Patience Brewster writes:
Compassion is instilled forever
in those who loved a pet.
Animals have been abundant and important in my life.
I loved the horses, pigs, and chickens I grew up with,
but the dogs and the cats were my domain. I rode in
the "way back" of our beach wagon, happily squeezing
in with the dogs. I rarely picked a spot on the couch,
preferring the floor and the company of the purring
snoozing four-legged creatures. When our golden
retriever was having puppies, I took over their care
and feeding even though I was only ten.
I am so grateful to have absorbed an entire silent
language of eyes and ears and tails from countless hours
in the close company of cats and dogs. There is a gift of a
heightened intuition that can be derived from them.My children learned composure, tenderness, respect and
responsibility from our animals. When they were very small,
I never had to worry about them holding a bird, a kitten or
a puppy of a tiny newborn baby. They understood the
anatomy, the warmth and soft dependence that come
from observation and co-existence with pets. It does
something deep and good for the soul.
Needless to say, I think cats and dogs rule. So here
I offer you a year long tribute, a little showering of
affection for my Reigning Cats and Dogs.
Fondly,
Patience Brewster