10 Lessons From a Decade of Pets

By Bryony Van Niekerk

IT’S MY BIRTHDAY, I’MA DO WHAT I LIKE, I’MA EAT WHAT I LIKE… THERE IS A LOT TO CELEBRATE IN THIS ISSUE SO IT’S NO WONDER THIS SONG (AND BY SONG, I MEAN THIS ONE LINE) IS ON REPEAT IN MY HEAD.

This is my 5th year writing these articles, Pet Prints Magazine is celebrating their 10th anniversary and it’s also my birthday month-almost 4 decades on this earth for me. But we’ll deal with my existential crisis on that last one in a couple of years.

I came across this quote recently that said, ‘Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love, they depart to teach us about loss…’ Our pets, be it a hamster, rat, rabbit, dog, cat, lizard, or snake; have a profound impact on our lives. Whether we realise it at the time or not.

Reflecting upon this, I had a good look at all of my animals, past and present, and was surprised that I was able to identify a lesson that each one taught me. So in honour of celebrating a whole decade of Pet Prints, we are doing things a bit differently – instead of some Top Tips, here are 10 life lessons we can learn from our pets.

Patience

All of my pets have taught me about patience, but Malcolm left the biggest impression. He was the most savage kitten I have ever had. He would rip open the food bags, take food off your plate and one time he literally climbed me with his razor-sharp claws to steal a donut out of my hand. It got to the point where I was seriously (but not really) considering rehoming him if I thought the new owners wouldn’t drop him off at the SPCA. His entire kitten reign of terror, I kept saying to myself ‘he will outgrow this, it’s just a phase, be patient.’ It may have been the longest 8 months of my life, but it truly did get better.

It also taught me that patience isn’t just about waiting, it’s also about how you wait. With kindness. With presence. Without pressure. And no one teaches you that quite like a pet.

Consistency

One of the best lessons that our pets teach us is that consistency is key. You want them to be house trained; you have to consistently take them outside. You want them to learn how to do a certain trick, you consistently need to train them. Consistency isn’t just about creating routines though, it is about showing up. And when you show up repeatedly, you build trust and deeper connections, be it with your pet, your partner or yourself.

Unconditional love

To put it simply, unconditional love is love with no strings attached. You love someone wholeheartedly without reservation, without conditions and with no thoughts on what you can get in return. Pets are the absolute masters at this. They love us in spite of who we are, how much money we have or mistakes we have made, teaching us the true meaning of selflessness and acceptance.

Live in the moment

Have you ever looked at your pet and thought ‘they don’t have a care in the world.’ In some aspects you are totally right. Pets don’t dwell on the past or stress about tomorrow. They live in the right here, right now. So, when they are basking there in the sun, they don’t have a care in the world. They are simply enjoying soaking up those rays, relishing the feel of the sun on their bodies.

It’s a beautiful thing to be able to sit in a moment, fully appreciate it and be grateful for it. It’s something we could all stand to do more often.

Finding joy in the small things

In life we can find ourselves chasing the big things – a promotion at work, a grand overseas holiday, the big house. We think that those things will make us happy and magically fulfil us. The reality is that happiness doesn’t have to be complicated. Spencer entertains himself for hours with a plastic bottle, my cats love nothing more than a cardboard box. Our pets don’t chase joy, they live it. They remind us it’s the small things in life that can bring us the most joy like the smell of rain, a flower blooming or a smile from a stranger.

Resting is ok

I have never seen any animal look guilty for choosing to rest, take a nap in middle of the day or simply just be. And neither should you. Our lives are so fast paced these days that being perpetually busy has become our default. We have lost the ability to slow down and rest and then when we do, we have this constant nagging feeling that we should be doing something productive with our time. Next time you feel like can’t just relax, take a peek over at your pet and copy exactly what they are doing. You will soon get the hang of it.

Family doesn’t have to be blood-related

They say you can’t choose your family, but you can adopt it. Growing up, I think I subconsciously viewed my pets as family members by doing small things like signing cards and including all their names and making sure they had presents under the Christmas tree. It wasn’t until I adopted my two little soul dogs in my early twenties that I truly understood that family isn’t defined by genetics. It’s defined by loyalty, trust, and the quiet moments that tether us to each other. Our pets are a reminder that the strongest families are the ones we choose, be it a furry companion, a friend or a co-worker.

Forgiveness

Pets are an extraordinary example of how to forgive and forget. And not just the missed walks or half treats, but the big things as well. The times when we aren’t our best and allow our frustrations to seep out on to them with raised voices or dismissive actions. The best thing about our pets is that they don’t hold grudges, teaching us to let go of resentment and show everyone a bit of grace.

Love doesn’t need words

We don’t speak the same language as our pets, yet we can read them like a book. The gentle paw on your shoulder, the soft meow, the naughty glint in your dog’s eye. It all tells you volumes, without having to utter a single word. You don’t need to speak the same language to communicate and build a connection. Your tone, body language and actions speak far louder than any words ever will.

Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened

The hardest lesson of all, and one that we will all experience at some point in our lives, is that grief is the price of deep love. There’s a particular kind of silence that follows the loss of a pet. It’s not just the absence of their nails clicking on the floor following you from room to room or the missing of the jingle of the bell on their collar—it’s a silence that echoes through your routines. You still reach for both leashes where you now only need one, you still instinctively check the food bowl. You still expect to hear the soft sigh they made and feel the weight of their body press up against you at night.

When Timmy and Linc passed away after 12 and 15 years by my side respectively, the loss was devastating and heartbreaking and the memories were all too painful. However, as time went by, I came to realise that it wasn’t about how their story ended, but rather how they lived their lives. And boy, did they live! Countless adventures, ripped up squeaky toys, stolen socks and never-ending love. When you start smiling more than crying, you realise how lucky you were to have known that kind of love at all.