Four Years of Loyalty, Love, and Legacy—Happy Birthday, Oscar ❤🙏
Today, my German Shepherd Oscar turns four. His name means “God’s warrior” in Irish, and that’s exactly what he’s been for me—a guardian angel, a loyal companion, and a living link to my dad and our first GSD, Asha, whose name meant hope.
Oscar’s intelligence, loyalty, and love have made me stronger in every way—physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Walking beside him, I’ve learned that trust and loyalty are earned, not given. He’s not just my protector—he’s my soul dog, the one who opened my heart to love again. For that, I’ll always be grateful. Here’s to many more adventures together. The journey with Oscar, my German Shepherd has been extraordinary not least because he opened me up in ways I thought was impossible. To acknowledge him I have to go back to my life before him.
Losing my dad broke my world open causing me to confront uncomfortable parts of my past. I realised I had not had to do this while I had my dad because he cushioned me, and gave me everything I could possibly need, and more. But imagine being without a safety net, yes that was me after losing dad. Nobody waiting for me and no safe space called home.
My father established my being as a good person in the world but his absence made me realised there was nobody left, it was always just my dad, but now, Oscar has changed that. There are people who have never experienced true love, I have, first with my dad and now with Oscar.
Oscar gives me unconditional non demanding compassion and love, he has unearthed the love buried in my heart, and he gives me the unconditional love I thought I would never experience again. I went from hopelessness to hope thanks to Oscar.
My goal is no more to reconnect with my past hurt or to find answers from others. I am like all of us worthy, we are valued for being us not for being something we do. That is the discovery my beautiful German Shepherd has helped me to unearth.
Every single person is walking with a story worth a book. We are at our greatness when we are surrounded by love. A painful loss such as my father’s death and walking the journey alone, I realised I am not alone. My father and God engineered the arrival of Oscar to help me see me. Little did I know there was more inside me that I did not know existed.
I am deeply grateful to Oscar for helping me find hope. Those who have dogs or have had a dog will understand, but those who have never experienced this kind of unconditional love cannot possibly understand. Words like, he is just a dog shows ignorance. Noel Fitzpatrick says in his book, Dogs and their Humans, ‘to those who have never experienced it, it is like trying to describe music to someone who has never heard it’.
It is thanks to Oscar I get to walk daily come rain or shine. Thanks to him I have discovered my physical strength and mental capacity. I never knew I had it in me to bathe such a big dog let alone walk besides such a majestic breed with an air of confidence, this is all thanks to him.
He is my silent and cosy companion. Sitting side by side while watching the world go by there is a warmth that fills one’s heart which often words cannot. In the morning he leans his head against me and I realise wow, I must have done some good in God’s eyes to be worthy of his trust.
My father’s death broke me open and Oscar’s arrival helped me start the journey of healing. It is wonderful to be found and be his human.
Dear Oscar, as you mark your fourth birthday may you be blessed, may you be healthy and may you always be loved by yours truly. Happy birthday my wonderful GSD you are the best friend I could have asked for.
Thank you Oscar, my life is immeasurably better because of you.
©DMP
26th May 2025
The photograph below was captured by our family friend, trainer and teacher, Mr. Chris Dring.
