May 26, 2010

"A human being is a part of a whole, called by us the 'Universe', a part limited in time and space.  He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest...Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." 
--Albert Einstein

Many pet parents I know consider their pets to be even more than family members.  They see their pets as literal extensions of themselves.

In other words, they identify with their pets, noticing similarities in their physical appearances or personality traits they have in common.  For instance, there are many women who have long, blonde hair who choose to adopt golden retrievers.  And thousands of 'independent loners' who prefer to live with cats so they both can come and go as they please and fend for themselves for a day or two. 
 
When we feel this way about our relationships with pets, it's not a giant leap to also feel this way about our relationships with wild animals, and then trees and plants, and then other people, and so on.  As Einstein said, we must "embrace all living creatures" and begin to see ourselves as one living, breathing, natural being if we are going to make our planet a more compassionate place.

You see, pets truly might save the world!  The compassionate circle begins with caring about our pets.  And then it ripples out to other living beings...

 

May 19, 2010

"The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat."
-Lily Tomlin

Ever notice how some of our most derogatory terms for people we don't like are animal names?  Pig, dog, wolf, cow, snake and, as in the quote above, rat?
I suppose it makes sense for us to do this.  After all, animals are one of our most agreed-upon references.  For example, we all know that when we call someone a 'pig', we're most likely referring to someone who is a loud, messy eater and who probably eats way too much.  But, that's just the stereotype.  Beneath that is the real personality, the true soul of a pig.

I don't know if you've ever had the pleasure to really KNOW a pig, but I have.  When I was a little girl, I spent every afternoon after school at my grandparents' farm.  At first, I thought the pigs were disgusting.  They made awful noises and smelled terrible!  But, then, my grandpa started taking me along when he fed them and I learned more about them.  My grandpa had names for each pig and several of the females let us scratch their bellies.  The little babies greeted us like long-lost cousins when we entered their pens and one, a black and white female I named Penny, became my favorite little playmate.  I found out that pigs are the sweetest, smartest, funniest animals around.  I absolutely love pigs.

And, while we're speaking honestly, I must confess that I quite like rats, too.

One of my most moving cases while I was a clinical grief counselor was an older man who had a pet rat named Milbert.  Milbert wore a tiny harness and leash and spent most of his time riding on the man's shoulder.  They went everywhere together.  He even took the rat to work with him.  And, just as I changed my opinion about pigs, once I got to know Milbert, I came to know rats in a whole new light.  Milbert changed my stereotype about rats. He helped me realize that, if getting to know an animal can help me like it better, the same principle probably applies to people.

Thanks, Milbert and Penny!

 

May 12, 2010

"A loving person lives in a loving world.  A hostile person lives in a hostile world:  Everyone you meet is your mirror."-Ken Keyes, Jr. I know this will sound a bit "oogie boogie", but bear with me. I once visited a psychic and asked him about why I felt such a strong bond with my cat Chelsea.  He told me we had been together in a previous life in ancient Egypt.  In that life, I had been a priestess in a temple and Chelsea was a panther.  The panther and I were actually chained together so she could teach me how to remain calm and patient.  You see, if I became upset or agitated, so would the panther.  Obviously, with an aggressive panther chained to my arm, my life would be in danger.  So, in order to keep the panther my ally, I had to learn to control my emotions.   Hey, it could happen! Regardless of how this story strikes you, I find the Keyes quote above to be true in my relationships with animals.  For instance, I currently have a cat who reacts to my stress level without fail.  If I'm in a good place, he's mellow and content.  But, if I'm highly stressed and barely taking time to brush my teeth at night, he inevitably develops a bladder infection and starts peeing everywhere but his litter box. You see?  He meets my anxiety and chaos with his own and shows me that I'm 'out of control'. If I'm aware enough, I can use his misbehavior to clue me in to my own craziness.  Then I can make a change. Whether you believe in the "mirror" effect or not, our pets most definitely react to stress.  Do you have a panther in your life?

May 5, 2010

"Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong. Sometimes it's letting go."    --Sylvia Robinson

This quote reminds me of the courageous pet parents I've known who have made the most difficult decision to help their gravely ill or injured pets die peacefully and painlessly by euthanasia.
If you're holding on to feelings of guilt, or if you think you made a decision about your pet's death out of your own inability to tolerate emotional pain, please stop that thinking right now. Deciding to euthanize a beloved animal is one of the most difficult decisions anyone makes in their entire life. And, it takes strength to make it and to finally let go.
Really, you did the right thing. Now, let go of your own remorse.