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Ahhh. …Puppy Love…Okay, I know you’re probably thinking I’m talking about that innocent love that you mistake for the real thing when you’re too young to know better.   What I mean is….puppy love…the kind that barks, wags it’s tail, and makes you feel like there’s no one in the world that matters but you.  Maybe your favorite , furry friend meows or oinks, but the point is,  once you’ve experienced the love of a precious pet you just don’t want to live without it.   After all, what’s more dependable than the patter of little paws running to greet you at the door when you arrive home? 

Pets share your enthusiasm, comfort you in hard times, and help to stabilize your emotions.  With more than 70% of Americans owning a pet of some sort, 39% owning a dog specifically, and 33% owning a cat„ it’s obvious we’re enchanted with the idea of gracing our households with a little canine and feline diversity.

From the day we bring them home, our pets often become as essential in our lives as our loved ones!  Nothing teaches us patience, unconditional love, or unconditional affection more than a pet.  Pet ownership can also be a great stepping-stone to  committed relationships; breaking us in to  care taking and parental-like duties.  For the single person, hanging out with a pet can increase your chances of social interaction.

What is it, exactly, that makes owning a pet so appealing?  How can we go back to loving them again and again?

Scientifically speaking, pets help lower our blood pressure, cause an increase in dopamine and serotonin.  In fact, consider your fuzzy loved one a number one immunity booster in your every day life—owning a pet that you care for regularly can decrease your chances of heart attack and depression while prolonging your life.  Simply owning a dog can decrease your chances of being overweight, and can help the elderly remain connected and calm as they ease into dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Not a pet owner yet?  Then there’s some good news for you—multiple recent studies have shown that owning a furry friend can actually help decrease your allergy symptoms, and reduce the risk of developing allergies and asthma in children. 

Animals are so beautifully simplistic, and we can learn so much from the love our furry babies give us.

Forgive and forget the little things

a.     Your dog always forgives you for accidentally stepping on his tail, and your cat waits patiently to be fed all day while you’re at work.  How do they do it?  Somehow, animals have perfected the old adage of forgiving and forgetting—they never hold onto their pain, anger, or frustration!  Can you imagine how much happier humans would be if they did the same?

Be enthusiastic with your play mates!

a.     For a pet, just your coming home is a celebration.  No matter how preoccupied you’ve been, or what kind of mood you’re in, your animal always drops everything to make time for you.  Just when I start taking my life to seriously, my dog races to the door to greet me with a ball and a happily wagging tail to share.  He looks at me like “ I know you’re thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’… let’s play…!!!”  When was the last time you dropped your woes at the door to be more playful with a partner, spouse, or family member?  Let go of the stress and join in the exuberance joy brings us!

Devotion.

a.     I look at my dogs sometime and think, “ God made you to teach all of us humans what devotion really is.  If only we could all be so ego free.”  Pets are exemplary in their consideration and ability to intuit how we’re feeling at any given moment.  Most animals are empathetic comforters to their human partners.  When you recognize you’ve been a bit self-consumed, my advice is act more like the dog or kitty you love. 

In this month of love, it’s important to remember all the partners in our lives—including our animals.  When we open ourselves to learning from the love around us, we begin to mirror that love in ways that bring a little more joy into all of our human partnerships..