To the Editor,
Re: “Pets have rights now too,” Editorial, Jan. 24
So very many people with pets experience the emotional benefits of their presence.
Whenever I observe anxiety in the facial expression of my aging mother, a typical senior, I can also witness how that stress suddenly drains and is replaced with joyful adoration upon her cat entering the room: “Hi sweetheart!” she’ll say.
I know that countless other seniors with pets also experience the emotional benefits of their animals’ presence. Of course, the animals’ qualities, especially an un-humanly innocence, makes losing that pet someday such a heartbreaking experience.
There’s an actuality of healthy reciprocal relationships — some people would even go as far as to describe it as somewhat symbiotic — between pets (many of us see them as family members) and their loving and appreciative human hosts, especially physically and/or mentally ill hosts.
They have a beneficial influence over humanity that many people still cannot fathom; and this beautiful reality of their positive effect on their human hosts can also be beneficial to the pets themselves.
Mom’s cat, Mr. Simon, seems to really enjoy an enthusiastic talking-to while being firmly stroked or his ears scratched, which usually induces him to purr appreciatively.
He will also slightly whine, quite like a small child, when wanting something, for example as he, with great expectation, stands next to his grooming brush. He’ll also have much to say, via loud trilling or an adorable combination of meow and trill, and hesitate or refuse to eat food we drop to the floor while we eat at the table.
Pets are indeed beautiful; maybe even more precious and innocent than humanity collectively deserves.
Frank Sterle Jr.,
White Rock