Heartthrob Deserves Devotion
Valentine’s Day is a natural catalyst for thoughts of those we love: family, friends, neighbors and coworkers.
But within the broad category of those we love is a subset of the ones we love the very most. Our heartthrobs.
They’ve earned a paramount share of our hearts because of their unique gifts of unconditional love, limitless affection and to-die-for loyalty.
Our hearts dance with excitement to greet them, we smother them with kisses and loving words, and would risk our lives for theirs.
And although some of you can mentally shoehorn a human into the heartthrob category, I’m talking about 60 million American households that contain the epitome of a heartthrob. A walking dictionary definition of a heartthrob. America’s beloved pets.
Being a veterinarian of more than 20 years and a lifetime pet lover, I’ve been privy and partner to amazing stories of love among pets and people that make Harlequin romances seem bland by comparison.
As a co-author of the best-selling books, “Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul” and “Chicken Soup for the Cat & Dog Lover’s Soul” also let me take a peek into the emotional diaries of thousands of people who sent in stories for the books. These stories were love letters of sorts, hoping to proclaim their rabid love of a fur-Fabio to the world.
What I love about these heartthrobs, this special affection-connection called The Bond, is their amazing diversity. Some people love cats, some love dogs, others love reptiles, birds, pocket pets and horses, while others love them all. Some pet lovers have eyes for only certain breeds while others are fond of cocktail pets of mixed heritage. Some are drawn to puppies and kittens while others like more seasoned senior pets.
As amazing as the diversity of what our individual heartthrobs look like physically, we are remarkably similar in the way we love our pets emotionally. Hidden camera studies have shown that regardless of race, sex, age, religion or socio-economic backgrounds, we all cuddle, stroke and talk to our pets with equal frequency and intensity.
Being a veterinarian all these years and observing tens of thousands of people in exam rooms cradling their child certainly bears testimony to this fact!
This week, let’s reflect deeply on the love affair we have with our pets. Knowing that they give us their absolute all, are we returning a full measure of the love and loyalty they give us?
Could it be that we need to look after a medical or emotional need for our pets that’s unmet? Should we take a pet to the veterinarian for a comprehensive physical exam, overdue vaccinations, to treat those red gums that signal pain or should we put them on a premium food rather than feed them pet junk food from the grocery store?
Rather than rush through a quickie reunion when we come home, could they use the ultimate gift of our time to exercise, play or just sit close and cuddle as we baby talk to them?
When it comes to pets, you don’t betray one heartthrob by loving another. Most pets are starving for the friendship of another pet to fill a void in their life and make the days seem shorter.
It’s a fact that pets with a four-legged family member or pet buddy live happier, healthier, fuller lives.
As for us, let’s look deep inside ourselves to see if we have room within our hearts and homes to welcome a pet that belongs on a couch in our home rather than a cage in the shelter.
Go to your local animal shelter or visit the virtual shelter www.petfinder.com and find passionate love on the Internet.
The uniquely precious heartthrobs waiting in a sea of anxious faces at shelters reminds me of Forrest Gump’s description that life is like a box of chocolates, and you never know what you’re going to get.
This year, give the gift of life itself.