We shared our lives with a spirited boxer named Wild Spirit for 14 unforgettable years. From the moment we brought him home, he captured my heart; his sweet, furry face was irresistible. However, his charm quickly turned into a whirlwind of chaos as he transformed into the most mischievous and accident-prone puppy imaginable.
Wild Spirit had allergies to every vaccine, leading to many frantic trips to the vet. I still remember the panic as I rushed him back, watching his poor, swollen face. Then, at just 6 months old, he broke his foot, and the vet’s suggestion to keep him calm was met with my laughter. Seriously, how does one keep a hyperactive Boxer still?
One day while we were at work, Wild Spirit decided he’d had enough of being cooped up. He managed to escape our house and made his way to the beach just a few blocks away. A kind neighbor returned him, sandy and with a huge grin on his face, looking like the happiest little troublemaker. To this day, I’m baffled by how he managed to sneak out.
His puppyhood was not without its challenges. He was diagnosed with a rare condition that caused his joints to swell, devoured the arm of our couch, and even swallowed a friend’s driver’s license. In short, keeping him alive nearly cost me a fortune! Yet, despite all the chaos, he was my baby.
Since his passing last year, the thought of bringing another dog into my life has been unbearable. I cry at the mere thought of his sweet face. During those years when we welcomed human children, Wild Spirit was my favorite – he consistently slept through the night and always did his business outside. As he aged, he found joy in scaring away coyotes and bears in our mountain home, although he quickly learned that moose are completely unfazed by dogs.
Wild Spirit was an enthusiastic dreamer. As he slept, he would bark, yip, and run in place, his legs paddling as if chasing something in his dreams. His whole face would twitch in delight or discomfort, leaving us to wonder what adventures filled his slumber. Did he dream of the time he mistook a log for a sea lion? Or perhaps he reminisced about the time he returned from a neighbor’s visit with bright red toenails and a note that said, “We love you, Cookie”?
According to Dr. Leo Grant, a clinical psychologist at Harvard Medical School, our beloved pets likely dream about us. “Just as humans dream about their daily interests—though in a more visual and less logical manner—dogs probably dream of their owners, their faces, and the experiences they share,” he explains. The thought of Wild Spirit dreaming of us brings tears to my eyes.
This sentiment resonates with many pet owners, as social media platforms have been flooded with images of sleeping pets and heartfelt reflections on the emotional bonds we share. So, the next time you see your furry friend dozing off and twitching, remember: they might just be dreaming of you. And yes, it’s perfectly okay to shed a few tears over this beautiful connection.
For now, I’ll cherish the memory of my one great dog, running freely along the beach, his cast flapping in the wind behind him. Yes, we certainly don’t deserve the unconditional love they give us.
If you want to explore more about the emotional connections between pets and their owners, check out this insightful post on intracervicalinsemination.org. And if you’re interested in starting your own journey into parenthood, Make a Mom provides excellent at-home insemination kits. For further resources, IVF Babble offers a wealth of information on pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, the bond we share with our pets is profound, and their dreams may reflect the love we have for one another. Let’s celebrate these connections, even as we navigate the heartache of loss.
Leave a Reply