u/OkAssist2823

So about five years ago, I took up hiking and decided to climb Scafell Pike — the tallest peak in the UK. For safety, I bought one of those loud emergency whistles and, for whatever reason, it’s lived on my car keys ever since. Just a harmless little hiking relic.

Fast‑forward a few years.
My step‑daughter — she was 15 at the time — was groomed online and taken away for 24 hours. The worst happened. Last November we were at court for the sentencing. Her predator got 29 years, and we were all tense, exhausted, and trying to hold it together.

Now, I had no idea my whistle was going to be a problem. But security spotted it and confiscated it because apparently it could “disrupt court proceedings.”
Fair enough — I wasn’t planning to start a one‑man orchestra in the public gallery.

I handed it over, walked away… and immediately started giggling.
My daughter looked at me like I’d lost the plot.

“What are you laughing at?”
I tried to hold it in. “No… I can’t tell you. It’s not appropriate.”
She kept pushing, so eventually I cracked.

“They’ve taken my whistle… what if someone tries to rape me now?”

She exploded laughing. In the middle of the court waiting area.
Everyone else is tense and traumatised, and we’re over here having a dark‑humour meltdown.

And to this day, that stupid whistle joke still makes us laugh — because sometimes, after everything, you need that tiny moment of ridiculousness to breathe again.

I’ve always found dogs to be incredible company, and I’m wondering how many people here feel the same.

I’m in Lincoln, UK, and I currently live with 25 dogs — more than most people, I know. The original plan was to move onto land about 18 months ago to start a project involving breeding Labradors and Spaniels to support a charity idea. The goal was to provide lifelong companion dogs for children affected by SA or DV, and for members of the armed forces or emergency services living with PTSD.

But life didn’t go the way we planned. The land fell through, other opportunities never lined up, and I’ve kept telling myself “just another six months”. It’s reached a point where that isn’t fair on the dogs, or on my family.

So I’m taking a hard look at things and making some difficult decisions. What I’d really like to know is this:

Is there anyone in this community who feels they would genuinely benefit from the companionship of a dog?

Not in a transactional way — more in the sense of whether a steady, loyal dog has helped you, or could help you, through loneliness, routine, mental health, or day‑to‑day life.

I’d love to hear people’s experiences with canine companionship, especially from anyone who’s found that a dog made a real difference in their wellbeing.

I’ve always found dogs to be incredible company, and I’m wondering how many people here feel the same.

I’m in Lincoln, UK, and I currently live with 25 dogs — more than most people, I know. The original plan was to move onto land about 18 months ago to start a project involving breeding Labradors and Spaniels to support a charity idea. The goal was to provide lifelong companion dogs for children affected by SA or DV, and for members of the armed forces or emergency services living with PTSD.

But life didn’t go the way we planned. The land fell through, other opportunities never lined up, and I’ve kept telling myself “just another six months”. It’s reached a point where that isn’t fair on the dogs, or on my family.

So I’m taking a hard look at things and making some difficult decisions. What I’d really like to know is this:

Is there anyone in this community who feels they would genuinely benefit from the companionship of a dog?

Not in a transactional way — more in the sense of whether a steady, loyal dog has helped you, or could help you, through loneliness, routine, mental health, or day‑to‑day life.

I’d love to hear people’s experiences with canine companionship, especially from anyone who’s found that a dog made a real difference in their wellbeing.

hello all

25f looking for someone my around my age and also female to chat with about anything and everything

Firstly im a very lonely person. i spend 90% of my time alone not talking with anyone and im ok with that i have made my peice with it.

Secondly im married to an amazing woman that i love very much, and we see eachother t the end of the day when we are both exhasted and ready for bed. i also have some children who i see occasionally.

so why am i ranting, opening a disscussion? i see a lot of lonelyness and ppl asking why or saying its all to much and i feel like that ALL the time. its something that doesnt go away but it doesnt bother my day to day as much as it could. now i have a secret i have dogs, and dogs are a really god send. i love my dogs and they love me, the listen to me and give me affection etc and give me focus and drive to just keep going.

about 2 yrs ago something horrible happened to my then 15yr old daughter. she was groomed, taken away for 24-36hr (it would have been longer if not for the police finding her) and then ill let you fill in those blanks. dark times dark times

my dogs helped her through the dark times.

i want my dogs to help others through there dark times, help them over there lonelyness, help them find contentment through the missery.

is there anybody out there that would like that kind of help? are you in the UK and drowning in lonelyness?

the oldest bit of teck in my house is an iphone 6 but my dad has a compac laptop 93/94 and a makita drill thats 35yrs old