If we were having coffee, I would tell you I am worried about my dog. He hasn’t been well the past few days; lethargic, eating grass (to ease his tummy, I think), and vomiting his food on a few occasions.
Okay, maybe that’s not suitable conversation over coffee. But it’s what’s on my mind.
I grew up in an environment where cats and dogs were primarily consigned to the outdoors. Cats were mousers and dogs were watchdogs. I didn’t understand people’s close relationships with their pets. Something happens to your dog or cat? Okay, feel bad, but then get over it. It’s not like it’s your child or something.
Now I realize that any relationship we hold is a valuable part of who we are. Of course I care more about my children than I do my pets – and I certainly hope all parents would feel that way – but that doesn’t alter the relationship I have with my pets.
You know that phrase “it’s all relative”… not true, in my opinion. If something happens to your pet, if a baby bird falls out of its nest, if the centuries-old tree down the block is cut down… it can all matter to you, if you are in relationship with it.
So baby birds fall out of nests all the time. It’s part of nature. And it’s not like an endangered silverback gorilla being shot and killed in a zoo (which happened in Cincinnati this week). No, it’s not the same. But it’s also not relative. I can care about both.
I can care a heck of a lot more about the gorilla than the bird. And I can care a heck of a lot more about the safety of the boy who was believed to be in danger in the gorilla enclosure. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t care about a bird.
Caring about a bird or a pet does not take away from caring about any other living being. I can hug a tree and still care very, very much about world hunger and poverty and child abuse and war.
We obviously have priorities, and appropriately so. It’s all interrelated, but it’s not all relative.
Dang, here I go off on another rant during our coffee date. You’re going to dread coming over. I’ll stop now.
It’s supposed to get up to 100 degrees (F) today, something we’re not accustomed to here in the Pacific Northwest. I’m going to keep an eye on my listless little guy, and try to keep us both cool. I’ve got lots of yard work to do, but I’ll work on indoor projects and stay out of the heat as best I can.
I hope your weekend goes well. Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you Diana at PartTimeMonster.com for hosting the #WeekendCoffeeShare.
What Rhymes with Stanza? 
I hope your fur child feels better soon.. Keep us posted. I enjoyed your rant, and I agree. It all matters, some more than others, but it all matters.. Thanks for the coffee!
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Thank you, hopefully it’s just an upset tummy and will pass. And thanks for tolerating my rant. I always think I’m going to keep things light and breezy, and then something entirely different comes out.
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Yes times have changed how we look at our animal friends. It hurts to lost one. Ggood luck with your dog.
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Thank you. After two trips to the vet today, I think we’ve got him sorted out. I hope so, anyway.
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Much love to you and your bestia.
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Thank you. We’re still trying to sort it out. Yesterday consisted of a trip to the vet to get him checked, and then a return trip to the vet a few hours later when the meds they gave him caused severe head tremors. It was scary!
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Oh. 😦 Have you thought about changing his diet? Have you recently made any changes regarding his food? Mine also had problems with digestion, still has occasionally, but now it’s much better once we went from Purina to Hill’s. He sometimes throws up mucus (it was pink months ago, now it’s usually yellow or no colour). The vet did tests, found nothing. The last thing she prescribed is Ranitidina, saying that like people some dogs have more acidic stomachs than others.
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He eats Acana kibble. The vet sent home some canned food for sensitive stomachs that I will feed him for the next few days to try and settle his tummy. She said he can take Pepsid AC if I want to give it to him. I’m going to wait and see.
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Aww, poor thing. I hope he gets better soon. 😦
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Thank you. He’s still pretty lethargic today, but it could be the 97 degree weather, too. 😉
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We do occasionally need reminding that the capacity to care is not finite. (Though it may feel that way sometimes when we are confronted with the enormity of suffering in the world.)
All the best for your dog. Seeing pictures of him brings back memories of my childhood companion, pictured here in a blog post: https://audreykalman.com/2013/09/10/dog-stories.
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Beautiful dog! Samoyeds and Eskies are so similar, it’s hard to believe the breeds are not related. Thanks for sharing your post. Love the dog-ku.
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Thanks for sharing what really matters to you, Maggie and for being real. For me, that’s what coffee or tea is all about. I’m sorry to hear your beloved puppy dog isn’t well. Our Border Collie was quite ill last year after getting a flea allergy and was on antibiotics and prednisone and he came good. My concern would be keeping him hydrated in the heat.
I totally relate to your concern and love of living things. I wrote a post tonight about our beach. We’ve had a series of storms in the last 12 months and lost so many trees. We’ve had bullbozers in and they put in a huge bank of sandbags to save the road. Apparently, the waves are now getting behind the sandbags after this storm. In Sydney, a swimming pool has fallen into the water. Here’s the link: https://beyondtheflow.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/walking-along-bleak-beach/
Hope you have a good week and your dog is feeling better!
xx Rowena
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Good post; thanks for sharing the link. It is scary how things are changing climate-wise, and there are still people thinking global warming is bunk. Thanks for your concern about my buddy Chules. He seems to be doing much better today.
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I feel so bad for you — and your dog. Pets — well, animals of all kinds — are worth our feeling bad about (!)
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Thank you! He’s feeling much better today, thank goodness.
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Maggie,
Glad to hear he is feeling better. I’m sure the heat played a role in his feeling poorly. Our dogs were miserable as well.
I enjoyed this post. The world needs caring, compassionate, reflective folks like you.
Jane
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Thank you. I believe you fit that description as well.
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Thanks, that makes me smile.
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Beautiful post – I started thinking about the things I care about – how some people haven’t always understood – I agree when you say “It can all matter if you are in a relationship with it” – yes – our love expands as we extend our circle of care – and what we care about is personal, unique to each of us xx
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Thank you. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now… how we often take things our of context, or try to create context that isn’t truly there. I appreciate hearing it struck a chord with you.
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