pets are for petting

take a look outside and notice all the dogs. walk a few blocks in the city and realize the number of signs on telephone poles for lost pets. our grocery stores have pet sections. craigslist has an overwhelming number of lost and found pet ads. how has our society come to this?

when I was younger we got Garvey. he was a rescue. we gave him a home. it took time to acclimate him with our family and structure. he was a good dog. we got him because Bud (my big bro) begged for a dog, but he belonged to the whole family. It's no surprise that Bud loved him most.

Time passed. Garvey got sick. We now have his ashes in a wooden box. there is really no need to keep them because we all will remember him no matter, but now we've got a token to reignite the memory.

Dogs (and all pets) provide company. they are something to love. something that will love you regardless of your personal relations. Why do we always need to feel loved? why must our love be reciprocated?

i love a number of things that will never actively love me back. love strengthens the heart. loving alone can do the trick, but so many of us are not happy with loving and receiving nothing in return. Thats why pets are good. they make us feel needed - because we are. Pet owners are the sole providers for their pets. they are the only source of sustainment.

Pets provide purpose. for those who can't commit to larger purposeful relationships, a relationship with a pet can be necessary. for those who have no trouble committing but have excess love to express - those who want to feel that their purpose is as plentiful as possible, they may also feel that pets are necessary. but there is so much other purpose out there.

our society now needs pet-owners because the pet market is enormous. there is no breaking the cycle and there is no need to break it. there will always be people desiring the unconditional love from their pets.

Bud wanted something that wouldn't judge him but would still actively love him. no books or television shows needed him they way he wanted to be needed. Garvey filled that void.

We now have Rex..a little Jack Russell. he certainly needs us. but nobody really wants to be needed. we already have enough purpose in our lives and Rex just barks incessantly. He needs much more attention than we have to give. He's made me question the worth of pets.

that's why i ramble now. pets are cute things that let you feel needed. it isn't difficult to show them your love and they don't judge you by your interactions. Their thoughts are fleeting and their conceptions are relatively stable. They love those who love them and don't ask questions.

As the owner of a pet, you can be as you like with it. it will appreciate any positive interaction you have with it. play fetch or tug of war. rub their belly or scratch their head. as long as you remain their source of sustenance, they'll keep coming back for more.

it all seems shallow to me..but i guess thats what pets are for. shallow loving interaction. like rubbing bellies and scratching heads..pets are there to be pet.