Our non-human friends

I recall having friends tell me many years ago that the solution to being single was to have a pet. I would tell them, given my schedule and the needs of the animal, that would not be fair to the pet. They suggested tropical fish, so I invested in a large tank and stocked it with various species. This lasted until one fish that I bought infected all the others with a disease and they all died. Many years later I now have a dog who didn't enter my life until I was in a long-term relationship. So much for a pet being there to take care of being single. All things happen in the right time. Our fifteen-year-old cockapoo is a model for unconditional love. I never use the term, pet owner, since I am not sure who owns who in this case. I have learned new levels of sensitivity and caring in how he communicates his needs. The opposite is true when I am ailing and he will not leave my side or when he serves as a source of laughter in his antics. Having a pet is a gift that comes with responsibility. It is one more way for me to see the connection that I have to all beings on this planet. What has been your learning from the animals around you?