No gossip, no judgement, no backstabbing or retaliation. An encouraging companion, a loyal friend, and someone to love and love back. Whether it is a beta the size of a Cheeto, a dog who's head comes up to yours when he or she is on all fours, or a horse who lives in the barn out back, a pet is rarely only a pet, and when a pet is more than a pet, the world becomes a better place. When we learn to love animals, we learn to cultivate bonds that no other bond can even compare to.
A 3-year-old raising his or her first goldfish talks to the fish as they feed them every morning and creates a whole world for their little fishy friend. Their fish is barely able to understand a fraction of what the 3-year-old can, but that fantasy fishy world sparks imagination and wonder in the child, and the nonjudgmental ear offers a growing child someone to practice their speech with.
A 10-year-old is given his first hamster and learns to care for an animal all on his own. He spends every single afternoon after school playing with the little furry guy and telling him all about his day at school. He tells his buddy all the things that trouble him, and even though he never gets a real answer, he talks himself through his own problems even though he thinks the hamster is the one with the answers. He overcomes and smiles because his best friend has his back.
An 18-year-old woman has just moved into her first apartment all alone, and has adopted a cat the keep her company. Every morning the cat wakes her up with a head boop and licks her on the cheek to let her know that she's thinking of her... and that she wants food. She follows her around her empty little apartment and reminds her that she's not alone and that she's always got a friend there to keep her company on those lonely nights after work. In a lonely world, sometimes a pet can be all the happiness you need.
A 29-year-old has just bought his first house and is moving in with his wife, daughter and old pitbull gal. She's been by his side for five years and as he makes his way in and out of the house, she never lets him out of her sight because she warns him when he's about to have seizures. Two years earlier he might've died had she not sat him down before he could pass out and fall from the cliff he and his brother were hiking.
A 50-year-old has just found out he's HIV positive and he feels alone and unwanted. He saw online that his local shelter has got a lonely FIV positive cat looking for a home to love him regardless of his health and it was love at first sight when he met the cat at the shelter. Tonight is their first night together and it's the first night since he was diagnosed that he didn't cry himself to sleep.
An 84-year-old man lost his wife a week prior and has fallen into depression. His children took notice immediately, and take to their local adoption center. They pair up senior animals with senior citizens who could use a pal. Today they're bringing home an arthritis ridden senior dog who just wants a warm lap to sit on all day. Before the children can bring the dog over to their father and help her up onto his lap, he's got tears of happiness in his eyes because he can finally be less lonely.
Treat an animal right and they'll never forget it a day in their life. They'll love you and cherish what you do for them. They'll offer an ear to listen and they'll spend their lives making sure you're safe. They'll do whatever you ask of them and all that they ask of in return is that you simply love them and treat them kindly. If you've got a pet that's more than just a pet, cherish them.
