But here’s the thing, the part that might not be so obvious to the naked eye, the reason so many of us in the rescue and humanitarian sector keep going. It's gratitude.

“Don’t get a Malinois,” people repeatedly warned me when I first declared my intention to welcome one of these famously intense Belgian herding dogs into my life.

Even in the darkest times, I could always find gratitude, which I think made a huge impact on my treatment and recovery.