I’m Hera, an eleven-year-old lady who once lived in a cruel puppy mill. You can imagine how awful life was before Isabelle rescued me. I don’t even want to think about it!
When Isabelle showed up, everything changed. She gave me a chance. She gave me joy. She gave me a life worth living.
I finally belonged somewhere.
But then Isabelle began talking to someone on a glowing screen, a person she called… her therapist.
What’s a therapist, Isabelle? Can I have a turn to chat with her too?
A Plus One In Every Therapy Call
Hera always thought her mom Isabelle told her absolutely everything. What she didn’t know was that someone on the other side of a laptop screen was also listening: Isabelle’s therapist.
Therapy is nothing to be ashamed of. Many people benefit greatly from it, and Isabelle’s choice to find a professional to talk to was one of the best steps she ever made.
What her therapist hadn’t counted on was that Isabelle came as a package deal. For the cost of one client, the counselor actually got two voices: Isabelle and her faithful dog, Hera.
Quite the bargain, don’t you think?
“Hera loves to be involved in anything I’m doing and wants to be with me all the time. When I do therapy, she is just happy to be included,” Isabelle says.
Falls Church, Virginia may be small, but Isabelle preferred online sessions. They were far more convenient than traditional therapy. From day one, Hera, Isabelle’s Pitbull mix, made her presence known. She always poked her head in front of the webcam, greeting the counselor warmly.
And the best part? The therapist adored it, and Hera adored her right back. The moment she heard that familiar voice, she was front and center, ready to unload her own pawblems.
One day, while Isabelle was waiting in the virtual lobby, Hera decided it was her time to speak.
“My therapist was a couple minutes late, and Hera kept trying to paw the computer. She was waiting so impatiently like she was waiting for her session,” added Isabelle.
What was Hera planning to discuss? Maybe she was upset Isabelle skipped their favorite park. Perhaps she was frustrated she doesn’t receive three dinners a day. Or maybe she just wanted to say how much she loves her hoomom.
Whatever her agenda, Hera quickly became a viral star and an accidental ambassador for therapy. TikTok viewers couldn’t get enough of her antics, agreeing that although she isn’t the most patient dog, her heart is in the right place.
“The social-media reaction has been awesome as it’s been validating and also funny. Other people have shared similar scenarios with their pets during therapy. Not only does it provide us with funny stories, but it also forms a community of openness about therapy,” says Isabelle.
This wasn’t Hera’s first time on the internet. Newsweek had already featured her once before, sharing her over-the-top response to being told “no.”
Clearly, Hera has a flair for drama and an endless supply of humor. She continues to delight her followers on social media, whether she’s encouraging people to embrace therapy or simply showing off her sassy personality.
Hera, the pawtastic Pitbull mix, proves again and again that she’s here to brighten your day in the funniest ways.