Meet Cosmo: The Little Dog Who Became Her Universe

"He reminds me that time with the ones we love is a gift, and he teaches me how to be entirely present in it every single day."

What's your dog's name, and how did you choose it?

His name is Cosmo! My beautiful mum actually helped me choose it before she passed away from cancer. We talked on the phone for about three hours, trying to come up with a name that would be absolutely perfect for him, because she would always tell me that he was going to become my entire world. We landed on Cosmo because it means universe or galaxy, and it was the perfect fit for the journey we were about to start together, a journey like no other.

What was your first day together like?

The first day was an emotional rollercoaster. My mum and I were supposed to go to the adoption event together on March 1st, but she was hospitalised due to non-epileptic seizures caused by her cancer that morning. I refused to go without her, but she texted me from her bed, insisting I still go look because she knew I’d need someone to care for when she was gone. It took a lot of convincing, but I went alone and fell completely in love with Cosmo’s sweet eyebrows, big ears, and tiny legs! When I FaceTimed her, she was so proud she called over her hospital nurses, my aunt, and her caregiver to show him off. 

The ride home was a long, one-hour drive to show my dad, who strictly told me I was only looking, and poor Cosmo puked twice on the way! But the second we walked in, my dad fell in love instantly. From there, we spent some time introducing my puppy to the family dog, and he was just a bit nervous but did so well. When we finally got to my home, Cosmo cried for hours during crate training. Missing my mum deeply, I caved and let him sleep in my bed, where he was already so confident and full of beans. Knowing she passed away just a few weeks later, that day means everything to me.

What three words would you use to describe your dog?

Velcro, comforting, and chaotic! 
He is a certified Velcro shadow who follows me room to room, tracks my every move, and glues himself to my side the second I sit down. Yet, he is incredibly comforting; he always knows exactly when I need a deep cuddle to ground me. And finally, he’s beautifully chaotic; he is a Staffy cross Miniature Dachshund, so he has these hilarious little eyebrows, a big personality, and is always entirely full of beans!

What would be a perfect day for you with your dog? Are there any local dog-friendly places you take them?

Our perfect day is all about keeping things simple, but our absolute priority is bringing Cosmo along wherever we can! He has his very own car seat for that exact reason, so he can safely tag along on every adventure. A perfect day would be a family road trip with me, my partner, and Cosmo, heading down to a local dog-friendly beach, exploring a weekend market, or just hitting the shops together. My partner has been my absolute rock since losing my mum, and he treats Cosmo with so much respect, like he’s his very own child. Cosmo absolutely loves the car now, which is hilarious looking back on how car sick he was on his first day! We just love those simple, everyday moments where the three of us get to be together.

What's the first thing your dog does when you get home?

The absolute second I step through the door, Cosmo transforms into the ultimate Velcro dog! For a smaller dog, I never thought he'd be capable of it, but he literally launches himself straight up into my arms every single time. He just cries with joy and tries to basically crawl inside my skin with pure excitement. After our big emotional welcome, he doesn't leave my side for a single second. It is the absolute best feeling in the world.

Name three things your dog is amazing at doing?

First, he is an expert at being a certified Velcro shadow; he tracks my every move around the house flawlessly and is a master at high-jumping straight into my arms when I walk through the door! Second, he is amazing at sensing exactly when I need him most. On mornings when I’m crying in bed, dreading getting up and thinking about my mum and all the things she will miss, he just knows. He climbs right up to cuddle me and gives me the strength to face the day. Third, he is amazing at completely changing the mood because he is just so incredibly funny! He does the funniest, most chaotic things that make us burst out laughing, reminding me that it's okay to feel joy and laugh through the messy parts of healing.

How has your dog’s presence helped you get through a difficult chapter in your life?

Cosmo came into my life right before the most devastating chapter, losing my mum to cancer. In the heavy months of grief that followed, and even now, Cosmo is my soft place to land. There are mornings when I will just be crying in bed, dreading getting up and thinking about my mum and all the milestones she is going to miss that I'll have to go through alone. Somehow, he just knows. He will come right over and cuddle with me, giving me the exact comfort and quiet strength I need to get out of bed and face the day. He essentially guided me through the darkest parts of my healing process.

What makes your bond with your dog so special?

Our bond is special because Cosmo is a living piece of my mum's final advice to me. She was hospitalised on the morning we were supposed to go to the adoption event together, but she insisted from her bed that I still go find a companion to care for. He is the ultimate partner in my healing. But what makes us so incredibly close is how balanced he is; he can sit in the heavy silence with me when I'm crying, but he is also just so incredibly funny! He constantly does the funniest, most chaotic things that completely fill our home with laughter when I need it most.

What are you most thankful for about your friendship with your dog? Do they make you calmer or happier- how?

I am most thankful for his pure, unwavering loyalty and his incredible ability to just "get" me. Cosmo makes me so much calmer because when my mind is racing, or the weight of missing my mum feels heavy, he just knows to come and glue himself to my side. At the same time, he makes me infinitely happier because he is such a comedian. He is so funny and constantly does little things that make my partner and me burst out laughing. I am so incredibly grateful for the way he can completely change the energy in a room; he brought laughter back into my life when I thought I'd forgotten how, and he reminds me every single day that even in messy healing, it's okay to experience pure joy. He was my mum's final, most beautiful piece of advice to me, and every single day I am thankful that she knew exactly how much I would need him. He is quite literally the anchor that keeps me grounded and the reason my heart is able to heal.

What is the biggest lesson in patience your dog has ever taught you?

Cosmo has taught me the profound lesson that healing isn't a straight line, and neither is life with a dog! He came into my world at a time when everything felt completely overwhelming, and managing our daily routine forced me to slow down and really appreciate the small things we have. Most importantly, he has taught me to deeply appreciate time and to remember that it isn't here forever.

He’s shown me that grief and joy can beautifully coexist, and that I don’t need to be so hard on myself when things are tough, because we so often are. Through all of our chaotic moments, Cosmo has shown me that even when we fail, we just have to keep trying, keep having fun, and find a really true, gentle sense of peace right in the middle of the mess. He reminds me that time with the ones we love is a gift, and he teaches me how to be entirely present in it every single day.

Cosmo and bestie are wearing the Aqua Blue FriendshipCollar

Instagram Handle: @helloitscosmo_

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