THE SIXTH SENSE

Recently I visited a sick friend. I didn’t know what sort of gift to take him. Newly released from the hospital after a serious illness, he was on a strict diet, so no goodies of any kind were allowed by his doctor. 

Since he’s not a book or magazine reader, that too was not an option for my buddy.

So instead, I decided that just spending some quality time with him would be best.

I wasn’t sure how my visit would be received since he had been so ill. 

But the minute I walked in the door, he greeted me as he always had. With boundless enthusiasm and affectionate joy.  I admit I was a bit surprised by his resilience after the difficult time he had just had.

I expected him to be a bit disoriented and perhaps a little unsteady on his feet.  But he ran to welcome me with energetic enthusiasm, as though we hadn’t just seen each other days before. As he has always done since he was just a puppy.  

Yes, my little pal is a black Labrador retriever mix.

His show of affection despite his illness was a genuine reaction to my visit. I thought about that as my buddy launched himself practically into my lap to give me a few kisses. 

It has taken me a long time to understand that our pets, no matter how ill they may be, will always make that extraordinary effort to show us this loyalty and affection, and I have learned to appreciate that singular devotion for what it is.  Love.

I have a theory. It being that the more that we domesticate our pets, the more they read our human emotions as their own. 

And, they can read our emotions quite well. Sensing when we are feeling low or sad, they will come over to us for a special nuzzle or be sad and comforting with us instead. Or jumping in raw abandon when they know we are happy and they want us to know they share in that joy.

Indeed, some of our pets will even intuitively recognize when we are ill or about to become ill, sometimes long before we ourselves do. 

Is it because they have a sixth sense that allows them to know these things?

Perhaps.

So, why can’t we as humans sense their immediate discomfort or pain as they know ours.

I have owned and known quite a few dogs and cats over the years. I thought I knew my pet pals quite well.  Yet, I know there were times when I failed to recognize their immediate distress, simply because they couldn’t articulate their problem. I will admit though, that a few years and a few dogs and cats later, I have gotten better at understanding them.  

Our pets give us their loyalty, obedience, service, and unconditional love like no other species.

It’s time we returned the favor.

Be still. Be quiet. Watch.  Listen. Feel.

And find your sixth sense.