LIFE LESSONS, INSPIRATION, AND SELF-IMPROVEMENT
How Much Do We Appreciate Our Beloved Pets?
Let Us Count The Ways.
On October 30th, I spent the afternoon in the Veterinarian Hospital Emergency Room with our dog, Winston. He was having difficulty walking, and our local Veterinarian recommended bringing him there if he worsened. He did, so I whisked him to the closest one that accepted pet emergencies. After a series of tests, we learned of the outcome, which could have been worse. R&R is the order for little Winston until further notice.
The drama got me thinking about the impermanence of life. Our stay on this earth is temporary, as it is for our beloved pets. Sometimes, you wonder what's it all about, but then denial resumes as it must.
Our sweet animals are here much shorter than their human caretakers.
Painful as it is to say farewell after a brief visit from afar, pet lovers cannot imagine life without these companions. I have written about this theme many times, but those who love animals never tire from talking about their pets.
Politicians Unite
In these hyper-partisan times, politicians unite on nothing except their pets.
On October 28th, dogs in costumes visited Congress for a bipartisan or, in pet language, bipawtisan, Halloween parade. Wow, or rather, Woof!
The other canine issue that brought both parties together was the scandalous use of American taxpayer money on beagles' experiments.
Outrage from both sides ensued about the torturous procedures applied to these voiceless creatures, and voiceless they became with their vocal cords cut.
Yes, this kind of treatment raised the ire of everyone who loves animals, red, blue, it does not matter.
Love Beyond Words
What do these fantastic pets evoke in us? To me, the ability to love. The partnership between furry pals and humans has a long, storied history. When I was a child, Lassie was a top-rated series. My recollection of almost sixty years ago is scant, but I remember the love between the collie and Timmy.
Dogs bring people together. I knew someone who told me her husband met a group of people in a park walking their dogs, and soon, they met daily, engaging in a shared love of dogs and walking.
Some people post their dogs on dating apps, telling a potential partner they are animal lovers and will not date someone that is not. Now there is a select dating site for dog lovers, which means non-dog lovers do not bother.
Why am I talking about all of this?
Animal Shelters
The first week of November is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, according to National Day Calendar. They remind us that dogs and cats are the most beloved animals in the United States, yet homelessness, for many, remains a significant problem. The good news is three million adoptions occur every year. Thank you to the shelters and the tireless workers who volunteer to help make this happen.
National Day Calendar suggests becoming acquainted with our local shelter, donating, volunteering, and recommending to other animal owners neuter and spay their animals.
In our last will, my husband and I ensured our living pets would go to a no-kill shelter for the rest of their lives.
Beloved Winston may never walk steadily again, but if not suffering, we will care for him until it is his time to leave his earthly life.
Thank you for reading my article. I invite you to share your thoughts about pets and look forward to reading and engaging with you.
In the meantime, I invite you to read an article from the fabulous Coffee Times from its fearless leader Winston:
Also, I invite you to read an article from another fabulous Medium writer ASAD EDUCATE:
If you would like to tap into your unique you, I invite you to check out my book, Stop Depriving The World of You: A Guide For Getting Unstuck. In addition to Amazon, it can be found online and in physical stores. Here is the link to Amazon:
I invite you to become a paid member, only $5 a month to support my work and other talented writers. Please follow this link: https://medium.com/@darleneGetUnstuck/membership.