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May 12, 2021
A Love Letter to Our Pets
How our furry friends have helped us through the new normal.
A year into the pandemic, and this week I’ve been reflecting on the things in life that have helped us all get through the madness that is the new normal. In times of such severe change, it’s only natural that we look for the things in life that bring us some escape from the world outside, especially when that world was made much smaller during lockdown. Among the many comforts or fads, you may have succumbed to during the pandemic, whether that has been painting the house, binging numerous Netflix series or baking banana bread, we have to acknowledge the best comfort / escapism of all has come from our beautiful pets! I think we all have a new found appreciation for their company, entertainment and motivation they provide us with every single day, which we may have taken for granted pre-pandemic.
It’s quite crazy how our lives have changed and for many it has been an incredibly tough year. However, our pets lives have changed drastically too. Never before have they received so many cuddles, treats, walks, and quality time with their loving families. What a great predicament they’ve found themselves in. It has to be said that having a furry friend during this period has helped us all feel less alone. A non-judgemental friend, a great listener and they are always there willing to cheer us up. Their wagging tails have helped us put structure to each day. The scratch at the door early in the morning alerting you that it’s a fresh new morning and it’s time to get up. The comfort of them joining you in a Netflix binge, their adorable little chin resting on your knee. And then getting to the point where you now know their favourite tv show, which for our dog was anything David Attenborough. The day is then closely followed by the sad puppy dog eyes telling you that you’ve watched enough of Tiger King and it’s time to go out on yet another walk to their complete delight. They have given us a purpose when at times we just didn’t feel we had one.
Like many pet owners can relate, I find myself in complete awe of their little personalities, the mischief and curious nature which somehow, I have become even more obsessed with. In our house, our pets have been the main talking point of the day. Each family member greeting each other and then chiming in with their cute pet related story today. Not to mention the daily updates in our family WhatsApp which is bombarded with pictures and videos of what hilarious hide outs the cat has discovered that particular day.
In normal circumstances would these minute details bring us such delight? It is hard to remember but I feel like we all definitely have a heightened appreciation for these little moments of laughter. They have played a major part in helping us cope with such an unanticipated time in our lives and they deserve all the treats in the world and don’t forget the boops!
Article By Ellen Redmond