This morning was like many others for me, it began with the quiet, familiar presence of our family dog…
A quick visit in the garden and then the nudge, not in the least bit gentle, for a treat! The soft padding of paws across the floor and a cuddle on the sofa watching breakfast television! Constant, loyal, and completely relaxed.
However, yesterday a message came out across social media, from a friend who has just lost one of her beloved Westies. My friend and her husband still have the other dog, but the loss still felt is very deep! What has been so moving was to witness the overwhelming amount of love and support she has received, messages filled with understanding, compassion, and shared grief.
Because anyone who has ever loved a pet knows, they are never just pets, they do feel like family!
The importance of pets in our lives
There’s something quietly extraordinary about the bond we share with animals.
In fact, there’s even a name for the study of it anthrozoology a field dedicated to understanding the relationship between humans and animals. Science has tried to explain why our pets mean so much to us. Some studies show mixed results when it comes to physical health benefits, but what continues to stand strong is this:
Pets support our emotional wellbeing in ways that are deeply personal and incredibly powerful. A study in 2022 even found that dogs can detect human stress with remarkable accuracy simply through scent alone, but most of us don’t need a study to tell us that!
We see it every day, the way they sit closer when we’re quiet. The way they follow us from room to room. The way they look at us as if they understand everything, without a single word being spoken. As a young girl, I used to love horse riding and I would also find this with horses, the more relaxed you are with them, the more they trust you, respect you and come to love you! I really enjoy watching “The Dog House” on Channel 4, where you see our human connection with dogs in action. It makes me smile and melt in the middle! I also think medical dogs are amazing, search dogs, hearing dogs and sheep dogs.
Why this connection matters
As humans, we are wired for connection, there’s a concept called social recognition, our ability to form meaningful bonds and recognise what matters to us. It plays a huge role in our mental health and emotional stability.
Our pets become part of that, they become woven into our routines, our memories, our families. They are there in the ordinary moments: Sitting beside us on the sofa, greeting us at the door, walking with us through life, quite literally and somehow, in those ordinary moments, they give us something extraordinary: Comfort, calm and unconditional love. Dogs don’t mind if you don’t brush your teeth in the morning, they are so happy to see you, their tales are going full throttle!
When we say goodbye
One of the hardest parts of loving a pet is knowing we will one day have to say goodbye.
The grief that follows is often misunderstood, and it shouldn’t be. Losing a pet means the loss of a wonderful companion, routine, presence in your home and part of your story. I’ve seen this not only in my own life and with family and friends but also through my work as a celebrant.
I’ve had the privilege of writing tributes and creating ceremonies for beloved pets, beautiful souls, whose stories have been honoured with love, care, and deep respect. Time and time again, what shines through is this. Their lives mattered. Their stories deserve to be told.
Love that stays with us
What I’ve come to understand is that pets don’t just pass through our lives.
They help to shape them, they teach us how to be present with unconditional love and how to find joy in the smallest moments! Even when they are no longer physically with us, that love doesn’t disappear.
It stays in the quiet corners of our homes, in our daily routines, and in our hearts.
A gentle reminder
If you’re reading this with a pet curled up beside you, take a moment to notice them,
appreciate them and give them that extra cuddle or hug. These relationships, these beautiful, wordless bonds, are some of the most meaningful we will ever experience.
As a celebrant in Lincolnshire, I often speak about love, connection, and the moments that shape our lives, our pets are very much part of that story. Whether it’s a wedding, a naming ceremony, a funeral, or a pet farewell, what matters most is the same:
Honouring the love that exists.
Because love, in all its forms, deserves to be seen, felt, and remembered.
There is a whole community of dog lovers out and about in Lincolnshire and when you own a dog it is a great way to meet people and get to know your local area. They really are a best friend and there’s no doubt about it!
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