To love an animal

I am an animal lover

Growing up, I galloped my imaginary horse down the staircase, around the hallway into the kitchen, to dinner.

I howled in my seat while watching "101 Dalmatians" at my local library

I was literally drawn to any animal near me to pet.

I mastered any sound an animal made

Meow. Bark. Howl. Whinny. Chirp. Roar. Purr. Growl. 

I could hear the silent cries of random hurt animals because I mastered listening for it

Any I found in my neighborhood I attempted to nurse back to health

Sometimes I was successful, other times I was not.

Yet I kept searching because I had so much love to give.

Reserved only for the animals.

I wished to own dogs, cats, horses, pigs, otters, parakeets, chameleons, leopards, zebras, monkeys, ducks, chicks, kangaroos and hedgehogs.  

Some I did, others I did not.

When I have my animals, I love them.

Deeply.

I take the role as their caregiver seriously and to not be messed with.

I loyally and fiercely love and protect my animals.

To be an animal lover you must;

Be humble and proud.

Strong to be able to guide weakness.

Gentle to be able to properly guide strength.

Quiet can be loud at times-Loud isn't always heard.

Listen for cues that are in a language you may just be learning

Study their eyes, their stance, their breathing.

Watch and wait

 Patience can expose the largest of the smallest cues

Speak for your animals when they need a voice the most

Even when you can't find your voice.

I've been told "Oh your heart must be so big to love all those animals"

But as an animal lover I know it's not true

My heart is the same size as anyone's.

The secret really is,

What I give of my heart, is exchanged right back

To call an animal 'yours' is to know that the animals wants to be called 'yours'

It can be a struggle and other times, its instant

There is no 'claim' to own another life

It's about respect, nurture, learning, devotion and loving.

Communicating without spoken language

Actively living, playing and testing goals while balancing happiness for both

There are times where the success is great

Loud joyous cries of  "Good Boy! Good Girl!"

There are times where the love shown is simple.

 A purring snuggle, a head tucked into your chest, a tail thumping with happy wags, a nickering recognition or a soft, content blow of breath.

"It's you. 

You care for me.  

I trust you."

When you rescue, purchase or meet your animal the love is electric

Electricity that lights up your everyday life. 

Makes your heart beat faster.

Sparks your passions.

Surges your goals.

Some of your animal's lives will flicker on long and low until the light softly fades

Others will blow out bright, quickly and unfairly.

It burns us, severely.

We all know this.

We signed up for this.

We ignore it until the day we are shocked with it again as an unfair reminder.

It never gets easier to loose what we love.

What we fight to protect.

We will love another, but it's never a replacement for our lost light.

It's a new shade, a new color, a new vibrancy.

And we chase this challenge every time.

Gasping for breath, soothing our wounds, crying our losses into furred necks.

Until we hear another silent voice,

Feel another surge of connection.

For that is what we do.

I am an animal lover.

~Please go over to Andrea's Blog and lend her your support ~