When we were younger, we were given essays to write about great men and women. In an effort to understand their lives, their values and what they taught us. But when we wrote about animals we wrote about how many limbs they have, what is their food habit and what is their physical contribution in the food chain or how they help the humans as domestic helps. Rarely do we write or discuss that having an animal at home is equivalent to having a therapist at home.

The Chinese believe that if a goldfish dies in your house, it takes away the ill omen or evil spirit from your home. Every time I flushed down a dead goldfish I thanked her. For being so tiny and totally at my mercy yet being so kind to take away the evil spirit, which could have harmed us. Will I be ever able to repay them? Be it a small rabbit, a tiny fish, a turtle or a dog or cat, they come into our life as angels of healing. They take nothing with them; yet give us so much learning.
Yet when I read about the goodness of keeping a fishbowl I only found the Fengshui benefits. Nobody ever talks about the way it made me more sensitive and responsible towards another living creature. Nobody ever talks about the way I learned that I need no language to communicate love. That I don’t need balloons, cards, diamond rings and chocolates to show my love. All I need is to be with them when they need me most and the sensitivity to understand, when, why and how much do they need me. People do talk about how a pet makes you happy. But rarely will they tell you that you are happy because you are responsible for someone else’s happiness, life and health.

Some years back a young friend of mine asked me to take care of his pet till he gave his 10th boards. It was a small egg shaped toy. It had two tiny buttons and a small LCD screen with a digital face on it. I had to charge it when it asked for food. And it had several other options like there was playtime, when it wanted to play and it had to be put to sleep at a certain time. At first it was just a toy. But soon I felt a part of me was always alert to catch the irritating beep of hunger and the playful beep of playtime. I literally felt a part of me torn away when it went back to his master. Some times at night I used to wake up startled ‘cause I was certain I heard the panic beep of “dying without food”. Its then that I truly learned that happiness was not always about taking good care of myself, but could be just the feeling of taking care of someone else.

It is not acquiring the pet, which makes you happy; it is when you spend your time to take care of it that you become happy. It is the time when you sacrifice some of your precious things that you feel happy. Several of my friends who have pets, gave up their random holidays, some gave us their hobbies, some gave up their prized collections, some gave up their personal quality time, some gave up their night outs and pub hopping, some gave up their expensive rugs. Some even gave up their long held beliefs, faith and fears. Some gave up their bad habits, while some gave up fretting about cleanliness.

But they are all happy. Happy to give up lazy Sunday to “pet care” day. Happy to not buy expensive showpieces. Happy to cook an extra dish. Happy to clean the dirty mess of a messy rabbit. Just plain and simple happy.

When my brother was born, I was very happy to have a small baby to play with. But he soon grew older and cranky. I complained to my uncle, why do babies grow up and why can’t they remain like kids forever. My uncle told me, “Kids will grow, if you want a kid that never grows up, then keep a pet. It will never grow up, it will just go away.” I could never understand what he meant. But now when I see my happy friends, I see his point. Now I see why thesaurus explains the word ‘Pet’ as Darling and favorite.

As a tribute to those small but significant lives that we have around us, who constantly teach us to be more humane. A tribute to the pet s, who never grew up and gave us happiness by being a kid forever.
I would like to share with you a mail, which I had got long time back. I copied it now from the net.

Things that we can learn from our pet Dog. I am trying my best to incorporate these in my life.

· Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
· Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
· When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
· When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
· Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
· Take naps and stretch before rising.
· Run, romp, and play daily.
· Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
· Be loyal.
· Never pretend to be something you are not.
· If what you want what lies buried, dig until you find it.
· When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
· Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
· Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
· On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.
· When you are happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
· No matter how often you are scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout...run right back and make friends.
· Bond with your pack.
· Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Princess Baatcheet