Stay Gold w/ Ruchi Vikas

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How A Dog Helped Ruchi Vikas Cope With The Loss Of A Friend And Become A Better Psychiatrist

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About The Episode

Ruchi Vikas life was changed forever when her friend and former roommate, Chloe, committed suicide. In medical school at the time, Ruchi found herself searching for answers and solace.

Chloe had left a request that instead of flowers for her funeral, that people should donate to the Oregon Humane Society instead. She had a cat of her own and cared about animals.

This soon led Ruchi to the Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), where she came just to look around and see how she felt. However, by the end of the day, she had signed adoption paperwork and brought her new dog home the next day.

That dog, then named Lake, became Ponyboy. He was named after the character in The Outsiders, who taught everybody to stay gold. As a child, Ruchi had wanted to get a dog and name them Sodapop (one of the other characters), but she felt Ponyboy was more fitting to the characteristics of this dog.

Ponyboy had also been coming from a difficult experience of is own. Although he was only a year old, he had been starved, neglected, and abused. But he still had his head above the clouds. While he wasn’t a perfect-behaved dog from the beginning, like most dogs, they worked together and both helped heal each other and grow.

Ruchi, who is currently finishing her psychiatry residency, even learned a lot from Ponyboy that she has brought into her work with her patients – such as having more tolerance and patience, being a better listener, and having even more compassion for everyone else.

They also travel and have hit 48 states to date – including an unexpected favorite, Idaho. Strangers feel more comfortable talking to her because he’s there, which has also opened up her worldview and allowed her to hear from more people in cities all over. Even at home in their own New York City it happens, too.

While the pain and trauma of certain experiences may always linger, Ruchi and Ponyboy have each other now – and they’re making the most of it.

About The Guest - Ruchi Vikas

Ruchi Vikas went through a really tough period in her life when she lost a friend to suicide, which led to her adopting her dog Ponyboy. He’s been a big part of her finding her way forward, including traveling with Ruchi around to 48 states and counting. Ponyboy has also helped her become better at different aspects of her job in the psychiatry field, including learning how to better listen to patients and be more open.

Featured Links

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