Why humans do the strangest things for their pets

Vodka, my Bichon Frise, turned one last Aug. 16.

Anyone who knows me knows that my doggy companions don’t know they are not human. And since Vodka is our baby, we needed to make sure that we celebrated her first birthday with lots of food, and cake, too.

No, I didn’t have to invite any other doggy friends as Vodka has four doggy siblings and six cat siblings. Yes, we had a cake in the shape of Tweety Bird made of orange chiffon. As a special treat, the doggies got their fave chicken meal, the cats had their share, too.

I am sure my 11 “kids” enjoyed their food. But I think I had the most fun seeing how excited they all were to gobble up what was put in their doggy and cat dishes.

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Why do humans with pets like me do the strangest things for our pet companions? Let me share with you a few reasons:

1. Pets reduce stress and depression. When you reach middle age and menopause starts to set in, there is nothing like owning a dog or dogs that are devoted to you. My dogs always make me laugh because they do the funniest things and that keeps the stress and depression at bay.

2. I have read that pets are good for the elderly. No, I am not yet among the elderly, but in my mid life I truly welcome the undivided love and attention my doggies give me once I get home.

3. Pets give us bigger hearts. Pets open our hearts to offering kindness to all we meet — after all, my pets are always kind to me. And I believe that if we are given kindness, we need to give kindness back. 

4. Pets are the best company. If you are single, like I am, chances are you spend lots of time alone. Owning a pet keeps the loneliness at bay.

5. I have met so many people because of my pets. Whenever I take Vodka with me, I am sure to meet a few new people because they want to meet Vodka. In the neighborhood where I live, I get to meet lots of people, too, more so if they are walking their dogs in the morning. I stop for people with dogs.

There are lots of people that I have met in my life that I may not have liked, but I have never met a dog that I did not like. I guess that’s because dogs put on no masks, no pretensions. They never try to impress me — they always just are and that make them all the more lovable.

If only people. . .

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I recently got a copy of the book Life with Dogs by the editors of Life Books. I was immediately captivated by the book because it features of photos of dogs in their many moods and some of them with their famous humans.

“Dogs, dogs, dogs . . . who can resist them?” is the first line on the front flap of the book.

“Just take a peek inside, and if you are not smiling within 10 seconds, then put this book back on the shelf.” That is the book’s last line.

I want to share with you some of the photos from this book — so that like mine, your day may be a little brighter.

I’m still smiling as I write this.