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| Thunder Cat, our wonderful boy we lost in February 2009. |
8 reasons why I love animals:
*They are God’s creatures.
*They are a beautiful and integral part of nature.
*We share the earth with them.
*They don’t judge me for having obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression and anxiety.
*Our pets want to be around us even when we’re grouchy and are having a bad day.
*Our pets help us when we’re lonely.
*They are honest and don’t put on a show.
*Our pets help teach us responsibility, selflessness and unconditional love.
From the website of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, here are some of the ASPCA’s top ways to help animals in your community (for more details, see the ASPCA website):
*Learn how to report animal cruelty.
*Start a neighborhood watch program for animals.
*Volunteer at your local shelter or animal rescue organization.
*Become an animal activist.
*Help your neighbors help their animals.
*Start a pet food bank.
*Promote spaying and neutering.
*Clean up for wildlife.
Oh, what a beautiful boy he was! He looks so fluffy and squeezable. I'm so sorry for your loss. : (
ReplyDeleteI could literally go on and on about how much I love my little Anna. At times, I feel foolish about the intensity of my feelings for a kitty cat. But from what I hear, lots and lots of people love their pets like family too.
Anna has helped me so much with my contamination issues. I'm willing to hug her and pet her even when I think she's dirty. I often think that she is a little gift to me from God to help me in my daily life. She's also beautiful to look at and just the thought of her often lifts my spirits. I also feel connected to God because of her, because I will look at her and she's so beautiful that it makes me praise God for His creativity.
OK, enough blathering about my sweet kitty!
Sunny, My cats are definitely part of the family--no doubt about that! :-) Like Anna helped you, Wa and the other kitties helped me with contamination issues and my avoidance of responsibility.
DeleteCats are beautiful, aren't they!
Beautiful kitty!
ReplyDeleteI don't have any pets. I have some issues with animal hair and germs....
Thanks, Elizabeth--I had issues with hair and germs, too, but taking care of the critters got me over a lot of that. But everyone is different, with different likes and needs.
DeleteWhat a beautiful cat. People say cats are selfish, but the cat of my childhood would follow us to school and wait for us at the same spot every day. I also believe he could sense when I was upset. He died when I was 14 - 10 years ago! - and I still have dreams about him. We also got a Weimaraner the summer I was diagnosed with OCD, and sweet Mo did so much to help me heal from the trauma. We lost him last year, and our whole family, even my stoic dad, is STILL grieving over that dog. I don't talk about it to many people, because I don't want to seem like a "crazy animal person," but pets are truly family members.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post. Thanks for spreading the word and helping folks get involved!
Thank you! I would have to say that I am probably one of those "crazy animal persons"--can't help it! :-) Cats are really more affectionate than they get credit for. They're just different from dogs, and I think they get compared to dogs a lot. I love dogs, too!
DeleteOh my, he has the most amazing coat of fur..beautiful cat. And I love the name Thunder Cat.
ReplyDeleteYou know my story of Zoe and how I love animals. One experience with Zoe I never wrote about before was when she was a pup, about 1 year old. I was standing at the bathroom door, literally staring into the bathroom which was this checking ritual. Zoe was standing next to me, she would follow me all over the house because she wanted to be where ever I was. All of a sudden she took her paw and placed it on top of my foot and looked up at me with her beautiful eyes. I felt like she was saying, "I am with you girl" or "Hey, it's ok, that is enough." I remember it made me cry..but in a good and very touching way. It makes me tear up now in fact. Someday I hope to get another animal.
Krystal, I believe that our animals can sense when something is wrong with us. Your Zoe wanted to make you feel better and comfort you. Sounds like she was a wonderful girl to have in your life.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous kitty!
ReplyDeleteI'm a big animal lover. At one time I had two dogs and two cats living under the same roof, and it was goofy chaos all the time! When I was sick with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, they took such good care of me. When my marriage was falling apart, they were clowns, always trying to cheer us up. One by one, they succumbed to old age, and I still miss them.
When I met and married hubby, I had to think long & hard -- he's the perfect guy in so many ways, but very allergic to animals. Plus, we travel more these days, so I've decided not to try the hypoallergenic route. I support local animal shelters instead.
Also, hubby thinks that TV shows should have warnings for people like me, just as they warn about sex and drug use in shows -- warnings that an animal is going to suffer or die. If I see one of those shows, I'm a mess for days afterward.
Oh, Nadine, I am the same way with TV and movies. I know I will never watch "8 below" again--it's a beautiful movie, but I cried and cried when I saw it, and now I would know what was going to happen. And ASPCA commercials really get me, too.
DeleteThat's great that you support animal shelters--they need our help!
I'm a huge cat lover, always have been. We brought our two kittens from 6 months old with us from Africa when we moved back to Holland after my husband died. I have two sons who were 10 and 11 at the time and I cannot even begin to tell you how much those two cats helped the children with the grief of losing their father. They just always seemed to be there to cheer them up or make them laugh.
ReplyDeleteThey often came to me as well when I felt sad or depressed and then it felt just like they wanted to say "we know". So comforting.
Unfortunately one of the cats died last year, but the other one is still with us and 14 years old now and I promise you, the sweetest kitty in the world. Absolutely love her!
Klaaske, I'm sorry about the loss of your cat. I know how comforting they can be. My cats have brought me a lot of solace during hard times. I don't even know how they know something is wrong, but they sense it. Dogs have been the same way in my life when I had them.
DeleteI've always loved that animals don't judge.
ReplyDeleteLisa, that is a refreshing quality!
DeleteIf I didn't have my animals I would be lonely! They are my babies, my savours! They bring me happiness even when nothing else does. They are so great!
ReplyDeleteShannon, my sentiments exactly. They provide such good company!
DeleteAnimals can give us a true reflection of an unconditional love - I so agree with you. Having had household pets as a child was a great comfort to me, and I hope to have a cat (or two) someday again soon. It's been a long time since I've had a furry friend in the house.
ReplyDeleteAdventures in Anxiety Land
Furry friends are special! I hope you can soon bring one (or two) home!
DeleteOK, well, we don't have kids, and I admit that I probably use my kitties as a substitute. I love them and I spoil them and I am thankful for them. They make me feel good, and good about myself because they love me as I am. They also make me feel...capable, I think. When you can win over a troubled animal, it's a great feeling. I feel proud that our first kitty, a shelter cat, became so calm and happy, and I feel proud that our second shelter kitty has become the same way. I feel like we gave them a second chance at life and it's a wonderful feeling.
ReplyDeleteCapable is a good word, Jean. And it's a wonderful thing when you can give a shelter animal such a good home that they can relax and be happy. That should give you a good feeling!
DeleteThunder Cat was beautiful!! Aren't they wonderful? Animals offer such great comfort, no matter what we are going through. They offer unconditional love in ways most humans are not capable of. Truly a gift.
ReplyDeleteThank you--Thunder Cat was a wonderful boy. We miss him. Animals are a great comfort indeed.
DeleteI miss my dog a lot :(
ReplyDelete