living our best lives – pets

/ simplywendi
orange tabby cat beside fawn short coated puppy

Photo by Snapwire on Pexels.com

 

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
― Anatole France

 

I am a firm believer that my furry friends, both past and present, have enriched my life in numerous ways.  Some of my very best memories include time I have spent with my pet buddies.

I was raised with animals.  My family had pets in the house as long as I can remember;  cats, dogs, a rescued racoon, duck hatchlings, a rabbit, a snake, fish, gerbils, and guinea pigs.  As I grew older and began raising a family of my own, I have also chosen to share my home with rescued dogs and cats.  As many people who rescue animals know, it is really you who is being rescued.

Being chronically ill, pets have a very special place in my life.  Spending much more time at home and in bed then the average person, I have had the blessing of spending a lot of time with my pets.   Virtually every time I have felt too bad to get out of bed, my doggie curls up and lays right next to me.  There is something especially relaxing, calming and comforting having a living soul breathing next to you.

The question this week is,  Do you have pets, if so what type and how do they enhance your life?

Wishing you a day of peace.

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110 thoughts on “living our best lives – pets”

  4. And we also had goats, sheep, horses and chickens… all played a role in our lives. The amount of love you invest in another being is what comes back to you, always. Thanks for bringing in pets and perhaps also encounters with wild creatures as a topic for our loving consideration.

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    • thank you so very much Judi for stopping by and adding to the discussion……..i LOVE how you have had horses, that was always my dream that never became a reality. i did spend hours riding others’ horses. Plus you have had sheep and goats, awesome creatures! I am glad to know that you also appreciate animals in all forms. 🙂

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  7. We have three cats in our humble homestead and the third one was discovered as a tiny kitten underneath my daughter’s porch one day. When she brought it with her to show us, somehow it became a permanent resident! They all barely tolerate each other most days, but the newest little one was so young when we “adopted” her, now she thinks I’m her mother. We’ve been inseparable since she arrived and that never happened with the other two. Caring for this cat-crew has helped me to appreciate them in a way I really hadn’t felt before they showed up.

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    • what a beautiful story John…….there is a special bond with rescue pets, especially when adopted so young. there is something that animals teach us that we cannot learn any other way! 🙂
      I greatly appreciate your visit……….

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  10. I’ve had pets of many varieties through my life Wendi, but only one animal ever ‘touched’ me. Don’t get me wrong, I connected with them all, but this one beautiful creature actually ‘touched’ me.
    I was actually doing a healing on a friends horse a couple of years ago, and in the process I put my hands on Amigo’s head (he had cancer behind his eyes) and gently gave him my love and energy as a healing. And he suddenly ‘opened’ and accepted me into his heart. All I could feel was this beautiful clear, open and so loving connection. From that day forward he could practically read my mind when I wanted him to move or lift a leg…or even give a cuddle (that I needed 😀).
    It was something I will never forget, he showed me something that I had missed…not only humans are loving and caring…but the animals are too 😀 ❤️ 🙏🏽 🐎 🦋 🦜 🐱 🦘 🐬 🐕 🐳 🐇 🌺 🕊

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    • what an amazingly beautiful story Mark. thank you so very much for sharing this with us – it brought such happy tears to my eyes. just like with people, there are some animals that will connect with on a much deeper level than others and when that connection takes place, it is a bond that is never forgotten.
      thank you again Mark for sharing this touching story………your kindness and love for others is seen throughout your words.

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  12. I have had various pets in my lifetime. All I have loved snd have helped me in some way. I totally agree with your post.
    I miss most of all having a cat. I hope in a few years I can be in a position to have one again. Or sooner. When I can, I shall choose that cat from the rescue centre.

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  14. We have 8 special cats, Wendi. They are our family. They are our kids. We couldn’t love them any more if they were human. The longer I live with cats the more in tune I get with them and the more blown away I am by how unique and intelligent they are. Our babies taught me what love is. For real. xo

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    • This is so sweet…………your babies are very blessed to have you as their momma! 🙂 We also have cats, and I had one that was extra special. She is no longer with us, but I am sure we had a connection deeper than what I have had with most people.

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      • Wendi, I may be telling this story on my blog. I don’t know. I am telling YOU to encourage you and ME. One of our cats, Cookie, is 16. She was diagnosed with a malignant mammary gland tumor last March which in cats is an aggressive cancer. We never gave up on her. We researched and gave her the best foods and IV hydration. She received ONE dose of a homeopathic remedy and a supplement until she no longer wanted it. Six weeks after she was given the only dose of homeopathy, a Miracle happened. Her tumor disappeared. This is encouraging ME and now YOU because it is showing me and you never never never give up even when the pain and exhaustion wants you to give up. Don’t. You don’t know what may happen. We discovered the tumor was gone yesterday. WOW! A medical impossibility now today a very real possibility!

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      • thank you SO very much for sharing this awesome and happy story! I am so thrilled for all of you and to know that you guys created a miracle for your baby is amazing!
        I try to keep all this stuff in my mind daily…….some days it is much harder than others. thank you again for sharing………..I really needed to read something like this tonight, your timing was perfect so thankful for listening to your inner voice to share this with me! 🙂

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  16. I grew up with pets, and early in our marriage we had a sweet puppy too. Now I enjoy my “Grand-puppies.” And you are so right, they just know exactly where you are hurting, and will lay so softly right there. They are truly such gifts from God.

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  18. I had various pets growing up … snake, turtles, silkworms, dog and even a secret kitten.

    Now I have many pets in the wild, the lorikeets that feed here the cows in the field next door. With a nomadic lifestyle [other countries, interstate, frequent moves] it would be both impossible and unsettling for the animal. I house sit often and usually with dogs … love em all!

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  20. Pets are just wonderful companions and healers, and most of our Cats have been rescue cats.. And they know exactly the right time to curl on your lap and give you that added bonus of healing purrrrrrs…
    And you are right most of our pets have found US… and we have been very blessed to have them in our lives…
    Love that you rescue too, and that they give back so much…

    Have a lovely new week Wendi… Love and hugs your way ❤

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  21. My husband and I have 3 cats. One we got from the Dumb Friend’s League 15 years ago. The other two are rescued. As a retired couple, the cats have enhanced our lives as we have slowed down a bit. Each cat has his/her favorite human who they snuggle with. Mine is the one from the Dumb Friend’s League. My husband has the other two.

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  22. We have 3 guinea pigs and 1 cat and one kitten as our own. We are fostering two kittens from our neighborhood. My Siamese kitten is especially cuddly and loving. He is my buddy when writing, napping or reading. I love his purrs, snuggles, and chattering.

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    • Oh I love that you not only have your own pets, but also foster pets, what a blessing you are to them! 🙂 We also have a Siamese cat………I just wish he would be more cuddly but he was rescued and even after all these years he still doesn’t trust completely.
      It sounds like your house is filled with life, I love it!!! 🙂 Thank you so very much for stopping by to visit, I appreciate your time.

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  23. We are down to one dog at the moment, but in the past usually always had two. I grew up with cats, dogs, hamsters, and guinea pigs. As a young mom I had chickens and a goat. I love cats but my husband sneezes terribly around them, so no cats right now. I need an animal in the house to always feel accompanied when no one else is around.

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  24. Yes! The hubby and I have had three dogs and a cat. (Two have passed due to old age.) We currently have two dogs, one I raised from 11 weeks and the other from the age of 2. I find myself fighting not to grieve my 13-year old before she passes, I know that will be coming fast. But the 5-year-old will rescue me. Just as she does every day when I feel sad.

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  26. I’ve lived with animals for all of my life, horses that my father trained when I was a child, and then a cat and a dog. And once I moved out of home, my partner had a cat and a dog, and we have almost always had at least one dog ever since.

    I have a kind of relationship with birds around where I live too, watching them, providing them with water …

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    • oh my goodness, horses! I always dreamed of having a horse. You must have a lot of special childhood memories of your time spent with such magestic creatures.
      I love how you and yours continue to share your love with not just traditional pets but also those that live in the “wild.”
      Thank you so very much Carolyn for taking the time to stop and and join in……..I appreciate it.

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      • You’re most welcome, Wendi! I was a stablehand for my father, and that role puts you right at the less magetic end of what having horses is about, the cleaning up end after them end …
        We live in a rural area, and have many birds and other crewatures come to our property, at times, some very welcome, others not so welcome. I really hate seeing snakes around the place, because these snakes are or at least can be, killers. And our dog is a hunter, already been bitten and had her life saved once …

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      • yes, that is other side of taking care of animals, the clean up and way less fun or glamorous!
        living in an area with killer snakes would be very scary……..especially when you have to worrry about your pets!

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      • Yes, I went from picking up after horses as a kid, to picking up after dogs as an adult …

        The snakes are a constant thing to be concerned about, all through Summer. Our dog Missy is a hunter, it’s in her genes to want to chase things and try to kill them, if she sees them.
        Most of the time though, she sleeps on the sofa, her sofa, the sooky sweetie!

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  28. Now I know where you get that sensitive soul of yours, all those animals that loved and cared for you. You are right about the pets rescuing us in the big picture of things. My little Alley knows when to curl up purring in my lap. She is so sweet, She was a tiny kitten we found near a pile of trash one hot summer day here in Phoenix. I don’t know if someone tossed her or what because the poor little things looked like a rat.
    My husband brought her inside and we cooled her down with wet rags and gave her drops of water. She was over heated and I believed she wouldn’t make it through the night. We bought some kitten formula (she was so young her eyes were still closed) and I fed her every three hours to keep her alive. Had to set an alarm for that.
    I have had several dogs, cats, a goat, a pig, horses, lizard, frog, guinea pig, mice, hamster, rabbits, a turtle, peacock, and one little sparrow that I raised from a baby. The sparrow I would release as soon as it got older and it would always fly down to me at the end of the day to come back inside to curl up on my chest while I watched tv or read a book (I was a little girl then) .
    I am a big fan of all those little critters out there. How cool that you had a raccoon, always wanted one of those. Oh, and a monkey…still do.

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    • OH my goodness! First let me say a HUGE thank you for writing such amazingly kind words. I am deeply humbled by your kindness.
      Reading all the amazing creatures that you have cared for and were blessed to be in your presence amazed me. I love that you saved the life of both the kitten and bird and they show(ed) you just how much they appreciated your love by giving you their love right back to you.
      I love that you had a peacock! and a monkey?! Do you still have a monkey? If so, PLEASE share a picture……….

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  30. After our last adult cat past last year we decided to ‘hold off’ getting another animal for awhile.
    My dear wife waited as long as she could. We have had a kitten for nearly a month and yes! she is
    a handful, several handfuls!!!
    enjoy your day dear friend

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  31. Thank you for sharing!!.. Had several friends who started out as pets but soon become family!.. today all the residents of the backyard have become friends and we share life on a daily basis!.. 🙂

    Happy Valentines Day, by the way!!.. hope today and all your tomorrows are filled with love and happiness and life is all that you wish for it to be!!.. 🙂
    May flowers always line your path
    and sunshine light your way,
    May songbirds serenade your
    every step along the way,
    May a rainbow run beside you
    in a sky that’s always blue,
    And may happiness fill your heart
    each day your whole life through.
    May the sun shine all day long
    Everything go right, nothing go wrong
    May those you love bring love back to you
    And may all the wishes you wish come true
    (Irish Saying)

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  32. Like you, we always had animals when I was growing up. Not cats, but dogs, goats, gerbils, even a pet rat! I think having animals to love and care for, animals who love you back unconditionally, helps to prepare you for life. And because their life spans (usually) are shorter than ours, they help prepare us for death, too. My husband and I love Boston Terriers. We’ve had one or another for as long as I can remember. We just celebrated our 58th… and they help us keep on lovin’ & cuddlin’🎈😊👍🏽

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