How they are part of our families

On my way back from Pasadena, i was listening to a program on the radio talking about how the national Humane Society was trying to find ways to curb the alarmingly high rates of abandoned pets in the wake of the housing crisis and economic downturn.
As soon as i heard the reports, i was immediately taken back to my father's story about fleeing the war in Congo. My mother and I were evacuated late after the start of the civil war in 1998; my father decided to stay behind with our two dogs, Scibi - seen in this picture - and Carla, thinking the war would be short lived.

This wasn't the case, and it escalated to a bloody full blown civil war that almost claimed my father's life. during this entire ordeal, the dogs were part of my father's daily life and routine. Never once did he consider abandoning them or leaving them behind. He knew how much we loved them and he did too. So much so, that after about 3 months being caged in to the house, and not being able to leave, and after getting word of the impeding doom about to rain in the final days of the war, he packed the truck with our most prized possessions, the dogs and the persian rugs. Such devotion really proves the place that animals hold in our existance.

I am not judging those who abandon their pets, but i have to admit that it is something i cannot fathom. Once you develop a relationship with an animal, i do not see how you can in any way, break that bond short of death or abject misery; even then, everything seems trivial compared to the love and dedication that animal has shown. Sacrifice is in order, and it is normal that you should sacrifice to keep that union intact. It's a responsibility i feel.

In a way, i think the way my sister Violetta once described it, explains why pets mean so much to us; she likened the role of pets in our life as agents of love, as members of the family that through their lack of judgement on our actions, and because of their unconditional love and affection, teach us how to love, and who educate us on how to become loving beings in return. For this, i never would be able to conceive of seperating myself from any pet i accepted into my life, and it is for this same reason, that i encourage anybody to bring an animal into their family; you will learn more about life and love than you will ever imagine!