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Easy to tell
whether an animal owns you
January 24, 2008
One of my favorite writers, Patricia Highsmith, who is known chiefly for
writing "The Talented Mr. Ripley," had a dark view of the world and
people. But she had a bright spot and deep love of cats and her pet
snails. Yes, that's right, snails. Highsmith loved snails so much that
her biographer documented how she once smuggled her pet snails into
France, rather than be separated from them. In a few of her short
stories, she even penned tales of animals getting their revenge on those
other beastly creatures, humans. She was a misanthrope, no doubt, but an
unabashed animal lover.
Often times you'll hear animal lovers say they're more comfortable with
pets than with people. How many of us have what I like to call "The
Sweet Sickness" (another Highsmith novel) when it comes to our love or,
as some would say, obsession with our pets.
There can be many signs that one suffers from The Sweet Sickness, no
matter if it's dogs, cats or snails, so here are just a few that you may
find familiar.
-- When you evacuated with your pets, you only had room in your vehicle
for them and every single photograph, video or documentation of your
life with them, along with all their accessories, including vet records,
collars and leashes, kennels, food and water. For yourself, you had room
for you and the clothes you were wearing.
-- All of your major purchases in life are based on your pets' needs.
You finally upgrade to a new and bigger vehicle because you want to make
sure it's comfortable enough for them, or you finally decide to get that
king-size bed because how else can all your doggies and kitties expect
to get a good night's sleep?
-- You just heard that a long-lost relative you haven't seen in years is
coming for a visit, but when she explains that she's allergic to the
cats that you share a home with, you figure another decade or so without
seeing her won't make much of a difference.
-- You meet with many local artists to decide which one will do the best
job with a commission to paint your pet's portrait. Meanwhile, you're
quite content with the school-issued photographs of your children.
-- You don't find the "empty nest syndrome" a problem when your children
go off to college, but you can't imagine what life would be like without
your four-legged family members -- even for a minute.
Wonderfully, if you are suffering from The Sweet Sickness, this means
that your pets are enjoying a life filled with compassion and
companionship. And that's the kind of sickness, even in its most
tempered strain, that I'd like to see spread to all animals.
- Gloria
Dauphin
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