Life After Pets

Its been about a year now that my pet and in many ways my best friend, a small Welsh Terrier named Cody, passed away. We were told he was the runt of the litter and ultimately he only lived to 8 in human years, before his kidneys gave out. In the final days he was a shell of his former self, but in the months after I found myself selfishly wishing he was back even in that form. In the last year we ended up selling my childhood home and moving to an apartment that doesn’t allow pets and im quickly noticing how much I miss them.

(not a picture of Cody)

Even after my dog passed I was able to play with my neighbor’s dog who used to stick his cute head through the fence and play fetch if I threw him a ball. It was only until months later that I realized how much the presence of another dog was able to help me move past the death of my own. Looking back a year now, and having no pet to play with or spend time with makes me realize how important a utility they provide.

In many ways I think pets are one of the best things in the world and something many of us don’t deserve. After a rough or draining day or when I was ever down or depressed, I would walk through my front door and my dog would be ecstatic to see me. To him I was the world and the only thing that mattered. To have something care about you that much, not only makes you care about life, but makes you want to care about yourself.

Just having a pet come to you and show interest in what you are doing and looking to comfort and spend time with you is something that you take for granted after its gone. I miss the little pitter patter of my dogs steps on the hardwood floor and his little grunts and snores when he was napping next to me. These small things that we take for granted everyday seem like the most important when they are gone.

Its hard to explain these things to people who have never had pets before. Having a connection with an animal like that is hard to explain, but other people who have pets will completely understand. They become part of the family and not inferior to their human counterparts. In many cases people held my dog in higher regard than my siblings or even me, which is totally understandable.

The peace of mind my dog granted me in the time he was alive was more than I ever could have asked for. Much more than that, it still is his legacy today. If I am thankful for anything, it is that I was able to spend the eight years we had together, going for walks, or to the park, and the comfort he gave me in great times of stress. When I came back half dead after heart surgery, he never left my side, when I was sick or depressed, he never left my side. You were a good boy Cody, you were a good boy.