LOVE ON ALL FOURS; LOVING MY CATS AND MY DOGS

If Valentine's Day is no secret why don't more people show their love for their cats and their dogs?

 

Despite the commercial Super Bowl Valentine's Day has become this day is really about how you and I love - a day to assess our behavior toward one another, animals and the environment, Valentines Day is the "Share a Little Love" event of the year:) No denying Valentine's Day is special to me - a little chocolate some flowers and perhaps a romantic date are part of the expectation but the novelty of this Hallmark Holiday is the chance to share the love with those around us who have no rights - our cats and dogs.

My Darling Theo Foundation was founded because of my love for Theo who would have been fifteen on February 10, 2015. Our foundation has an active board, unique programs and a message Pet Friendly = Pet Safe, too! As I develop our programs, message social media and contact potential corporate and non-profit partners, I acknowledge the inspiration the cats and dogs I share my life with continue to give me.

DOGS ARE NOT SHY ABOUT TELLING YOU HOW THEY FEEL - LISTEN

My Dogs let me know with their actions how they feel about me, they acknowledge my presence, smile when they are happy and frown when they are not - they let me know when the food I feed them is satisfactory and when I should keep looking for responsible brands which also taste good  to them. I am a more cognizant of the responsibility I have for them because they love, me.

CATS ARE TOO INDEPENDENT AND INDIFFERENT TO HUMAN AFFECTION, REALLY? 

Much has been written and discussed about cat's "independence". The felines I share my life with are independent love bugs. Their persona's are bursting with talent, courage, and tenacity - hey if cats had thumbs they could hold a microphone and if they could hold a microphone they could reach  the folks in the back of the room who just don't get it ( that cats are smart, need family to survive and want the love of their human companions. On days when I want to give up I take the feline approach: I get up stretch, refocus grab a bite and get back to work:).

THE ENVIRONMENT

Living with cats and dogs I have come to fully appreciate the importance of being environmentally proactive that is appreciating what we have before it is gone- and acting accordingly. When I started gardening almost 25 years ago I studied how eco systems are connected and the value of the data and commitment environmentalists contribute to the safe keeping of the planet. The Dog Walk Stories I ask you to share are part of my education, when I am out with the dogs I see things Mother Nature intended me to witness and I do so because I am spending time with the dogs as they enjoy the simple pleasure of being "out with nature". 

Loving is showing not telling perhaps cats and dogs do understand: I love you do you know how much I love you? or maybe if humans showed how much they love their cats and dogs the animals learning curve would shoot straight up rather than stagnate from confusing signals. Valentine's Day show don't tell:)