• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Display Search Bar
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Facebook Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Twitter Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Pinterest Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Instagram Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on YouTube Follow 5 Minutes For Mom via RSS

5 Minutes for Mom

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast and Brunch
      • Snack
      • Lunch
      • Appetizer
      • Dinner
      • Dessert
    • Ingredient
      • Apple
      • Beef
      • Blueberry
      • Chicken
      • Chocolate
      • Cranberry
      • Peach
      • Pumpkin
      • Squash
      • Strawberry
      • Tomato
      • Vegetables
      • Zucchini
    • Method
      • Air Fryer
      • Baking
      • Grilling
      • Instant Pot
      • No Bake
      • One Dish
      • Slow Cooker
    • Type
      • Breads and Rolls
      • Cakes and Muffins
      • Condiments
      • Cookies and Bars
      • Drinks
      • Food for Kids
      • Gluten-Free
      • Main Dish
      • Pies and Crisps
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches and Wraps
      • Side Dishes
      • Smoothies
      • Soup
  • Crafts & DIY
    • Crafts
    • DIY
    • Kids Crafts
    • Printables
    • Scrapbooking
    • Sewing
  • Family Life
    • Giveaways
    • Lifestyle
    • Marriage
    • Motherhood
    • Parenting
    • Pet Care
    • Special Needs
    • Time Management
    • Travel
  • Holidays
    • New Year’s
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Mother’s Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas

Every Dog Has a Purpose

January 9, 2017 by Janice

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

ShareTweetPinPocketMail

A Dogs Purpose

My son was seven, soon to be eight.

He was tall for his age, with blond hair, blue eyes, and a smile that took over a room.

His heart was sensitive, his need to be loved overwhelming. He had prayed for years that God would put a baby in my belly, and finally he had a little sister.

But life wasn’t easy for my sweet baby boy. In fact, every day my heart ripped and tore fresh wounds for my struggling child.

With a cruel mix of “challenges,” (as he called them,) each hour of his life was a roller coaster of extreme emotions and uncontrollable impulses.

His psychiatrist called him an enigma, with several diagnosis at play.

While he had some of the same issues as children with Autism Spectrum Disorder have, my son wasn’t diagnosed with ASD. Instead he had a handful of diagnosis that attempted to describe his symptoms: ADHD, Anxiety/Mood Disorder, Opposition Defiance Disorder, and Sensory Processing Disorder.

In short, he hurt. He couldn’t understand or manage his emotions and impulses. When he felt something, whether it was happiness or boredom or frustration, he felt it too intensely. He was on medication, but that seemed to make his emotional issues worse.

So he pushed boundaries, acted out, got in trouble – at school and at home. Every day, every hour, every minute it seemed.

The constant reprimands broke his little heart. He said to me, “Mommy, when I was young I thought the world was a good place and I would have a happy life. But then I just grew into a naughty little boy.”

As his anxiety and depression increased, I became desperate to find some piece of relief I could give my boy.

“The ones we rescue, rescue us.”

It was actually my psychiatrist who recommended I get him a dog.

I was telling her about how bad my son’s anxiety was getting, and she suggested a pet therapy dog.

My son had always begged for a dog, but I had put it off until I was finished changing diapers. Life was busy enough with a toddler and a seven year old.

But the moment my doctor said it, I knew I needed to get my son a therapy dog.

So I went online.

And I quickly realized I could never afford a therapy dog, nor did I want to wait for months. I wanted relief for him right away.

So I started researching dog breeds, local breeders and animal shelters.

AJI talked to shelters and discussed my son and what kind of dog I should get for him.

And then one night I found him – my son’s dog. Our new puppy.

The funny thing about AJ is, he isn’t “what” he was supposed to be.

We found him at a scam shelter, with a woman who lied about his breed and background. He was terribly sick with parasites and it took months to get him healthy.

We have no idea where he really came from. Everything the woman told us was a lie.

But he was perfect — the rescue pup meant for us.

And the Years Go By…

My son just turned fifteen. AJ is now seven.

Life didn’t get easier for my boy. He is still on medication and still struggles with his multiple diagnosis.

But AJ has brought my son, and each of us in our family, the extra doses of joy and unconditional love we all so desperately needed.

DIY dog bed tutorial

AJ brings happiness. He makes us laugh. He makes us stop and play or go for a walk.

And despite his ability to steal our food right off our plates or sneak behind us and grab scraps right from the food compost, he makes us calmer, more content people.

It was a strange fluke that I found our little “rescue” pup. We will never know how that woman got him or where he came from. But we don’t care.

He was made for us. He heals each of us a bit more each day. We might have rescued him, but he truly is rescuing us.

A Dog’s Purpose, in theaters January 27

Movies like this are made for families like ours…

Based on the beloved bestselling novel by W. Bruce Cameron, A Dog’s Purpose, from director Lasse Hallström (The Cider House Rules, Dear John, The 100-Foot Journey), shares the soulful and surprising story of one devoted dog (voiced by Josh Gad) who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love. The family film told from the dog’s perspective also stars Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, Britt Robertson, K.J. Apa, Juilet Rylance, Luke Kirby, John Ortiz and Pooch Hall.

As a parent, I am so grateful for films that appeal to both my kids and me. When we can enjoy a movie together, a story that entertains and speaks to each of us, it is a treat I treasure long after the popcorn has disappeared.

I can already tell that A Dog’s Purpose will be one of those movies. I can’t wait to watch it with my kids.

My Dog’s Purpose Poster Generator

Does your dog deserve to be in the movies? You can have fun and recreate the #ADogsPurpose movie poster using your dog & share using #MyDogsPurpose. Your dog could even be featured in the film’s campaign.

A Dogs Purpose

You can create yours now at My Dog’s Purpose.

Also…

Dog lovers can upload their furry friend’s picture to the film’s mosaic and connect with pups looking for a forever home via Best Friends Animal Society!

dog mosaic

A DOG’S PURPOSE – IN THEATERS JANUARY 27
Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #ADogsPurpose

This post is sponsored by Universal Pictures. Thanks for reading and supporting our site.

Written by Janice Croze, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom
Talk with me: @5minutesformom and Facebook.com/5minutesformom
Pin with me at pinterest.com/5minutesformom

ShareTweetPinPocketMail
20 Conversation Hearts Sweet Treats for Valentine’s Day
Light and Healthy Recipes

About Janice

Janice is co-founder of 5 Minutes For Mom. She's been working online since 2003 and is thankful her days are full of social media, writing and photography.

Reader Interactions


Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

1 Comment

  1. Michelle says

    February 20, 2017 at 11:15 am

    Janice, I came across your original post about getting a dog for Jackson. I had googled “will a dog help a child with ADHD?”. I realized that the post was in 2009. I then did a search on your page to find out how AJ and Jackson were now. Funny to fast forward in the life of another family who struggled similarly. IT was heart warming to hear AJ’s impact on your family. My daughter is 8 and we are in the process of determining if she has ADHD. She has been treated for Sensory Processing at 4 and we have struggled to help her for many years with focus, emotional mood swings etc. She is bright, charismatic, determined and EXTREMELY OBSESSED with DOGS. We have two other children , a 10 year old and our youngest is now 5 (with different medical issues PFAPA) and I’m feeling that we just might be ready and need a dog. All of this to say, thank you for telling your story! It’s still helping families. Praying that our timing will be right and that we will eventually find our “perfect match”.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Bringing Moms Together

We are Janice and Susan, twin bloggers and work-at-home moms. We're here to inspire, encourage & empower you.

Meet Us…

Work With Us…

Subscribe via Email

to be first to read new posts

Trending Now

“You Color My World” Free Printable Valentines

“You Color My World” Free Printable Valentines

Oven Roasted Potatoes and Peppers Recipe

Oven Roasted Potatoes and Peppers Recipe

How To Use A Moka Pot – Discover The Secret To Making Amazing Coffee At Home

How To Use A Moka Pot – Discover The Secret To Making Amazing Coffee At Home

Get Outside and Play with Spray Chalk

Get Outside and Play with Spray Chalk

browse around

  • Posts by Susan
  • Posts by Janice
  • Favorite Recipes
  • Favorite Crafts
  • Giveaways
  • All Posts

Footer

Recipes

St. Patrick’s Day Sugar Cookies with a Clever Decorating Trick

St. Patrick’s Day Sugar Cookies with a Clever Decorating Trick

Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe and History

Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe and History

Easy Valentine Sugar Cookies

Easy Valentine Sugar Cookies

Crafts/DIY

Summer Word Search Puzzles For Kids

Summer Word Search Puzzles For Kids

“You Color My World” Free Printable Valentines

“You Color My World” Free Printable Valentines

Buddy the Elf Hat Pattern – How to Make an Elf Hat out of Felt

Buddy the Elf Hat Pattern – How to Make an Elf Hat out of Felt

Giveaways

Holiday Gift Guides and Christmas Giveaway 2024

Holiday Gift Guides and Christmas Giveaway 2024

Valentine’s Day Gifts For Women

Valentine’s Day Gifts For Women

REDEEMING LOVE Set to Strike Gold on the Big Screen #RedeemingLoveMovie

REDEEMING LOVE Set to Strike Gold on the Big Screen #RedeemingLoveMovie

Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Facebook Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Twitter Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Pinterest Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Instagram Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on YouTube Follow 5 Minutes For Mom via RSS
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Us
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2025 5 Minutes for MomTheme by Melissa Rose Design and Once Coupled