It’s Love Your Pet Day 2025 and I thought it’d be nice to celebrate the pets that have touched our hearts, whether they’re your pet or a new friend you made on a sit.
We care for animals as pet owners and sitters… but they also teach us valuable lessons. For example, they show us unconditional love, reminding us to appreciate life’s simple joys. A wagging tail or a content purr teaches us to find happiness in the little things, whether it’s a biscuit, or a nice walk!
What lessons have your pets (or the pets you care for) taught you? I’d love to hear your stories in the replies.
What a beautiful reminder of the love and wisdom our pets bring into our lives! My two cats have taught me so much, especially about patience, trust, and the power of simply being present.
Last year was incredibly difficult for me, and in the hardest moments, their quiet presence meant everything. Just having them curled up beside me, purring, brought a sense of comfort that words hardly could. Our pets should be eternal. They love us so deeply, asking for nothing in return but to be by our side.
Then importance of protecting our own and being there when a loved family member needs you: my poodle, Sheffield, was the most active dog in the planet. Daily zoomies, loved going for a walk, the first one by the door when she heard the car.
But her whole behaviour changed when I underwent surgery and had to spend two weeks in bed. She spent those weeks under my bed; she never left my side except for eating and her daily walk. If she heard me complaining, she would try to lick my hand or get close to me. As soon as I got better, she went back to her normal self.
Unconditional loved indeed. Can’t wait to hear everyone else’s stories!!!
Each pet is different. My dog Tucker can read, or hear or feel, when I need him. When I need him to sleep in with me and lay his head on my neck, even until the early afternoon. When I need him to just be, him. When I need him to follow me around, because he is aware that I am “lost” in life; that’s when he realizes that I am not well emotionally. As I leave the house, if I am in a depressed state, he knows it. He peeks his head out of the gate as I drive off, and he only does this when I am at low point. Pets know more than we admit. You just need to stop your routine, and listen. Listen to their stares, their movements and their temperament.
Most pets remind me to relax more and live in the moment. Their affection and spontaneity always impress me. They bring out the playful side of me and often make me laugh out loud with their antics. At present I’m caring for a Border Collie pup who is full on fun. There’s no time to brood. It’s all about food, sleep exercise and playtime. Even though we’ve been confined by bad storms and heavy flooding the dog is happy to be with me and certain that his food bowl will be regularly replenished. Their trust and confidence in me is humbling.
The lesson I learn and keep learning from dogs and cats is how to “listen” when someone can’t communicate in words. Most pets have figured out how to communicate with their humans and most humans understand what their pets need, but I’m more aware now that some people - even pet owners – are clueless. I’m thinking more of one particular friend that I’ve sometimes sat for who can’t read their own dog. But I’ve also honed my skills a bit, and while I’m not the pet whisperer, a lot o times I can make safe inferences about what the pet is asking from me, sometimes to the astonishment of others.
That’s one of the things I enjoy most when starting a new sit, the process of getting to communicate with the pets and discover their personalities.
The cat I am sitting now is really gorgeous and clever. She communicates very clearly what she wants but what I find more surprising is that she understands perfectly well what I want from her and she often obeys. She’s the most interactive cat I have ever seen, she often looks at me when I talk to her and comes when I call her. I wish I could take her home. She’s adorable!
Totally relate to this @LauraSK my cat Walter was a big hunter in his youth, and I had to very quickly learn to be ok with dead mice, birds, newts, and once on my birthday he brought home two dead wild rabbits
He’s old and lazy now, so I’ve not had anything gruesome to clean up for a while.
Can’t wait to hear everyone else’s stories!!!
my cat Walter was a big hunter in his youth, and I had to very quickly learn to be ok with dead mice, birds, newts, and once on my birthday he brought home two dead wild rabbits 
