Turning to Pets for Healing After the Attacks
By Steph Bairey
The events of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 on the United States' East
Coast affected people worldwide. We all have different ways of
dealing with the fear and anger that this arouses. My way is not
recommended by most professionals: I sat home alone and watched the
news reports television for hours on end. Since I work from home, I
had little need to leave the house and interact with other people,
and therefore isolated myself in grief. My husband works during the
day, and so I spent hours alone with my thoughts.
Like many people, I questioned my safety, and wondered what our
nation, and the world, should do now. I mourned the fragility of
life, and wondered who, or what, could now be trusted. So much will
change, and has changed, because of this tragedy.
However, I was quickly reminded just whom I could trust, and of
things that had not suddenly changed: my pets don't care about what
happened on Tuesday, and demanded that they be fed and played with on
their regular schedule.
I'm reminded again of how much we depend on these animals who share
our homes. No matter what else changes in life, they remain constant.
They want attention and food, and remind us with meows and pointed
looks that life must go on, and their needs met.
They have no political or geographical agendas. My dogs simply want
another snuggle, another toss of the ball, maybe even a treat if they
can get it. My iguana wants a scratch on the head and his dinner
served at the same time every day. My guinea pigs want a piece of the
orange I'm eating. My cats want to sit on my lap. My frog wants some
of the baby crickets that hatched in the tarantula's tank, and my
tarantula wants peace to build a new home in the clean tank I moved
her to.
Our pets don't understand why we are sad. They love us, and they want
us to fuss over them as usual. They want to hear our voices, to
solicit belly rubs, and for us to follow our usual routine. At a time
when we feel violated, they can be trusted. They provide comfort,
unconditional love, and won't let us forget that life goes on.
We can all be healed by our pets. I trust that yours have provided
you the comfort that mine have provided me. In sad times like this,
which remind us of the value of human life, let's all remember our
non-human companions, and be thankful for them.
Copyright 2001, Steph Bairey -- All Rights Reserved
Steph Bairey is a web developer and pet owner, with 25 years of pet
care experience and 30-40 pets at any one time. Get immediate,
reliable answers to your pet care questions at Steph's website,
Practical Pet Care, located at
http://www.practical-pet-care.com.
