You never really understand the emotional bond between an animal and a human until you have one. I've been blessed enough to have always had at least one pet in my life, and without fail each one has a place in my heart. Animals aren't just pets; they're family and companions. As with any loved one, it's a hard day when you lose one.
I don't know what I'd do without my cat. Life as a college student can become fairly lonely and a pet provides companionship. They teach you about compassion, maturity, accountability and responsibility. Life with Jasper has been happier and even therapeutic at times. Animals have been proven to be great for your health. Why do you think they have dogs on campus during finals week? They're comforting and great for your stress levels. There comes a day, though, when you realize what love really and truly is. I've experienced this with dogs and cats alike and the trials have made me a better pet owner.
In the beginning, pets are young and energetic. They're cute and convenient. But like people, they get older. They get sick just like we do. I remember the first pet my family had lost, I was selfishly sad. I wasn't sad for him; I was sad for me that he wasn't there anymore. The fact that he would never sleep with me again had me in tears. My siblings and I had begged our parents to wait to put him down even though he could barely function. With our second dog we had lost, it was even harder. Again, we begged our mother not to have him put down because we loved him so much, even though he was in pain. There came a day, though, when I looked at our loved one and knew he was ready. Words can't describe the love we had (and still have) for this dog. There's a theory that animals wait to pass until their loved ones are ready, and you could tell he was hanging on for us. When we put him down, I was sad that we had lost the best dog I'd ever have the privilege of loving, but I was happy that he was no longer in pain. I learned a lesson in love that day.
When we had to put down one of our 17-year-old cats, her brother quickly went downhill. A once fat and happy cat was suddenly all skin and bones. He barely ate. We knew he needed to be put down, but we couldn't afford it. I knew I had grown up when this made me sad. There was a time when this would have relieved me, but love isn't selfish or self-seeking; it's putting your loved-one first.
This week we lost our second 17-year-old kitty, but he, like all our pets, has a special place in our hearts. Losing a pet doesn't mean less room for love; it means expanding your heart so you can have room for more. There are millions of unclaimed, lost, and unwanted animals out there that need our love. Let's give it to them.
