Death of a beloved pet is the great equalizer

I read that Martha Stewart’s chow, Paw Paw, died this past week of renal failure at the age of 13.  Oprah’s beloved cocker spaniel Sophie, also 13, died recently of kidney failure.  Two larger than life women that have attained success beyond the wildest dreams of most, yet they are suffering the loss of their pets just as we do when we lose one of our own.  Our animals become such a huge part of our everyday lives that their loss is every bit as overwhelming as the death of a family member.  It doesn’t matter whether you’re rich or poor, good looking or not, old or young, our pets are the great equilizer in life.  The love we receive from our best friends is no different than the love Sophie and Paw Paw shared with their extraordinarily successful owners.  We open our hearts to our pets in a manner we’re either unable or unwilling to with other people, even most family members.  Not because we don’t love our family and friends, but our pets know the worst of us, yet it never affects how they feel about us.  They know our darkest secrets, and they share our triumphs as well as our failures.  No matter what life hands us they are there to see it through with us.  As difficult as it is to get through the grief we suffer after the death of man’s best friend, there isn’t an animal lover out there that would give up the years of unrequited love to avoid the pain of losing them.  As the times ahead of us appear more and more grim, there is a shelter dog sitting in a cage right now that would give anything to be by your side to offer the comfort that only a warm heart and cold nose can provide.  When you’re spending your weekends at home because you put the money you would have used for a night out in the gas tank, they’ll be right there with you to see you through until the good times hit again.  And all of a sudden, the bad times won’t feel so bad.  A shelter dog could be the new love in your life.  Take some time to think about it, and if you decide there’s a place in your heart you can share, you’ll be rewarded with a love of epic proportions.