One of my dear friends dog named Sally passed away on Monday. Sally was a ten year old yellow lab. She was a wonderful dog that loved to be pet and loved to lick (I didn’t love that part). Sally was a very beautiful dog that left way to early. But that got me to thinking about pets in my life and the impact that pets have on others.
My whole life I’ve always had some type of pet around me. If it wasn’t considered my dog, cat or bird, it was my parents or grandparents. I think my favorite thing about a dog or cat is that they never judge you and they are always there for you. They don’t care what you look like, even when you think you look your worse. Have you ever noticed that when your sick, they know it? I have a dog named Riley that is very loving. She is always by my side. She even sleeps at the bottom of my bed when I sleep, except when my wife or kids are sick. She will lay by the sick person for most of the day. She only gets up to eat and go outside. My Grandpa died this past August of cancer. He was at home on hospice for his final days. Within the last few days he was alive, his dog would not eat and would lay right by his bed and cry. I truly believe that animals can sense when something is wrong.
Dogs, cats and many others types of animals become part of the family. Have you ever taken your pet on vacation with you? How about this one, have you ever had a bad day and your pet was there to comfort you?
Some Christians don’t believe that animals have a special place in Heaven. Some people believe animals don’t have a soul. I asked several knowledgeable people about this and they’ve all said “the Bible doesn’t mention it”. I just wonder how something can show the most wonderful of all emotions (love) and not have a soul.
Studies have shown that having pets around ill patients is very therapeutic. In some cases, patients attitude totally changed after being around animals. They went from not wanting to fight their illness to making a full recovery.
As you can tell I am an animal lover. I will probably have some sort of animal my whole life. Not because I’m so lonely that I need one around but because I know I can give an animal a great home with tons of love. I also know that animal with give me unconditional love as well. So to Sally and all the animals that have passed in all of our lives, we love you and thank you.
