When entering a relationship, or even considering it, we always talk about unconditional love. We miss it. We sometimes received it from our parents and more often from grandparents.
But when it comes to “leaving the cleavage” of mama, it’s a rough world out there. We may find glimpses of love from our mate, and sometimes a lot more than glimpses. Even the best of relationships and marriages can have “conditions”.
Have you ever owned a dog or cat? There are no conditions. We may train our dogs and cats, to do certain tricks (it impresses our friends), but have you thought about what they teach us?
If you don’t think we learn it from them, think again. That is one of the few if any places we do learn such a wonderful way to live. We learn tolerance, patience, forgiveness and so much more.
I will give you a ridiculous far-out example, but, more often than not, we have our pets spayed or neutered, which is a smart thing, unless we are breeders of them.
But still, dogs are man’s best friend Can you imagine having the same procedure done to your own human best friend, and he or she come home and lick you in the face the next day wagging his/her tail and wanting nothing but your love or attention? I know that is a bit far-fetched, but it is what happens with animal-human dynamics. No matter what we do, they love us. When we love them, they love us even more. Don’t believe it? Simply try it.
A dog (and even a cat) loves you simply for being you. There is an old Irish prayer, “Lord, please make me half the man my dog thinks I am”.
If only that were true. And if you think a dog or cat will love you unconditionally, you can take that a step further. Try adopting one from your local shelter. Cats and, it seems especially dogs, have a keen 6th sense and memory that is uncanny. They will appreciate you and show you a kind of love you’ve never experienced.
My favorite stray dog Thor just died last month of heart disease. He was a mixed breed that I found in the woods in rural Ms. He looked a lot like Benji. That was 12 years ago. He lived, the vet believes, to be almost 22 years old. Ironically, the first Benji, (there have been more) was found not far from where he showed up.
After caring for this dog for several years, I noticed passersby to be much more pleasant to me. I thought it was because I had such a cute friendly people-loving dog. Maybe that was a part of it, but the major part of it was Thor had taught me something I had never experienced before, unconditional love like I’d never seen. That dog loved me no matter what, and I could tell in his face he wanted me to “pass it forward”. I did.
Thor became my baby and I dstill think of him often and grieve. I also remember the happy healthy times which were most of the time. I fed him the b.a.r.f. diet only and plenty of herbal tinctures. I will soon adopt or find another dog and know that I will experience this most unique phenomena that can be found nowhere else. What a blessing this is to anyone.
Rick London is a cartoonist and e-store owner who created the Internet’s top cartoon, Londons Times Cartoons. He focuses a great deal of his work on animal-related cartoons, particularly dogs and cats and manufacturers funny gifts and collectibles with their images. One of his stores that features such dog and cat products as mouse pads, tee shirts, sweats and hoodies, aprons, and much more. A percentage of all sales benefit various animal charities.
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