Natural Instincts

The closest I came to having a pet growing up was Heather, a bird that resided on the back porch for 2 weeks until she met the ceiling fan. My father, who claimed to have no idea the bird cage was open upon flipping the switch, views pets as “too much work” so we were not surprised when he stood as the only culprit in a seemingly accidental situation. This incident could have been traumatizing to my four siblings and I had we known the bird for longer than thirteen days.

I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a pet lover; I am more of a pet affiliate. My neighbors, boyfriend, and best friend all have dogs and I enjoy playing with them; however, the first time I pick up another being’s droppings will have to wait until my first child is born (not any time soon). I have never been around animals until recently and it’s amazing what these four-legged animals have to teach us.

I have a tendency, as with many of us, to get too involved in my work. Whether its homework, a project, or a test, I find myself putting all things aside and devoting my time towards one objective. Sometimes the pressure of work and other obligations forces them to take priority over eating right, exercising, and having fun (things that truly bring me enjoyment).

Recently I agreed to watch my boyfriend’s dog for the weekend while he was away. Emma, an 18 month old American Bulldog who’s brindle eye-patch attracts any near-by kid, loves people, basketball, and her dad. Having known Emma for the majority of her life, I was comfortable watching her, even though this was my first time being responsible for a dog.

The weekend is usually a great time for me to catch up on work or prepare for next week. The particular following week was the busiest of my college career and I knew I had to buckle down.

It seemed like Emma knew the exact point at which I was completely immersed in my work, because about every 45 minutes she couldn’t resist the urge to walk over, lick my leg and give me the saddest look in history. For a long time, I ignored her, pushed through and continued working. Of course I let her outside, but only for short seconds, knowing my time was valuable.

A couple hours passed and my leg was completely dry. Assuming she gave up; I kept trucking. When I couldn’t stand to look at a computer screen any longer, I went to my room to relax. At that moment, I felt like the a negligent father who refused to make time to play catch with his child (you know how the story goes).

There she was, all 65 pounds of white fur, sleeping on her side with her paw on top of my basketball. This sight was adorable yet incredibly sad... my heart melted right there on the beige carpet. As I slowly pet her velvet white fur, I realized what a stressful weekend it had been. Emma was trying to remind me how revitalizing a beautiful Saturday is and I continued to treat her like a pest.  Soon it came to me just how fortunate I was to watch Emma that weekend.

If there is anything I have learned in 23 years it’s that every situation yields the ability to teach us something. This sight, immediately struck a nerve and changed the way I view dogs. When ever Emma comes running over to say hello, it reminds me how simple life really is and that no matter what is going on, life is too short to be a hermit, especially on the weekends. Now a days, not only am I committed to living better but I make sure that Emma and I play basketball together every Saturday.

The refreshing enjoyment a pet brings cannot be put into words. It’s no wonder why people who have them live longer. Thanks to Emma, and the other neighborhood pups, I realize God's purpose for blessing us with these furry creatures.