Welcoming 17 pounds of stress relief into my home

The end of the school year is always chaotic, and the arrival of warm weather, since I work on a farm, leads to plenty of outdoor chores. All of these responsibilities and the seemingly never-ending to-do lists can cause anxiety, which I manage and is a common co-diagnosis for those of us with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS).

So with that in mind, it seems like a perfect time to adopt another dog, right?

I only adopt senior dogs, as they’re typically mellow, house-trained, and just looking for a soft landing of cookies and dog beds. For better or worse, I’ve had more dogs over the years than most people have, since it’s not uncommon for me to have them for only a few years at most. I’ve had numerous breeds and mixes, but they’ve almost always been big, even extra large: Great Danes, mastiffs, pit mixes, hounds of various kinds and sizes, you name it.

I don’t think I’ve ever had a dog that weighed less than 40 pounds or so. Recently, however, after much debate, I adopted a dog named Tinkerbell — she came with that name and knows it, so it’s staying — and she’s a hilarious, opinionated 17 pounds of sass and attitude.

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Something about her caught my attention when I saw her at a rescue online, and I just knew she’d be a great fit with my two other dogs. I’m not sure what breed she is, other than maybe a mix of Pomeranian and “Heinz 57,” which is the animal rescue world’s way of saying that she’s a mix of anything and everything. She looks like a tiny fox.

One thing I’ve quickly learned about having a tiny, excitable dog is that she gets very hyper when I get home, bouncing around on her hind legs, desperate for me to pick her up and give her cuddles as her tiny claws scrape down my legs and arms. As I hold her while she licks my face, my chocolate Lab brings me her favorite stuffy as a present and my Labrador-corgi mix waits patiently to be petted.

It’s impossible not to laugh at their joy. Each time I see them, the extra work of another dog melts away with the stress relief they bring me.

Because of my EDS, Tinkerbell’s tiny claws, which aren’t at all painful and do no true damage, still leave their marks on my skin. I’m probably going to spend the next several years with tiny Tink marks all over me. While many fade after a few minutes, I’m certain I’ll still wind up with plenty of little bruise marks from her adorable “welcome home” antics. I mean, if I can get bruises from scratching, I’m pretty sure I’m going to wind up with some from her as well!

I had a few moments when I thought, “Oh no, not more bruises! And yet another way for my legs to look even less awesome than they already do.” I already tend to waffle between not caring how I look and being self-conscious about the bruises that are always on my legs. But I quickly shifted into the “I don’t care” mode. If I’m going to wind up with extra bruises thanks to my EDS, what better way to get them than from a tiny creature who’s so excited to see you that she can’t stay still?

I’ll take a sweet dog who needs a home over a few silly bruises any day!

Note: Ehlers-Danlos News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Ehlers-Danlos News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Ehlers-Danlos.