TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2023 - PETS

 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2023 - THE VALUE OF PETS

I’ve had lots of “pets” in my life. I’ve been a “teacher’s pet” and had students that met that role. I’ve had “pet peeves”. I’ve even had my “pet projects.” But I’ve never had an animal pet.  

Growing up, we generally didn’t have pets. I don’t remember the story, but we had a pet guinea pig for a month. (Maybe it was over Christmas Break, and the poor animal would be alone at school). We called the guinea pig “Zeke”. Yes, we had to feed it, give it water, and clean its cage. Eventually, Zeke went back to school.

Now, as a senior, most of my friends have pets. So why am I writing about pets? Because my neighbor Bonnie lost her pet chihuahua Molly. Two days ago, I got a call from Bonnie while I was at church that Molly had died. After church, I stopped at Bonnie’s apartment. She was in tears. Bonnie lives alone, and Molly was her constant companion. Bonnie spoke to Molly as though Molly was a human.  

Bonnie’s daughter, son-in-law, grandson, friend Kathy, and I were in Bonnie’s living room. Molly was in a dog bed covered with a blanket. Angie, Bonnie’s daughter, had arranged for a pet cremation service to take Molly’s body to be cremated. The pet service man came, and Bonnie asked me to pray. [Aside from that, I might be spiritual, but haven’t prayed at a pet funeral before.]

It was devastating for Bonnie. Fourteen years with your best friend, and then death leaves a mark.

Losing a pet can be devastating. A study found that the length of intense grief experienced by bereaved pet owners varies —with 25 % taking between 3 months to a year, 50% between one year and 19 months, and 25 % between two and six years. It’s no wonder that pet loss therapy is an emerging field.

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So, what is the value of pets?

https://www.transitionslifecare.org/2020/05/27/the-importance-of-pets-in-our-lives/ gives these comments:

Pets are good for our health. Molly (as a dog) needed to be walked to eliminate her bodily waste. That got Bonnie out of her apartment, out in the fresh air, to take some steps and walk. My source says, “If you spend around 15 minutes petting your favorite cat or dog, your body will release the following natural “feel good” hormones: oxytocin, prolactin, and serotonin. It also lowers your cortisol, the body’s natural stress hormone. Not only will this relax your body, it can also lower your blood pressure by 10% too.” 

I see four other pets regularly. My friend Mary has a dog and a cat. The cat has little personality, but the dog is Mary’s little Princess.  Kiki (the cat) climbs up on Mary’s lap. If behavior can be learned, Kiki is a whiz. She knows how to “work an audience.” When I visit, Kiki knows that I will give her a treat. (Or, Kiki knows Mary will ask me to provide her with a treat). She puts on her “broken leg” routine - where she walks with one broken front leg. You know it is a routine - sometimes it is Kiki’s left leg, and sometimes her right leg. Kiki can be a pretty good beggar, and I try to give her just part of the treat at a time. I move her treat from hand to hand, and she has to guess which hand the treat is in.  

Kiki is a fierce defender of Mary - but also a “scary cat.” She might like to chase squirrels, but if a squirrel challenges her, she’ll run and hide behind Mary’s legs. And when a thunderstorm rolls through, Kiki will want Mary’s protection.  

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The article adds: “Animals do not ask for much in life, and most just need a warm, safe and sheltered place to live, as well as adequate food, water and exercise. They will give you unconditional love, loyalty, and companionship in return. Dogs are a little more well-known for offering unconditional love; cats can be fickle!

Mary’s cat is on the fickle side. There are times when Fritz will want his belly rubbed and his fur stroked, but rarely.  

One of my other friends, Rita, has two cats. One of the cats (Gabe) is gregarious and will be around when I visit (and the other cat, “Mom,” will be under Rita’s bed when I visit). Gabe likes his belly scratched and his head rubbed.  

Rita lives in a third-floor apartment with a balcony. When she got her cats, she closed the balcony door as she didn’t want the cats to fall (or jump) from the balcony. But that hasn’t happened. Gabe loves to sit in the sun and enjoy the breeze.  

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Let’s hit a topic again. Pets give unconditional love. I write about love. Humans put boundaries and conditions on love. “If you do <such and such>, I’ll love you.” Particularly with dogs, there is unconditional love. Even if you scold a dog for having an “accident” inside, in a few minutes, that incident is forgotten (on their part), and they want to be petted and loved. 

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There is a joke - maybe not quite funny - that I am adding.

A man put his wife in the trunk of a sedan and drove around for an hour. When he opens the trunk, the wife gets out, yells at him, swears at him, and maybe even slaps the man.

The man then put his dog in the trunk and drove for an hour. When he opened the trunk, the dog’s tail started going 100 miles an hour, and the dog loved the man.  

Supposedly, the moral of this story (and it is just a story) is that “dogs are man’s best friend.”

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Note to myself. I need to help fill Bonnie’s life with some activities in the coming days and months. Her best friend has died and left a massive void in her life. I need to be a source of love and grace for her.

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © OCTOBER 17,2023