If there’s one thing I know about the Cup of Jo community, it’s that we love pets. When a shy cat or cuddly dog makes an appearance on a home tour, it doesn’t take more than three minutes for comments to start pouring in: “But what’s her/puppy’s name/background/star sign?” So let’s boost our serotonin levels and talk about why pets are the best. Here are 11 amazing reader comments…
On unconditional love:
“I was young and single and walked into a shelter. A dog reached out from its box, touched my hand, and my life changed forever. Dogs always see the good in people. He met my niece and delighted in her sticky hands and left me a Nutri-grain bar. He was the first person outside of my family to love me unconditionally. We are still alone, but I sometimes think about him meeting other people that I will love in the future.” — Kate
“We got a puppy, and I’m embarrassed to say that for a while I didn’t like him. He bit our kids, chewed our shoes, and annoyed our older dog. But slowly, he won me over, flaws and all. The way he would greet me with a wag of his big tail. The way he would snuggle up to me. The way he would get excited and grab the leash at the thought of us taking him somewhere fun. Now I’m his forever.” — Lindsay
On showing up for each other:
“Wilson the hamster has helped me reach my running goal during quarantine. I read that hamsters run five miles at night so I wasn’t going to make him run. or “2020 beat me down. So I ran five miles every day on the treadmill. When I didn’t feel like running, all I had to do was hear the sound of the Wilson wheels and I knew I had to get up and run. I ended the year having run 2,039 miles.” — Rebecca
“I was working from home on a rough day and got an email saying the deal didn’t go through. I had enough! I started crying, and my pug immediately jumped onto the couch, put his paws on my shoulder, and licked my face. It was like a loved one was telling me that everything was going to be okay.” — Kristin
Pets are just like us:
“I read that for dogs, sniffing is the same as reading, so when my dog sniffs me more than usual, it makes me happy. When my dog reads, it warms my heart.” — Sadie
“When our dog turned two, I called my husband and said I thought he was sick because he’d just been sleeping on the couch all morning for two days in a row. I thought that was crazy, given his personality. My husband thought about it and replied, ‘Hmm, I guess you don’t have a puppy anymore. You have a dog now.'” — Rachel
About the ritual:
“Our Basset mix is a couch-sleeping, bacon-eating darling. Watching Roy arrange the pillows on the couch to make himself the most comfortable spot is our family’s favorite nighttime ritual.” — Sarah
“Every morning when I leave the house, I tell my husband I love him, my dog I love him more, and my cat I love him most. Having pets is probably the best part of this happy life.” — Joanna
On learning from pets:
“Nancy Tillman has written a wonderful book for children. Animal heavenI read this book when I was pregnant and burst into tears in the middle of Costco. Years later, someone gave it to one of my kids and I still I can’t help but cry, especially after losing my sweet Goldie. A quote that always moves me is, “When angels whisper in an animal’s ear, it is your voice that all animals hear.” — Jill
“I’m an atheist, Great documentary A surly Turkish sailor’s comment about the stray cats of Istanbul ran like an electric shock down my spine. “God brings us closer to Him in many ways. For me, it was these animals. I felt worthy of God’s love.” — Lauren
“My husband and I read ‘Ask Percy How You Should Live Your Life.’ Mary Oliver My son’s first birthday reminded me why dogs are so adorable.” — Ali
Ask Percy how he should live his life
By Mary Oliver
“I love you, I love you,” says Percy.
And hurry up as soon as possible
On a sparkling beach, on rubble, or on dust.
Now, go to sleep.
Give up your body heat, your beating heart.
And trust me.
What about you? How have pets enriched your life? We’d love to hear from you!
PS 14 Adorable Quarantine Pets and Human Anatomy by my Dog.
(Photo by MaaHoo/Stocksy)
Source: Cup of Jo – cupofjo.com
