This week, we asked our social media community to share pictures of their pets and how their furry friends have helped them live better with Parkinson's disease. We saw great pictures of certified service dogs who are always on call, little fluffy pups that brighten their owners' days and a few cats that know just when to curl up into laps and purr.

One of our favorites came from Barbara Beirsameter, a professional photographer who was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's disease around eight years ago, when she was in her early forties. Her dog Uta has been not only a striking subject for her photography, but also a reliable and comforting companion.

"She has been attached to my hip from the moment of my first bad fall," she says. "When I have my rough days she is especially sensitive and loving. Uta helps me cope with this disease and my struggles to continue working as a photographer."

Besides Uta's emotional support, Barbara figured out a trick a few years ago that has helped her maintain her photography career after her diagnosis.

"I accidentally discovered I can handhold my camera again by moving my hands back and forth latterly to calm the tremors for a brief moment and take tack sharp images," she says. "No longer did I have to use a camera stand in the studio or a tripod outdoors. That moment when I saw my hands steady when I move them changed my life."

Last year, Barbara received a Professional Photographers of America Platinum Medal in an international print competition. Next February, she'll be a speaker at the Professional Photographers of America convention. She's planning to donate all of the product she sells at the convention to Team Fox. We imagine some of those pictures will star beautiful Uta!