Staying in a sober-living house is one step on the path to recovery. These homes are set up to give people a place to stay where they can once again live in non-institutional housing and have a semblance of a "home" life, yet they're still monitored and guided. Requirements for living at these homes usually include attending therapy and finding work.

As these homes are dedicated to a smooth recovery, the managers and case workers involved should encourage those therapy and emotionally calming methods that help residents stay on track. Something that a part of the sober-living community has been doing is getting pets involved. Not all houses allow pets (mainly for insurance and allergy reasons), but more are doing so at one level or another of interaction. As you look for a sober-living home, check out the pet situation and see if one would be appropriate for you.

Your Own Pet

Some houses do allow you to have your own pet. Don't be surprised if there are breed restrictions, weight or size limits, or even limits on the type of animal; one house might allow dogs but not cats because of a manager's allergy, for example. If you have a pet already, wouldn't it be calming and reassuring to have the pet with you? Pets can make you feel loved even if the humans around you aren't giving you that impression, and that can really help with recovery from alcoholism and addiction. Many managers think so, too. If you don't have a pet but would like one (assuming you're going into a home that allows them), you can talk to the house managers about whether or not you should get one. You may have to be at a certain point in your recovery because the managers will want to be sure you can care for the pet.

A Home Therapy Pet

Some homes do not allow residents to have their own pets, but the house has a therapy pet, usually a dog. These pets are trained to be calm, although when not on duty they can certainly be playful. Having a home therapy pet is a great option if you don't want to deal with a house full of animals but still realize the value of having a pet around. Therapy pets can be cats or other animals, too, although it may be harder to find housing with a specific pet type that also meets your other recovery needs because you'd be narrowing your choices substantially.

Volunteering at a Local Shelter

If all you can find are sober-living homes that don't allow pets, ask the managers if there are local rescues or shelters that need volunteers. It's very common for a sober-living home to have restrictions on where you can go and how long you can be gone. While these restrictions usually focus on how many nights you stay there or how long you travel away from the area, it's generally good to let the managers know if there is something you want to do on a regular basis that isn't work. You may find that others in the home want to volunteer at a shelter, too.

Your main focus at the home should be sobriety and recovery. But pets have been shown to really help soothe anxiety and bring a sense of calm to owners overall, and that can help with recovery.

Contact a professional to learn more about sober living.