The Magical Connection With Our Pets

As I was walking with one of my dogs around a lake in South Orange County, I was aware of the number of people of all ages out walking their dogs. Big dogs, bouncey puppies, slower moving older dogs. Cats from nearby condominiums were lying on porches or hiding under bushes watching the parade of people and their dogs. I began to think: what brings people and their pets together? Why do we have pets?

Pet owners in America spend billions of dollars annually on premium foods, training classes, grooming supplies and doggie day care and other pet related services. Specialty veterinary practices which include dermatology, cardiology, oncology and orthopedics are readily available.Accupuncture, homeopathy and chiropractors are now considered an integral part of health care for many pets.

Today, more pet owners than ever before are participating in dressage, herding, agility and other pet related activities. Rabbits, cats and even miniature horses are a part of animal-assisted therapy programs in convelescent hospitals, acute hospitals and facilities that take care of people of all ages with special needs. Pets are definitely in the mainstream of American society.

As I watched people walking and socializing with their pets, I began to think a little more about the reasons we choose to share our life with animals.

For many people, owning and caring for a pet is their first experience with unconditional love. Our pets allow us to receive love and express love without censure or judgement. They accept us unconditionally. It does not matter to them what we drive or where we live; we are perfection in their eyes. They are just happy to be with us, sharing our daily life.

The relationship that develops between owners and their animal companions is one that is based in mutual love and trust. I have worked with many owners who have told me that for the first time in their life, the well-being of a dependent animal brought out feelings of compassion and caring that transcended other more materialistic or trivial demands in their lives.

Pets are so willing to give of themselves to help us grow in a more spiritual sense. People today are realizing that the term, "all is one" has a deeper meaning and includes all forms of life. No one form of life is "better" than the other. Whether you are riding a horse in the foothills of the Sierras in the early morning or frolicking with your dogs at the dog beach in Huntington Beach, you are keenly aware of the spiritual connection to all of nature you share with your pet.

In our fast paced world that is filled with endless traffic, technology and shoulder to shoulder humanity, it is comforting to know that our animals allow us to reconnect to a more satisfying form of being and help to ground us in what is real and true. As an animal communicator, I have communicated with many animals, and when asked the question, "why are you in your owners life?" many have told me that they are in their owner's life to help them relax, play and be more silly! Our pets silently watch us go about our daily routine, sometimes in wonderment. Some animals have told me that they would not want to be humans as they feel we are too serious and do not take time out to play. One of the aspects we enjoy about our pets is that we see them being spontaneous and totally in the moment-they are not troubled about what happened last month or worried about tomorrow or next week...something most of us have a difficult time doing! Our companion animals are our spiritual connection to nature and all of life. Whether we are walking with our dog along the driftwood strewn beaches of Humboldt County or are curled up reading a good book with our cat at home, our animals bring us into a state of peace and completion with all living beings.