Wagging Tail Opened Doors For Many Pets

Man and animal have always shared this planet in a special symbiotic relationship. In fact, thousands of years ago, man celebrated this connection by memorializing, on stone, images of animals.

Then something magical happened that would forever change our lives for the better — the simple wag of a dog’s tail.

Archaeologists have confirmed that thousands of years ago dogs became the first domesticated animals and stopped scavenging mankind’s trash heap and joined him at fireside for roast beast.

It’s not just those adorable eyes and sad whine that endeared dogs to us. Somewhere in the void of time, a man or woman reached down and patted a dog on the head as a reward for helping with the hunt, guarding their home or hauling loads. In recognition of this visible sign of affection, the dog wagged its tail in appreciation and pledged limitless love and devotion for its master.

In that instant, the human-animal bond had life breathed into it.

With this new emotional connection came much more than a win-lose partnership in which humans always benefited at the expense of animals. A covenant was formed whereby mankind would forever benefit from having a more loving relationship with animals. And vice versa. It developed into a win-win connection.

Now, on the eve of a new millennium, pets are no longer relegated to the back yard but have been welcomed into our hearts and homes as family members. A recent survey by the American Animal Hospital Association showed more than 70 percent viewed their pets as children.

Along the way things have changed. Cats now hunt to please their human families, not for survival. We talk to our birds and they answer. Our dogs have moved from the back yard into the bedroom. Gee whiz, cats are even treating us as equals!

One of life’s greatest experiences has become not just having a pet, but loving one. Pets provide unconditional love and seemingly limitless affection. They have become family. We talk to them, carry around photos of them, celebrate their birthdays, buy them Christmas gifts — and let them sleep with us.

Watching your cat lounge dreamy-eyed on the windowsill or having your dog come over to your chair for a little heavy petting and belly rubbing might make one think that our pets have a great thing going. They do, but we get the best end of the deal.

In my experience, we give dogs the love we can share and the time we can spare, and in return they give us their absolute all. This is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made.

Pets are increasingly becoming a necessity. The therapeutic, emotional and social role of pets is expanding. Reality shows that as family, neighbor and community bonds diminish, the family-pet bond is strengthening. Having someone to care for gives meaning to life, a reason to get up in the morning. Pets satisfy the requirement to be needed and loved, an emotion that runs deep in all of us.

The companionship of a four-legged friend not only makes you feel good, it’s good for you. Pets provide consistency, stability, entertainment, an emotional outlet, a means of stress reduction and a method of socialization. Pets are good for our hearts, heads and souls.

Pets lend a touch of graciousness to our lives because they tend to bring out the kindest and most generous impulses of humanity. Pets create a state of peaceful coexistence between humans and the rest of creation. They keep us from believing that we and the material things around us are the be-all and end-all. Our beloved four-legged family members have become partners, healers, teachers, heroes, friends and angels.

Scooter, the Becker family’s beloved wire-haired fox terrier, and Sirloin, our black Labrador retriever, always rev up the turbo-chargers and come running when we drive down the lane of Almost Heaven Ranch, our North Idaho oasis.

Then, 10 minutes later on our way to do chores, they do the furry tap dance and turn inside out with delight. Always ready to join us, they never meet our request to play or go for a walk with: “I’m tired tonight. Maybe tomorrow I’ll go with you.”

Regardless of the situation, our pets meet every need and exceed every expectation we could have for a four-legged friend and family member.

The bond: nebulous but easily understood; simple but complex; instant gratification but lasting benefits.

We may not know what’s behind our pets’ dancing liquid eyes, whether they shine for us or the can opener. We just know that at the end of a stressful day, when these delighted frenzies of fur greet us and we feel the stress slip away and the positive energy flow between us, it hardly seems to matter.