The Pet Lovers Library presents Miscellaneous Pet Information |
Living Love
Submitted by Member "SweetHeartOnly"
If you ever love an animal, there are three days in your life you will always remember... The first is a day, blessed with happiness, when you bring home your young new friend. You may have spent weeks deciding on a breed. You may have asked numerous opinions of many vets, or done long research in finding a breeder. Or, perhaps in a fleeting moment, you may have just chosen that silly looking mutt in a shelter--simple because something in its eyes reached your heart. But when you bring that chosen pet home, and watch it explore, and claim its special place in your hall or front room--and when you feel it brush against you for the first time--it instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through the many years to come. The second day will occur eight or nine or ten years later. It will be a day like any other. Routine and unexceptional. But, for a surprising instant, you will look at your longtime friend and see age where you once saw youth. You will see slow deliberate steps where you once saw energy. And you will see sleep where you once saw activity. So you will begin to adjust your friend's diet--and you may add a pill or two to her food. And you may feel a growing fear deep within yourself, which bodes of a coming emptiness. And you will feel this uneasy feeling, on and off, until the third day finally arrives. And on this day--if your friend and God have not decided for you, then you will be faced with making a decision of your own--on behalf of your lifelong friend, and with the guidance of your own deepest Spirit. But whichever way your friend eventually leaves you---you will feel as alone as a single star in the dark night. If you are wise, you will let the tears flow as freely and as often as they must. And if you are typical, you will find that not many in your circle of family or friends will be able to understand your grief, or comfort you. But if you are true to the love of the pet you cherished through the many joy-filled years, you may find that a soul--a bit smaller in size than your own---seems to walk with you, at times, during the lonely days to come. And at moments when you least expect anything our of the ordinary to happen, you may feel something brush against your leg--very very lightly. And looking down at the place where your dear, perhaps dearest, friend used to lay---you will remember those three significant days. The memory will most likely be painful, and leave an ache in your heart---As time passes the ache will come and go as it has a life of its own. You will both reject it and embrace it, and it may confuse you. If you reject it, it will depress you. If you embrace it, it will deepen you. Either way, it will still be an ache. But there will be, I assure you, a fourth day when---along with the memory of your pet---and piercing through the heaviness in your heart---there will come a realization that belongs only to you. It will be as unique and strong as our relationship with each animal we have loved, and lost. This realization takes the form of a Living Love---like the heavenly scent of a rose that remains after the petals have wilted, this Love will remain and grow--and be there for us to remember. It is a love we have earned. It is the legacy our pets leave us when they go. And it is a gift we may keep with us as long as we live. It is a Love which is ours alone. And until we ourselves leave, perhaps to join our Beloved Pets--it is a Love that we will always possess.
-Written by Martin Scot Kosins, Author of "Maya's First Rose"
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If I didn't have animals . . . .
Submitted by Member, "Denise"
If I didn't have animals . . . .
I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.
My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.
All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair.
When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like a kennel.
When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading through fuzzy bodies who beat me there.
I could sit on the couch and my bed the way I wanted, without taking into consideration how much space several fur bodies would need to get comfortable.
I would not have strange presents under my Christmas tree -- dog bones, stuffed animals, toys, treats nor would I have to explain to people why I wrap them.
I would have money ....and no guilt to go on a real vacation.
I would not be on a first-name basis with 6 veterinarians, as I put their yet unborn grandkids thru college.
The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: out, sit, down, come, no, stay, and leave him/her/it ALONE.
My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.
My house would not look like a day care center, toys everywhere.
My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and an extra leash.
I would no longer have to Spell the words B-A-L-L-, F-R-I-S-B-E- E, W-A-L-K, or T-R-E-A-T.
I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.
I'd look forward to spring and the melting of snow instead of dreading mud season.
I would not have to answer the question "Why do you have so many dogs/animals? " from people who will never have the joy in their lives of knowing they are loved unconditionally by someone as close to an angel as they will ever get.
How empty my life would be.
~ Author Unknown ~
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Puppy Size
Submitted by Member, "Denise"
"Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to
this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since
we started all of this," the mother told the volunteer.
"What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked.
"Puppy size!" replied the mother.
"Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for."
"I know...we have seen most of them," the mom said in frustration...
Just then Danielle came walking into the office.
"Well, did you find
one?" asked her mom.
"No, not this time," Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we
come back on the weekend?" The two women looked at each other, shook
their heads and laughed,
"You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's
always a supply," the volunteer said. Danielle took her mother by the
hand and headed to the door.
"Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said. Over the next
few days both mom and dad had long conversations with her. They both
felt she was being too particular.
"It's this weekend or we're not looking any more," Dad finally said
in frustration. "We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size
either," Mom added.
Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday
morning. By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for
the section that housed the smaller dogs. Tired of the routine, mom
sat in the
small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an
observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors
weren't permitted. Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling
periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought
out and she held each one.
One by one she said, "Sorry, you're not the one." It was the last
cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup. The volunteer
opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it
closely. This time she took a little longer. "Mom, that's it! I found the
right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" she screamed with joy. "It's the
puppy size!"
"But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the
last few weeks," Mom said.
"No not size ---- the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed,"
she said. "Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love
is, you told me "love depends on the sighs of your heart." The more
you love, the bigger the sigh!"
The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know
whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she
did a little of both. "Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and
Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I
would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms,"
she said. Then
holding the puppy up close to her face she said, "Mom, he loves me. I
heard
the sighs of his heart!"
Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you
sigh. Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at
what you hear.
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