Recently, I shared a post inviting people to talk about their relationships with their pets and the impact of this bond on their lives. The idea was to understand what it is like to experience moving with a pet to another country. I spoke with some Brazilian immigrants who share a deep emotional bond with their pets, and what started as informal interviews with women I met in a Facebook group turned into powerful, emotional exchanges. As a researcher and clinician who has heard different stories about animals and the complexities of this relationship, I expected to hear about connection, challenges, and emotional support. These were the topics of our conversation, but what I learned talking to them also involved grief, resilience, and trauma related to separation.

While listening to the many situations described by these women, I reflected on my own experiences with my dogs. With their consent, I bring pieces of their experiences.

When I moved to Canada, I had two dogs: Pantro and Lisa. Pantro came with me when I immigrated from Brazil in 2018, and his presence was crucial during this transition. In the early stages of the pandemic, he was quite literally the only living being I could safely touch and the only face I saw daily. With all the social distancing measures and the border restrictions in place, I spent 11 months without seeing my family while working remotely. During this time, his presence was grounding for me. He brought me balance........

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