Two years ago our beloved Maltipoo passed away. I felt depressed and melancholy for months … and even now he is still missed, and we still have not yet gotten another pup. I had to even question my mood any number of times, because I felt like I was mourning more for a passed away pet than I have for people, including fellow colleagues, friends and even family.
Last year, I read an insightful book titled “Rescuing Sprite: A Dog Lover's Story of Joy and Anguish” by author and broadcaster Mark Levin. The main point I came to understand is that our pets, for the most part, love us unconditionally. If you are a dog or cat owner and you are a loving and caring owner to your pet, your critter will reciprocate unconditionally. Fellow humans, as much as we love and cherish our friends and family, can frequently disappoint, hurt or even betray us from time to time. Faithful pets rarely do this … if ever.
There is an old political adage in Washington, D.C. that goes something like … if you want a friend while you’re in politics, then get a dog. The explanation to the outpouring of sympathy for the photo follows this line of reasoning in that cliched adage.
Anyways … I also believe that a reason why you had so much sympathetic feedback for your Ukrainian war pup is because those people are relating the poor pooch to their own beloved pets. It doesn’t mean that they are more cold and callous towards the human sufferings during war. But the scared and hurt pup really brings home the tragedy of war because so many people likely have or have had a pet similar to the one in your photo.
In the meantime, that was a great write-up. Bravo Zulu.
I think another factor is most people have been at one point or another deeply wounded by another person whereas most people have nothing but fairly positive experiences with animals. That wounded man brings to mind memories of an absent father or abusive ex, but a dog or cat has none of that baggage.
Two years ago our beloved Maltipoo passed away. I felt depressed and melancholy for months … and even now he is still missed, and we still have not yet gotten another pup. I had to even question my mood any number of times, because I felt like I was mourning more for a passed away pet than I have for people, including fellow colleagues, friends and even family.
Last year, I read an insightful book titled “Rescuing Sprite: A Dog Lover's Story of Joy and Anguish” by author and broadcaster Mark Levin. The main point I came to understand is that our pets, for the most part, love us unconditionally. If you are a dog or cat owner and you are a loving and caring owner to your pet, your critter will reciprocate unconditionally. Fellow humans, as much as we love and cherish our friends and family, can frequently disappoint, hurt or even betray us from time to time. Faithful pets rarely do this … if ever.
There is an old political adage in Washington, D.C. that goes something like … if you want a friend while you’re in politics, then get a dog. The explanation to the outpouring of sympathy for the photo follows this line of reasoning in that cliched adage.
Anyways … I also believe that a reason why you had so much sympathetic feedback for your Ukrainian war pup is because those people are relating the poor pooch to their own beloved pets. It doesn’t mean that they are more cold and callous towards the human sufferings during war. But the scared and hurt pup really brings home the tragedy of war because so many people likely have or have had a pet similar to the one in your photo.
In the meantime, that was a great write-up. Bravo Zulu.
Here is a link for more about that Mark Levin book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/994192.Rescuing_Sprite
I think another factor is most people have been at one point or another deeply wounded by another person whereas most people have nothing but fairly positive experiences with animals. That wounded man brings to mind memories of an absent father or abusive ex, but a dog or cat has none of that baggage.