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Anne Kadet's avatar

What I loved most about this post were the questions raised.

WHY do we helplessly love some creatures so much more than others? WHY do we form these intense relationships with our pets when we KNOW they will likely die before us and it will feel like the worst thing that ever happened? And is it possible to love all creatures equally?

I know that to love all of creation without preference or favoritism is to be enlightened or god-like. And I can imagine how wonderful it would feel—to totally delight in every living being that one encounters. There is also sort of guilt involved and knowing that one is falling short, when we put things on a scale and have favorites. On the other hand, having favorites is also so much fun!

I am rambling here. I love current dog friend, Minnie, so much I don't know what to do. And she really loves me. Having this intense connection with a creature of a different species is really quite bizarre. But there it is!

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Michelle Levy's avatar

I love the couple of throughlines woven together in this essay. I am a single mother of two, and grew up with dogs, and found it so relatable. Very accurate characterizations of grief.

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