that came with it? Just another day at the office.

The spirited discussions my girlfriend and I have been having are an absolute breath of fresh air. At first we thought quarantine was bringing us closer, but we were just getting started. I’m finally addressing issues like “not listening,” or “not being present,” or “using the dog as an emotional shield.” For that, we’re eternally grateful for Roscoe.

If we didn’t adopt Roscoe, we have no idea where he would have ended up. So when he ate my girlfriend’s family heirloom, I reminded her that it was better than him eating out of some dumpster on the side of the highway. When he shredded my tax documents into a million pieces, I tossed them up like confetti and celebrated his safety. When he knocked over our firepit and our entire backyard went up in flames, it was certainly better than not knowing where he was.

And sure, I might be looking for a new job now, but Roscoe will last forever. Except for the weekends, when I have to drop him at my girlfriend’s new place.