Pets and Unconditional Love

In a relationship with a pet it is the sum total of all the parts! The love and bond that develops over time with a new pet, is nourished and through it trust and comfort develop. It is timeless and enduring, deepening as the years and daily events in our lives pass. The sacrifices we make, material things we deny ourselves in order to do a little something “extra” for our pet, whether it be a new toy or unexpected, expensive visit to the veterinarians—we put our pets needs ahead of our own knowing that whatever we spend or give will be returned tenfold. Friends, relatives might scoff at us, but in our hearts we know it is just a very small way to express the love and gratitude we feel toward our pets and all they do for us on a daily basis with no expectations from us.

How do pets express love? The answer is as individual and complex as the relationship that has developed between the pet and owner. Some relationships are very casual, “feed me and that’s all I want from you, I’ll be happy”. Others are deeper, more spiritual, with an unspoken connection that is hard to define to the average person. Most can agree that the wagging tail, happy face, ecstatic jumping and close, quiet time spent in the quiet reflection are some of the ways love is expressed. Some pets have an uncanny way of knowing when their owners will return and some begin a silent vigil waiting for their owners to return. Compelled by love and devotion, they quietly wait for the first glimpse, sound of the car coming into the garage or hear the key in the door. All the waiting has paid off! Their beloved owner has returned! Their joy is keenly felt. No matter what has happened in the day up to that point in time for both pet and owner, joy and happiness asbounds.

As pets age, we can look back and fondly remember all the events in our lives that our pets were there to share with us. The quiet love and support they offer at the darkest times in our lives. Their reassurance that somehow, everything will be ok and somehow it always is! Even the most ill-tempered pet will usually show gentleness to babies and toddlers, somehow sensing that they are learning lessons about love through the interaction with the family pet. A look at a family photo album helps us to remember all the ways they have become a part of our lives through remembered birthdays and holiday celebrations. We see people who are no longer with us, but somehow we still have our pet to mark the days of our lives. They are always available to talk, cry with, or just to be with in shared understanding and support. Somehow, nothing was needed to be spoken, they always knew how we felt or what we needed at just that time.

As someone once said, “there’s really only one thing wrong with pets: they don’t live long enough”, so sad, but true. And in the very end, as you walk that last part of the final walk together and look back on your life spent together, times shared, milestones met, joys and losses together, you can ask yourself, “what’s love got to do with it?” and the final, eternal answer is, “EVERYTHING”. For in the end love was what it was always about—love is eternal.

Thank you.
Charlene Boyd:
Animal Communicator