We are blessed that we are surrounded by family and friends but especially blessed are those who are loved and cared for. Those of us who are lucky are doubly blessed by the warmth and company of God’s creatures.
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” ― Haruki Murakami, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
It all starts when you see small puppies and kittens. They look so adorable, friendly, innocent and immediately adoptable. You bring them home to share your space; soon they end up sharing your bed, chewing your clothes, shoes and eating the food from your table! They become an indispensable part of your life. Children become inseparable with their pets.
Every time you are out for a walk, your dog will follow you and keep you company. If you feel like sharing your feelings, he will listen to you patiently. Rain or shine, he will stick with you. He will ferociously guard your home and property. He is the best alarm against any intruder. On cold winter nights, he will cuddle by your feet- sharing the common warmth.
Cats are more homely in the sense that they love the warmth of the house. You will usually find them in the kitchen, curled up against the fireplace, purring to its heart content. At night, they move about the house, hunting for prey. Cats are very quick with their paws, ask anyone who’s ever had the misfortune to step on their tails. They also seem to have an uncanny sense of direction, able to make their way home from far places.
I can still recollect all the pets that were in our household, a part of the family, sharing every occasion. The joy of running along with your favourite dog, throwing a stick that he would always retrieve. The feel of a wet lick on your face, the smell of fur and the unbounded love they would come hurtling at you.
Parting with our four-footed friends is not easy; we feel the pain that they go through in their dying days. The loss we feel is immense, it is like losing a family member. We become numb with sorrow, forgetting to eat and sleep. But time dulls the pain and the numerous stories that remain become family lore, long after the pets have gone to “happy hunting grounds”.
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