For those of us lucky enough to have owned pets, each of them holds a special place in our hearts. Our childhood dog was always there to provide warmth and comfort when we needed it most, asking only for a healthy dose of petting or perhaps a treat for their undying devotion.
My father wasn’t the most emotionally outgoing person. He’d show anger and humor but the loving part was often missing from the equation. One of the exceptions was his affection toward our beloved cat, Ms. Mattie. Although she spent most of her time indoors, Ms. Mattie had a daily routine of darting outside and climbing a tree, only to return for her morning meal. Her routine also included being held by my father. My dad would cradle her like a baby as she purred and closed her eyes, lifting her paw to sit on my father’s nose in pure joy and contentment.
Pets have a way of breaking down our barriers and allowing us to exhibit our inner emotions in a way that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. There are times when I wished my dad had been more emotionally available to me; however, seeing him interact with our house cat provided a window into his true self. This gave me a sense of comfort knowing he’d be there for me if and when I needed him.
How many of you reading this are thinking about your dog, cat, guinea pig or other furry friend that’s no longer with us? They’re forever memorialized, ready to seep into your thoughts whenever you’re having a bad day or life throws you an unforeseen curveball. Even though they’re no longer living and breathing, they continue to give us undying love and support by way of memories that can be accessed whenever we need them.
My wife and I have owned two dogs since we’ve been married. Our first dog, Sheba, was adopted from a Collie rescue in North Carolina. We were told she was around 4 years old; however, we quickly found out she was much older. Unfortunately our time with Sheba was short lived. About three months after adopting her, she developed cancer and died shortly thereafter. She was part of our family for around 4 months; however, you’d never know it by the way we still talk about her.
Dogs (and cats) have a way of weaving themselves into our hearts and settling in, never truly leaving.
We had our second dog Buddy for nine years. He was a pound rescue who provided our family with equal parts love and frustration. His tendency to “nip” at strangers became more prevalent, leading to additional training and time spent to solve the problem. Similar to a troubled child, we were able to successfully work around his anxiety issues and give him a stable home prior to his passing a couple of years ago.
Regardless of whether it’s a dog, cat or otherwise, pets become a part of our families. They’re happy to see us when we walk though the door and sad when we leave them for an extended period of time. They provide unconditional love when we need it most, asking only for acknowledgment of their existence. They provide a special bond that’s difficult to replicate or put into words for anyone who’s never experienced it.
My father passed away unexpectedly in January 2008. Ms. Mattie was nineteen years old at the time and prior to my father passing, she showed no signs of slowing down. Up until that point, her morning routine had been the same, climbing a tree and lifting her paw in order to rest on my Dad’s nose. With my Father now gone, she declined rapidly and died several weeks later. The bond they shared was so strong that no one would be able to replace the love they shared for one another.
It was obvious she was ready to join him in death rather than remain without him in life.
Both of them are long gone but it’s comforting to think of her paw finding it’s rightful place on my dad’s nose as he smiles down on her, content and finally at peace.
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