Spiritual Practice: Caring for Pets

Jacci Turner

The world is stressful. I think we can all agree that things are bad and not getting better anytime soon. But you know what’s not stressful? Petting a dog or a cat. Talking to a parrot or watching a beautiful fish swim in a tank. In fact, petting an animal can lower cortisol levels in the brain causing a person to relax.

Let me tell you about Rosie, our beloved Borador (the humane society says she is part lab and part border collie). When my husband or I are sad, Rosie is right there, putting her head in our lap to comfort us. She takes us out of the house to walk. She barks when someone comes to our door to alert us. And despite weighing ninety pounds, she loves to be on the couch smooshed between and on top of us. Our world would be less happy without Rosie.

Statistics about depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation show that since the pandemic these three are on a definite upswing. Part of the issue is the increased isolation for people during and after the pandemic. But those with pets seem to fare better.

  1. Having another being in the house feels less lonely.
  2. Having someone to take care of gets our minds off ourselves and onto their needs.
  3. Animals are great at living in the moment and can teach us to slow down and live mindfully.
  4. Having a dog that wants to go for walks outside increases our physical and mental health.
  5. Animals are in tune with our emotions. Dogs especially sense when we are distressed or need comfort and come to us to comfort us.
  6. Pets have personalities and watching their antics can lift us out of bad moods.

So, how is caring for an animal a spiritual practice? I don’t believe animals are gods. But I do believe everything God created is good and we can learn from and connect with it in a way that benefits our soul. We can love and care for pets in a way that helps us love and care for others.

In the words of the hymn by Cecil Frances Alexander:

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful:

The Lord God made them all.

I’d love to hear your pet stories. How has caring for your animal friends been a blessing to you?

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