Pets are a blessing...

[Eredar Warlock]

It has been proven many times that animals, especially pets, are very much aware of a person'e emotions. When someone is feeling down, depressed, or is grieving, the pet will often come to the person and nuzzle, or just try and touch the person in some way. Cats are absolutely masterful at this.


In my own life, I have struggled with watching a grandparent suffer from Alzheimer's. We had a housecat at that time, and when said grandparent became painful to see, she would often hop into my lap, or my grandmother's, crawl on our shoulders, and purr. Really loud. When said grandparent finally died, it then began to lick our faces or our hair while being held.

Having a cat purr into your ear, or purr really close to you, really calms you down. I know it did for me.

Anyone else have any similar stories?

 

[Evil Raichu]

Yes. Pets really ARE a blessing, our dachshund Minnie has made me feel that way more than once. We've had Minnie ever since I was 2 years old. (She turned 17 last month...yes, she's STILL around.) Not only does she comfort, but there are so many times that little dog has run out to protect her family, it's unreal.

For example, just a couple of years ago, one lady that was a friend of my mother's had an American Eskimo dog named Missy. She came over to visit one day and tied Missy to our front porch.

While she was in the kitchen with my mother with the front door open (it was a nice day out), our other dog Fudge, who was just an 8 week old puppy at the time, wandered up to the door. Missy freaked and started barking, and the leash came off the post and she was in the entry foyer of our house running around, going after the puppy. I picked Fudge up to get her away from Missy and she started snapping at me and coming after ME, and it was all I could do to keep her off and keep her from getting the puppy at the same time. All of this happened in about 30 seconds, but when you're twelve and you've got a big white dog trying to eat your puppy, it seems a lot longer than that.

At the same time my mother and her friend ran back into the foyer just in time to start flipping out like stupid women who don't know how to control a large animal are famous for doing, Minnie ran in and dove on Missy. Keep in mind, Minnie is a dachshund, and Missy was easily three or four times as big as she was, but she tried to jump her ass anyways.

Minnie ended up almost getting her throat ripped out, but she DID survive because we got her away from Missy in time and got that damn beast out in the yard again. She had to spend three days at the vet and then a week at home just laying in her bed, with drainage tubes and stitches in her and all.

She might have died before she let that dog hurt me.

 

[WolfofDoom]

Agreed.
I have a dog and a few Cats and I can tell you they are awesome. My pets are friends for life. You got a good loyal friend in a pet.

 

[Doug]

My bird is very sensitive to emotions..if you're feelin down he'll cuddle up under your chin...he chirps like he's consoling you. I'm pretty sure a good bird is the best pet I could ever have.

 

[Turtle Tamer Kammy]

My fish looks at me when he wants to be fed. XP