Why We Need Our Pets
As I’m typing this, I’m sitting on my couch. My dog––his name is Maui––is lying down about a foot away from me, curled up on a blanket. Wait, he just yawned. Now he’s stretching. Aww, he’s so cute! I reach over and pet him––his fur is so soft. Does he want a belly rub? Yes, he does! Okay, that’s over, he’s back to lying down. I pet him again. Maybe I need to make him a grooming appointment, his hair is reaching the point where it could start getting matted if he doesn’t get groomed, and I don’t want that for my boy. He’s a good boy. Aww, he just changed positions! He looks so cute like that, I just have to pet him again. Wait, what was I talking about?
Maui has the power of distracting me, no matter what I’m doing. I could be hanging out in my room, reading a book, or playing a game, but if I hear his adorable little paws click-clacking on the floor just outside, I’m out of there to see what he’s up to. He just has that power over me.
I know I’m not alone in my obsessive adoration for my four-legged friend. People love their pets; according to Forbes, 66% of U.S. households (86.9 million homes) have at least one pet. I personally know so many people who have pets––probably the majority, honestly. Why are there so many of us? Well, in my completely unbiased opinion, pets (especially dogs, no offense cat lovers) are simply the best. They’re there for us no matter what. They don’t judge us (at least externally). All they want is food, a warm home, and love. Their lives are utterly uncomplicated, and it doesn’t take much to make them happy.
In an age where so many of us feel isolated from others, having a pet, or at least regularly interacting with one, can fill a gap in your soul you didn’t even know needed to be filled. There are actually a lot of reasons why having a pet can help you lead a healthier, happier life.
For one, they provide support that sometimes other people just don’t offer when you need it. Their love is no-strings-attached and they don’t have ulterior motives. All they care about is being warm, fed, and loved. For people who often feel somewhat left out of a lot of social situations (ahem, couldn’t be me), having a pet to go home to can be such a comfort. You don’t need to use up your precious energy by talking to them and asking them questions. You can just make sure they’re taken care of and content. The two (or more) of you can just be. It can be a much-needed break from the regular human interactions expected of us every day.
Having a pet to take care of can give purpose to those who need it. I’ve heard so many stories about how having a pet keeps people grounded in reality when they’re struggling, giving them meaning to a difficult time in their lives, whether related to a specific event or mental health issues. If you don’t get out of bed, who’s going to feed your dog? Who’s going to clean your cat’s litter box? Who’s going to make sure they’re okay? Even for me, sometimes the fact that Maui will be on the couch, that adorable sleepy expression on his face, gives me the pinch I need to drag myself out of bed in the morning. It’s not hyperbole to say that pets can be lifesavers. They need you; you need them.
Often, our pets, especially dogs, can read our emotions––sometimes better than we can. They’re like our own personal nonverbal four-legged therapists. They can sense when we’re happy, stressed, sad, and more, and adjust their behavior accordingly. I’ve seen my own dog try to be comforting when people around him––including myself at times––aren’t in a good mood or state of mind. He’ll stand in the door frame and wag his tail, a stark departure from his usually playful-aka-insanely-chaotic demeanor. Sometimes he’ll jump onto the bed, couch, or whatever I’m sitting on, and curl up beside me. While it doesn’t make what I’m upset about go away, it’s nice to know that he’s there. I don’t have to explain my emotions to him. It’s simple. It’s nice.
Our four-legged friends are just that––our friends. But more than that, they’re also our family. They depend on us, just as we depend on them. I never want to be without a pet for the rest of my life if I can help it, as I know how beautiful and life-altering the experience can be.
This article is dedicated to Maui, who celebrated his seventh birthday just before this article was published, as well as all the other dogs and cats who love, are loved, and are yet to find love. They matter, too.
Love you, Maui!
