I've had to have family care for my dog a few times when I knew I simply couldn't do it (I usually stay with my mother and let her know what's going on); it's humiliating but I don't know what I'd do without him. He's got his own set of mental problems (as diagnosed as they can be for the species) but we lean on each other. He knows when I'm upset, he's happy when I'm happy. It helps, as well, that he's a bit older, but if I didn't have him around I'm really not sure I'd still be around.