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A tiny chihuahua with a big heart can change the shape of your days, especially when your life is packed with long shifts, stress, and responsibility. I sit down with Agustina, an Argentinian doctor living in Brazil, to talk about Gavin and the kind of companionship that doesn’t just make you smile, it steadies you. If you’ve ever felt that quiet emptiness after coming home, or wondered whether you’re “doing enough” for your dog, you’ll recognize yourself in this story.

We move from the practical to the unforgettable: dog daycare during residency, a chihuahua who wants constant human contact, and the surprising reality that this little guy has traveled to the Amazon. Agustina shares what it was like spotting an alligator on a walk and deciding, instantly, that Gavin is safest in her arms. Then we shift to beach life, where Gavin runs for miles, loves sun and sand, and treats ocean water like a personal enemy.

We also go deeper into pet grief and coping with pet loss. Agustina reflects on the dogs she loved before Gavin, including a German shepherd and a Rottweiler who helped her family feel protected, plus Uma, the “mystery breed” she adopted on a whim during medical school. The theme that keeps coming back is simple: grief hurts because the love was real, and peace comes from knowing you gave them a full life.

Finally, we talk animal-assisted therapy and why dogs belong in healing spaces. Agustina describes therapy dogs visiting children during chemotherapy and how a calm, kind dog can bring a moment of normal life back to a hospital room. 

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