Thank you for your patience as I took a mini hiatus from the podcast these last couple weeks. When Lisa & I recorded this episode at the end of 2022, I didn’t know it would be hitting so close to home right now.  As many of you know, we recently and very unexpectedly said goodbye to our beloved Penny when she suffered a sudden health crisis.  

It’s very special to me that Penny was so much a part of my conversation with today’s guest, Lisa Rimmert.
 
Lisa is here to share the story of Dakota who inspired her book: STAY – My Forever Friendship with an Aging Dog. Have you ever felt like maybe you want to punch someone who calls your dog “old” or a “senior”?  Lisa’s been there.  But Lisa was pretty sure that her “elder states-dog” of the dog park was going to live forever.
 
Lisa graduated college, became a military spouse and adopted Dakota all within a few months in her early 20s. She spent her whole adult life with Dakota by her side –  while crisscrossing the USA with her husband’s military assignments.
 
Lisa didn’t know how to be an adult without Dakota. And when Dakota begins to show concerning signs of a degenerative spinal disorder, Lisa didn’t want to have to be the grown-up to make difficult decisions on Dakota’s behalf. 
 
Lisa & I share how much our dogs have taught us about ourselves – from enjoying the caregiver role to work/life balance – from being present to learning how to show up for others during hard times.  I think many of us have felt that our dogs play a huge role in making you … you.
 
Both Lisa’s book and this conversation are vulnerable but perhaps surprisingly funny reflections of everything from mystery poops to examining our own internal monologue.
 
Lisa & I cover topics such as assessing your dog’s quality of life, advocating for your dog’s health and a few Public Service Announcements of things we’ve learned the hard way which might come handy for you in the future.
 
Trigger Warning: General theme of pet loss, but specifically may need tissues in the first 7 minutes.
 
Find Links, Show Notes & Photos at:
https://believeindogpodcast.com/episodes-1/episode63
 
If you feel called to, you can make a donation in Penny’s memory to B-More Dog.
 
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