Frozen treats, challenging brain games, or a cozy night in? Valentine’s Day can be a fun excuse to do something extra for your dog.

Everett,WA–This morning, I woke up to the same gray, winter sky I have seen for the past two months. January in Everett feels less like a month and more like a sentence. The rain is sideways, and therefore best viewed horizontally from a warm bed. On days when it feels truly impossible to leave the comfort of my blankets, I feel a thumping tail on my feet. Barry doesn’t care about the existential dread of winter. All Barry wants is to chase a ball.  

As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, many of us feel a little down. For some, this manifests as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression tied to the lack of sunlight during the winter months. But relief might not come from a pharmacy—it might be lying at your feet, wagging its tail. Could a dog be the answer to beating the winter blues?

A peek into the diary of our “Branch Manager” Barry.