Bringing home a new puppy just makes our hearts melt. We break into laughter, sometimes with tears of joy, as this new little family member wiggles and wags everywhere, licking everyone with sheer happiness, eager to be hugged, petted and most of all to play.
Puppies, kittens, rabbits, reptiles, pot belly pigs, horses, guinea pigs … whatever your choice, these animals can play a profound role in many families. When a pet dies, sometimes a member of a family who has difficulty showing or expressing emotion will cry like a baby and grieve after the pet passes away.
Our pets are sacred, precious. A living representation of all that is vulnerable, innocent, dependent and lovable. Our pets speak to deeper layers of our own heart-felt innocence, precious child parts lost in our journey of life’s hard knocks and painful experiences. What better welcome at the end of a hard day than for Roxy the Beagle to run over wagging his tail, thrilled to have you home. Or to have Maddy the Tabby stealthily crawl onto a lap and begin a slow reassuring purrrr.
Research shows pets reduce depression, improve our immune systems, regulate heart beats and ease anxiety. In many ways, our animals are extensions of ourselves.
More and more, animals accompany passengers on airplane flights titled as service animals. For anxious travelers, certainly a relaxed pet of choice may bring not only comfort but also an opportunity to divert their attention from their fears — to focus their vulnerable selves on another living creature also in need of protection and safety. (While pets may bring temporary relief to an anxious traveler, often there are significant underlying psychological issues that would be better served and attend to in a therapeutic setting.)
Sure, there can be downsides to pet ownership. Sometimes too many pets may be just that, especially if there is a lack of balance between human interaction and animal interaction. When pets provide layers of protection against what is perceived as a “hostile world,” inhibiting and preventing normal human connection, the owner should seek empathic caring souls for essential social interaction. While pets can be an important part of a nurturing environment, relational human connections remain essential.
For some people, pets simply are not an option. Animals need constant care and a good deal of attention. Owners usually make a commitment of many years — in some cases, more than two decades. For some potential pet owners, the thought of losing their four-legged companions after a decade or so is simply too much pain to anticipate and endure. You certainly should consider the life span of an animal when deciding what type of pet you would like as part of your family. Some animals, such as parrots, live considerably longer than others. Some can be expected to outlive their owners.
On a brighter note, pets provide children with a valuable learning experience. The responsibility of feeding, cleaning up after and generally nurturing a furry or not-so-furry friend helps develop empathy and responsibility — worthwhile values for maturity and growth. When a goldfish or gerbil passes on, this too is a lesson in life.
In the case of older people, after one of a couple passes, sometimes it is the family dog that provides the greatest comfort and stability to the survivor. Some animals are extremely sensitive creatures. They seem to truly understand what their masters or mistresses are going through. Again, this is no substitute for human connection and support during a grieving process, but a faithful animal companion certainly can play a positive role along such a difficult journey.
Consider all the pros and cons. You just may come to realize that bringing a pet into your life was one of the best decisions you ever made.