20.02. - Love-your-pet day
When a person decides to have an animal accompany them through life, it’s not just about taking an animal into their care, but also about species-appropriate husbandry, time and care, as well as respect and love.
The 20th of February is the day of the year when pet owners can make their pets feel even more clearly how much they are valued, loved and respected and how much they count as a member of the family. In fact, every day should be a love-your-pet day: full of respect and love until the natural end of the four-legged family member’s life.
For the definition of pet
When we hear the word pet, we primarily think of a dog or cat. People think of pets as animals with which they have a close relationship, the animals that live close to them until the natural end of their lives and which for many represent a piece of nature within their own four walls. As a rule, pets are animals that are not found in the wild, but are domesticated and purposefully kept fellow creatures that are bred for this purpose.
Animals are the best medicine for human souls
By nature, humans are not made to be alone. They often want to share their care and love not only with people alone, but also with animals.Animals make their humans happy, they take away the feeling of loneliness, they are comforters and are always there when you need them.
The structure of a person’s day is basically structured by the presence of a dog or cat. Animals are the “best medicine”. They soothe the soul and slow things down for those suffering from stress.
Pets are companions, helpers and comforters
The decision to get a pet is often a spontaneous one. However, the lifestyle, daily rhythm and living situation play a major role in all spontaneity.Pets not only enrich people emotionally, but also strengthen their social skills. Dogs, for example, encourage people to start a conversation and thus create opportunities for social interaction that might otherwise not occur.
Pets are also wonderful comforters and they don’t question their owners: if you feel sad, a dog or cat will be right there to nudge you with their nose or start purring. People automatically start stroking the animal and calm down, their blood pressure drops. Stroking the soft fur relieves tension and sadness. Animals are simply there for us when there is no other person around to comfort us.
Siva could no longer be a comforter and companion to his owners
Siva, 13 years old, is a Shih-Tzu-Pekinese mix and was given away by his owners for reasons of age. His elderly owners live in an assisted living home on the 7th floor.
Siva has gone blind due to his age, but he obviously enjoyed his walks with his owners. If only there hadn’t been one problem: When he went back to the flat on the 7th floor after his walk, Siva urinated in the lift, which of course had to be cleaned. The whole situation had become too stressful for the owners and they asked for Siva to be taken in at Gut Aiderbichl in Iffeldorf.
He has been living here for a year now. He receives the care and love that an ageing dog can expect. Bucket and rag are always ready if Siva has a little “accident” in the dog room.
The animals grow old with us
We grow old with the animals – that’s what I think to myself every day when I walk up the avenue and cross paths with pigs, goats, donkeys, llamas or ponies. I’ve known some animals for “half an eternity”.
It’s interesting to observe how people and animals age and how some things change.
Like old people, old cats and dogs like Siva become incontinent, have digestive problems, develop arthritis, suffer from rheumatism, go blind and their fur is no longer as soft and cuddly as it was when they were young.
Veterinary costs rise, just as medical and care costs rise for ageing people. The old dog will be happy to have an orthopaedic mattress, age-appropriate food and walks that are adapted to the capacity of his weakening heart.
Animals love us unconditionally and as pet owners it is our moral duty to love and respect them until their last breath and to be with them when they close their eyes forever.
Love for animals is man's greatest kindness.
– Victor Hugo
From: Gisela Pschenitschnig, Gut Aiderbichl
