Pet Therapy

In a strange yet lovely sign of the times, the city of New York is running out of dogs and cats to adopt. Shelters in the city have reported a 10-fold increase on adoption in the past two weeks (Newest shortage).  When humans are cut off from other humans and our social, pack-animal needs can't be met in the usual way we are trying to make the best of a bad thing by doing a good thing.

I wrote earlier in the week about the solace provided - at least to the humans - by our birds at the window birdfeeders. Our cats also provide unlimited humor and comfort as they alternately growl at the finches, shadow box with one another, and come clamoring for pets at our ankles throughout the day. Our animal friends are so focused on the moment and their immediate needs that they cannot help but practice mindfulness 100% of the time.

So focused on the here and now that worry doesn't enter their headspace, so content with the little things - food in the bowl, water from the faucet, a warm bed in front of the fire - that their satisfaction spreads to us. Allison Glock writes for CNN (Grandparents - Glock):

"We will need to find our purpose in the minor things, I tell my daughter. The moments. Moment by moment. We will need to become more like dogs, giddily hopping into the car when we have no idea where it's heading. And in those long, vacant hours, free of clutter and busyness and traditional validation, we will have to learn how to sit with ourselves and discover the glory and meaning in that stillness."

We need a contagion of satisfaction, of joy in the little things, to battle the contagion of fear that spreads in advance of this illness. It seems that New York, and many other cities like it, have discovered that pets can transform some of our quiet moments into joyous ones. If there are no pets at your place, a walk outdoors can reveal the unchanged patterns of birds and squirrels. They are still free and serve as reminders that - at some point in the future - freedom will also be ours.

Stay well and safe.
xoxo
Laura