[lisaly]

Originally Posted by Pipers

Thank you for sharing this...these creatures are angels in disguise.
Don't you wish all people could understand how an animal can touch our hearts...

I always look for the good in people, and I think maybe people are missing out because they are afraid to open themselves up to others, whether it be a family member, friend, or family pet. By keeping a shield around themselves, they truly miss the beauty that can be found in loving relationships. It's kind of like Amanda McBroom's song that Bette Midler sang, "The Rose." Only when you truly open up to others and take down the walls around you, then you can feel love and it will blossom. With animals, even though your shield may be up, they don't let anything stop them from loving you. I really think that animals bring out the very best in people. We learn so much from having them in our lives, and we should take a lesson from them about unconditional love. They are so perceptive about how we are feeling, and are right at our sides when we need them. They truly are our angels. I'm always a little unsure of people who really don't like dogs. I can understand if they were bitten by a dog in the past, but when they have a strong dislike for dogs, I question what kind of person really dislikes them. When I hear the words "outside dog," I get so infuriated. It's like those two words are an oxymoron. I read the book, The Hidden Lives of Dogs by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, and I was a bit puzzled by the conclusions she came up with. Yes, dogs are pack animals, and they do love to be around other dogs, but they also need to be around the people that love them. They don't want to be locked in a yard without the love of family. I think it's like everything else. We need to reach our young kids and teach them about the responsibility and love of having a pet. I definitely think that young children who grow up with animals and help with their care become more loving people. They learn to be better mommies and daddies, and I believe that will carry over when they get older. My husband was raised with a lot of cats in his family when he was growing up. We never had children of our own. Our furbabies taught him to open up and talk about his feelings more. He was never afraid to baby them in front of his friends, even though they teased him about it. He is very protective of those he loves and was so loving with our little girls. It's funny to watch a 6'4'' man babying a tiny yorkie. When I watched him protecting our little girls and making them feel loved, it made me feel very proud of him, and I loved him more than ever. He put their needs ahead of his and only wanted them to feel safe and happy. People who don't open up to an animal or have one in their lives are missing out on one of life's greatests gifts.