Love for Pets (And for God's Other Creatures)

Love for Pets (And for God's Other Creatures)

Publication: The Lookout

Date: April 15, 2007

Column: First Look

Category: Family; Animals; Dogs; Cats

Do you know the difference between a dog and a cat? A dog looks at its owner and thinks, "Every day he feeds me, pets me, and cleans up after me. He must be God!" A cat looks at its owner and thinks, "Every day he feeds me, pets me, and cleans up after me. I must be God!"

I chuckle at both sides of that joke because for years my family owned both a dog and a cat. The dog was a cheerful buff-colored Cocker Spaniel with large brown eyes and floppy ears—a birthday gift for our daughter. Melinda had a name in mind if she ever got a pet, so we honored her wishes by naming our female dog Herby.

Am I a pet-lover? Maybe, although I've never been one to take it to extremes. True pet-lovers have screensavers on their computers showing photos of their beloved beasts. True pet-lovers include Fluffy in their family portraits and at Christmastime they hang a stocking by the fireplace for Rex the Golden Retriever. Some even make their pets wear those embarrassing little sweaters. I would never do that.

I do have a tender spot in my heart for animals, though. I still get a lump in my throat when I hear the theme song to the old "Lassie" TV show. A few years ago, I stumbled onto a poem by John Updike called "Dog's Death," and my eyes filled with tears when I read the final line: "Good dog."

Melinda used to ask, "Dad, don't you just love Herby?" Always the teacher, I would respond, "No, I don't love Herby. Love is something we reserve for people. I love you, but I have a different kind of affection for our pets." And yet I felt a strong bond with my dog when I watched her sprint across the lawn on a summer afternoon and when she jumped up to greet me after a hard day.

Our cat Snickers had a personality all his own and provided our family lots of laughter. One time overnight guests left our house and Snickers was nowhere to be found. Eventually we heard a muffled "meow" and discovered our cat accidentally folded up inside our visitors' trundle bed—unhurt, but with his paws pressed against the springs and a very indignant look on his face.

Unfortunately, the years took a toll on our furry friends. Herby lost much of her eyesight and her balance, and arthritic hips made it painful for her to jump up and greet me (though she still attempted it anyway). An aged senior citizen in cat years, Snickers was still agile enough to climb onto our laps when we watched TV, but we could tell he wasn't healthy anymore and the vet confirmed our concerns. It was a difficult decision, but we knew it was time. Both of our pets were gently put to sleep on the same sad day.

Am I a pet-lover? Evidently. I did a little calculation and discovered our family had been spending well over $1,000 a year for pet food and veterinary care. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, U.S. consumers spent $36.3 billion on their animals in 2005, which is more than twice the amount Americans give each year to support the global foreign mission of the church.

If love means investing time, money, and emotional energy—if it requires the willingness to accept inconvenience and personal sacrifice on behalf of another—then the answer is "yes, I loved my pets."

Do I love my neighbors that much? Do I love lost people enough to invest my time, money, and emotional energy in serving them? Do I love my church enough to accept the sacrifice it requires? Am I willing to clean up the occasional mess?

It's something to think about.