Addicts and the Pets That Love Them
Nancy A. Schenck
CENTRAL RECOVERY PRESS
LAS VEGAS , NEVADA
CENTRAL RECOVERY PRESS Central Recovery Press (CRP) is committed to publishing exceptional material addressing addiction treatment and recovery. Through a diverse selection of titles, it seeks to impact the behavioral healthcare field with a broad range of unique resources for professionals, recovering individuals, and their families. For more information, visit www.centralrecoverypress.com.
CRP donates a portion of its proceeds to Foundation for Recovery, a nonprofit organization local and national in scope. Its purpose is to promote recovery from addiction through a variety of forums, such as direct services, research and development, education, study of recovery alternatives, public awareness, and advocacy.
Central Recovery Press, Las Vegas, NV 89129
© 2009 by Central Recovery Press, Las Vegas, NV
eISBN-13: 978-1-936290-34-5
eISBN-10: 1-936290-34-0
All rights reserved. Published 2009. Printed in the United States of America.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
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Publisher: Central Recovery Press
3371 N Buffalo Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89129
Cover design and interior by Sara Streifel, Think Creative Design
To Momma and Daddy, I wish you both would have stayed here longer.
To my first real friend, Happy, who taught me about the power of love.
CONTENTS
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CHAPTER TWO Addiction Is… Second Chance
CHAPTER THREE Finding a Higher Power A Cat by My Side
CHAPTER FOUR Making Amends The Girls
CHAPTER FIVE Grief and Loss The Best Friend I Ever Had
CHAPTER SIX Responsibility A Real Fish Story
CHAPTER SEVEN Trust A Stray of My Own
CHAPTER EIGHT Commitment Dogs, Recovery, and Commitment
CHAPTER NINE Self-Acceptance My Dog Jupiter
CHAPTER TEN Tolerance Delia
CHAPTER ELEVEN Unconditional Love Mishka and Chance
CHAPTER TWELVE TheTwelve Steps
Share your “Tail” of Recovery
References
Resources
My Own Recovery “Tail”
Why do humans have relationships with other species? After all, we’re not related, don’t fall in love with each other, and aren’t true friends. We don’t raise or educate our children together; don’t travel together; don’t eat the same foods, and we don’t share the same medical doctors or concerns—or do we?
In Tails of Recovery: Addicts and the Pets That Love Them, the journey you’ll be taken on may make you question all of the above. Humans are physiologically wired to needing others. The word “human” is derived from humane, which means kind, merciful, sympathetic, and compassionate. As a matter of fact, human survival has always depended on teamwork, although sometimes it is not other humans who are needed.
Some of us invite pets (other species I will refer to as animals) into our lives. We even invite animals into our lives when we are at our worst. However, we may not know we’re at our worst because pets don’t tell us in human language. They never try to change who we choose to be, but simply show appreciation for the invite. They acknowledge this invitation by walking at our sides, waiting for us when we’re gone, and, well, just being with us.
Finally, here’s a book that proves pets (meaning “beloved”) are not only our comrades, but also our guides, teachers, and, at times, our spiritual enhancers.
The human path is full of tests that may be mountainous to some. These stories show us that when walking with animals by our sides, anything is possible.
In this book, recovering addicts share stories of their voyages from chemical dependency and insanity, back to a world of rehabilitation, wellness, and inner harmony. Even the author began her own journey of self-awakening by bringing a Labrador-pit bull rescue into her home. Her dog, Sophie, began counseling immediately.
First, Sophie allowed Nancy to feel her unconditional acceptance simply by sitting with her. The essence of having each other’s company began the healing process. Nancy’s Totem
