“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”-Anatole France
Love Thy Pets- Love Yourself
Anyone who has loved and owned a pet knows that a pet can be a source of enormous comfort and joy. Pets perfectly encapsulate the notion of unconditional love since the relationship with them is brimming with endless hours of cuddling and joy. They shower us with affection, teach us responsibility, and are the best stress relievers. The modern lifestyle has provided a variety of benefits in one’s life but I feel that the added stress that comes with it simply cannot be sidelined. Nothing could ever match the pure sensation of sincerityof our pets. As a parent, who only wishes the best for their child, what could be better than getting them a furry friend to help them grow and learn valuable life lessons!!
Pets in the households have a calming and nurturing effect on children and teach them essential qualities of compassion and care giving. Having a pet in a family shows everyone, how simple joys in life can be adored. It feels good to know that after a hectic day, someone is waiting for you at home who would be extremely happy to see you. The unconditional affection that you get from a pet stays unmatched against any other relationship in the world.
“Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails!” For me, my dog Nawab running towards the door, wagging his tail at the mere sight of me is the daily dose of serotonin that I need. Bringing him home brought my family closer. Everyone came together to take care of him and shared a special bonding. His arrival engaged every one of us to exercise and play with him rather than being stuck to our phones. In my opinion, a pet is not just an animal living inside our houses the moment we become a pet parent, our pet becomes an indispensable part of our lives. It is a member of the family and an integral part of our well-being.
They might slobber and whine. They do leave their paw prints and fur all over the home. But pets are indispensable for humans. And this fact was well highlighted during the Covid times. Being locked down with them for longer periods over the pandemic has surely made us appreciate them all the more. Pet owners overwhelmingly believe that their animals have boosted their well-being during the pandemic, staving off loneliness. Despite being physically isolated from friends, family and colleagues, having a pet meant never truly being alone. I second this thought as Nawab was a source of joy for all of us at home during lockdown and helped a lot in getting over the isolation blues. Not to miss the emotional strength that our children drew from their pet friends by spending their time playing with them. The COVID-induced isolation and prolonged break from physical school, affected a kid’s physical and mental well-being. As a result, pets proved to be excellent companions for kids. Simply snuggling on the couch with their beloved puppy, kitten or an animal of their choice improves a child’s mood and reduces stress as feel-good endorphins are released while playing with them. Moreover, children understand that animals provide unconditional affection.This sense of protection and security is essential for both their physical and emotional well-being. Owning a pet is an excellent method to teach your child about responsibility and empathy. If you have a pet, it allows you to teach your children about the impact their actions have on animals in general.
As the covid virus fundamentally changed the way people lived and worked, lots of them saw this as an opportunity to adopt a new pet. The more socially isolated people became, the more their interest in bringing a new pet home spiked. Pets provide valuable companionship for older adults. Studies have found pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets. Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets. One of the reasons for these therapeutic effects is that pets fulfill the basic human need for touch. Stroking, hugging, or otherwise touching a loving animal can rapidly calm and soothe you when you’re stressed or anxious. The companionship of a pet can also ease loneliness, and most dogs are a great stimulus for exercise, which can substantially boost your mood and ease depression.
The man-animal bond has existed since times immemorial and has always been a beautiful one. Keeping a pet is a wonderful and rewarding experience. As long as you have your pet by your side you’ll never feel lonely. You’ll always have a pawed friend that would never leave you alone no matter what, as is well stated by John Grogan- “Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and how much closer we become with each other because of them.”
Author: Ms. Monika Kathuria, Vice Principal (Preprimary & Primary school MRIS 14)
