The Twins
Dear Frankie,
For years my friend’s parents, the bus driver, the lady in the library, and the dogs at doggie daycare have been telling me to lower my bark, calm down, and stop jumping around.
The nurse wrote my parents a note about my behavior and suggested I see a vet to see if my problem was physical. The vet I saw recommended an assessment for hyperactivity. When the test results came back, I scored off the charts for attention and hyperactivity problems.
The specialist I saw told my mom I had ADHD, which means I have an attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. I now take a pill that helps me focus and concentrate on what I am doing. I am also being coached by a canine therapist on how to be more organized. I used to, for example, lose my leash or forget where I buried a bone because I wasn’t paying attention.
One of the dogs at the park asked me why I wasn’t as loopy anymore. I told him I have ADHD, take pills, and see a therapist. Since then, he and a few other dogs have been saying I’m a druggie and a psycho.
I should have never told him the truth; now everyone knows I’m a weirdo.
Figaro
Dear Figaro,
You are hardly a weirdo. You are, however, buying into those dogs’ bad behavior. Cool it: you have a physical disorder. It’s no different than having diabetes and taking insulin.
Speak to your therapist and ask her how other dogs have handled being called names.
Some say, “Sticks and stones will break your bones, but names will never harm you.”
That is not bad advice. Don’t give these jerks the power to hurt your feelings, and never allow yourself to be defined by dogs who don’t know what they are barking about.
Best, Frankie
© 2023 Geneva Woodruff
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