From the moment I met Momo, I knew she was different. We connected so easily, and even before any formal training, I found myself teaching her small tricks just for fun. In those early moments, I began to see how emotionally attuned she was to me, almost as if she could sense my thoughts before I spoke them.
Living with anxiety for most of my life, staying present has always been a challenge. That’s where Momo changed everything. What began as simple training exercises soon became something deeper. Each session wasn’t just about teaching her skills. It was about learning to breathe, to slow down, and to feel grounded. Through that process, I didn’t just end up with a well-trained dog. I found a partner who gave me a sense of purpose and achievement every single day.
When we started her psychiatric service dog training, I was nervous, but the coursework was so easy to follow, and the trainers were incredibly supportive. They didn’t just teach me how to train Momo. They helped us strengthen the bond we already shared. Every lesson felt like we were growing together, step by step.
Momo is turning seven soon, and the fact that she still learns new things every day reminds me just how special and intelligent she is. Watching her enthusiasm and ability to keep growing has taught me that connection and learning have no age limit. I try to take her everywhere with me, but in India, that hasn’t always been easy. There’s little awareness about service dogs, and at times, it has been a challenge to make people understand her role in my life. That’s why getting her officially certified as a psychiatric service dog was such an emotional milestone. Knowing she can now travel with me wherever my career takes me makes me feel ready for whatever comes next because I know I’ll have Momo by my side.
She’s my soul dog. Training her hasn’t just been about commands or tasks. It has been about building a bond that feels bigger than us both. My greatest hope is that one day Momo can be the same light for others that she has been for me.
