Why I Pet My Dogs
They make sense to me when nothing else does.
In my Off-Leash Writing Workshops, we often use poetry for inspiration. This piece was inspired by Why I Petted the Cat, by Lance Larsen, and the line, “Me trying to love all mammals equally” in particular.
Why I Pet My Dogs
Because I love them, and although I’m trying to love all beings equally, it’s hard when humans behave so badly.
Because the best place to find comfort amidst the madness taking place in the country and the world is in Hobie’s thick, soft fur; the wiry musculature of Professor Wiggles’ perpetually wagging body; and Wubkin’s warm, small heart beating fast and strong against my palm as I rub his chest and belly.
Because there’s an ache in my heart today and every day that only the petting of dogs can ease.
Because someone didn’t like my class, and although I’m trying to be a grownup and get past my hurt and defensiveness so I can find the lesson in this individual’s rather unkind remarks, I’m still sad and demoralized, since I continue to hold the (admittedly unreasonable) wish that every one of my students will love me, as I love every one of them.
Because my sons don’t always want to be hugged, but my dogs always want to be petted and scratched and loved.
Because my dogs remind me that there are other kinds of intelligence in this world besides our human kind, and those other intelligences are steeped in wisdom of a sort that we, with our egos and distortions, cannot begin to understand.
Because the rain is tapping its gentle melody on the roof and the green leaves are popping outside the window and I love this world and ache for it at the same time.
Because some days I feel ready to give up entirely and be done, although of course I wouldn’t, couldn’t do that to my children. Still, some days I feel ready to be done, I do, and on those days, a warm Wubkin on my lap, or the lick of Hobie’s velvet tongue on my cheek, or Wiggles gazing searchingly into my eyes as though I alone hold the key to some essential mystery, makes me feel that I still belong here on this earth.
Because my dogs make sense to me when nothing else does.
If you enjoyed this piece, you might also enjoy Your Inner Dog.
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Of course I love this. And dogs. There is a huge hole in my heart that I can't really have a dog now, for a few reasons. But I delighted in spending several days visiting friends in Santa Fe who have a very poodle-forward goldendoodle and were fostering a very large blonde sweet dog. And of course I loved, loved, loved the picture with you and my favorite, Prof. Wiggles.
And I have loved every class I've taken with you, so there, whoever dissed you. As a teacher and a coach I learned that I wasn't the right person for everyone. It was probably a mismatch, that's all.
Dear Tanya -- your deep sensitivity and talent to express it are a gift to this world and peacemaking powers.
The photos you chose are exquisite visual expressions of your message. The one of you and Professor Wiggles shows your hand and his paw -- two species -- sharing love.
Reminds me of book An Immense World by Ed Yong that compares the sensory world of the dog to that of the human. The dog's smell sense reality, one of 2 (?) colors and no edges. The human's sensory visual reality, one of many colors and edges. Yet we reach through these separate very different perceptions of reality and we love each other.
Yes, to your point, we want homo sapiens to do this for one another.