The death of pets — YouTube from the CEC Library

A little over three weeks ago, the dog Tutti Frutti departed to continue her work in another dimension. Many people share the suffering caused by the loss of a pet, whether a cat, dog, rat, or fish. People develop a strong emotional bond with these animals, regardless of the species. Even animals considered ferocious can form bonds of affection with humans. The suffering caused by the loss of an animal is a serious matter. Tutti lived to age 20, surpassing the expected lifespan.

I believe that we should treat everything around us with the greatest care, without preferences. Loving one's own dog more than a neighbor's is not true love, but neediness. We need to have an open heart, because animals pass through our lives just as we pass through ours. In the end, it is merely a path. Our lesson is to place the energy of care and affection in everything that exists, including animals.

We should not humanize animals, because every being has its own way of living. A dog, for example, has its own way of life and needs to follow its line of existence. I learned that putting perfume on a dog can be uncomfortable for it because of its keen sense of smell. In São Damião, a dog ran off and got dirty after being perfumed. Dogs have an extremely sensitive sense of smell that guides them even when their vision diminishes. By putting perfume on them, we interfere with their nature. We should treat them with care and respect, while allowing them to live according to their nature. This applies to everything around us: we cannot confine anyone because of our expectations.

We should treat people with affection and freedom, allowing them to be who they are. With sincerity, we avoid unnecessary suffering. We all know that we have a life cycle: birth, life, and death. Physical death does not eliminate our consciousness; it is part of the process of being in the physical world, just as it is for animals. They also have their cycle: they are born, live, and depart.

If we manage to understand and respect everything around us, we can feel longing, but we should not turn it into neediness. We need to learn to love truly. When an animal departs, as Tutti did, I keep photos and am grateful for her presence in my life. I knew that she would depart one day. In the cabin area, while giving thanks and laying my hands on her, I was acknowledging how much she illuminated my life and enriched our time together. Although it is difficult, we need to learn. Animals should be treated with respect and affection. At some point, we may have failed in doing so. I myself acknowledge my imperfections and seek to improve.