Puppy love

By Sasha Petrova
LAKESIDE’S Elena Petrov was always a cat person. That is, until she got her first puppy, Xena.
It was when she was having a rough time at work that her husband suggested she get a puppy. Now she is a fully-fledged dog lover.
“I always thought I was more of a cat person because I never had dogs. But now having dogs, I realise that they really change your life,” she said.
“It isn’t that you just take care of them and you’re constantly busy with them, it’s more about having someone who loves you unconditionally and who is always really happy to see you.
“I wake up in the morning not thinking about sad things and seeing a happy puppy wagging her tail at me and licking my hands and being so happy just to see me. It melts my heart with love and I’m thinking that it was actually a very good idea to have a puppy.”
In fact, she thought it was such a good idea that shortly after adopting Xena, Elena decided it was time for another.
“I’m working the whole day and my husband is at work and Xena was very lonely waiting for us to give her attention. That’s why we thought it would be a good idea for us to have another dog. So we got Henry who is four months younger than Xena.”
Originally coming from Russia, Elena was always hesitant about having a pet.
“Vet services were not developed in Russia,” she said.
“You don’t know what to do when they get sick and you suffer together with them. I don’t remember anyone taking their cats or dogs to the vet. That’s why if something happens to them, you’re left to your own devices to help them to recover.
“It is completely different in Australia. It’s very satisfying to know that your pets are taken care of. It’s not just about helping them in urgent situation, it’s preventing dogs or cats being sick or having any kind of common animal or pet diseases.”
Xena and Henry are golden retrievers, a breed Elena chose due to their well-known, kind natures.
But this kindness poses another problem for Elena. It makes it hard to accept the fact that they are just dogs.
“I have a feeling that they understand more than what they just see,” she said while Xena looked at her adoringly.
“I can almost see it in their eyes. Maybe their brain processing power is not as strong as ours but there is something in them on that sensory level that makes them highly sensitive and understanding.
“I can see that as time progresses our bond is growing stronger.”