I cannot imagine a life without animals. Pets have always been and always will be a part of mine. And how many were there! From fish, hamsters and guinea pigs, to cats, dogs and rabbits, at some point even a tortoise and a parrot. They were there with me through thick and thin, all of us growing up and growing older together. And while the words exchanged were pretty one-sided, the understanding and the bond that developed with it were shared by all. I think having pets in our lives is a gift that, outside of the general companionship, offers many more benefits to us that we should be aware of and grateful for.

• Their unconditional love can help combat loneliness, improving our mood by helping release more oxytocin – the happy hormone. By interacting with pets, you can also lower your stress hormone levels (cortisol), which in turn, increases physical health benefits.
• Speaking of those, owners of certain pets, such as dogs or horses, tend to benefit from the daily exercises these pets require, such as taking them out for a walk. Getting to take care of your pet’s needs may add structure to your day, creating a routine helpful for your mental health. Simply put, they’re a reason to get out of bed every morning. God knows, if I sleep in, Baloo the Rabbit very quickly lets me know how unbelievably hungry or bored he is already.
• People might not realise this one as easily as some of the other benefits, but having pets is an amazing opportunity to increase your social interactions. Or not, up to you, but the chance is always there for the willing. Having a pet means going to new places, whether it’s a training class, a vet, a groomer, or a local park. And new places mean new people to meet and talk to. And hey! If you’re both there, it’s likely you already have a topic in common.

As I said before, pets have always been a part of my life, at any given stage of it. The one I share my life with at the moment is Baloo. I adopted him from my local SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) in the summer of 2024. He was about 8 months old at the time, by their estimation. His history is not well known except for the fact that he was rescued by a passerby after being thrown out (together with another rabbit) out of a moving car, into a ditch. As the two rabbits weren’t bonded (which might have been part of the problem, not that it is any sort of excuse), they were separated for adoption, and that’s when I came along. And now I am the happiest to be stuck with an extremely sassy, lionhead rabbit, who doesn’t tolerate any sort of fruit. I meant it, not a single one, I tried it all!

Having always had such a strong affinity towards animals, as a kid, I wanted to become a vet. I mean, which kid didn’t at some point, right? It stayed with me, however, all the years through school, so much so that, when the time came, Veterinary Science was my first choice for a University course. Alas, it was not meant to be. I didn’t receive enough points on my Leaving Cert – Irish final state examination. I accepted my second choice of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and life went on.

‘And so, the greatest lesson I have learned from dogs and their humans is that while many humans complain and moan about life, most dogs just get on with life and rejoice in every single second they are allowed the blessing of being above ground.’

I’m sure pets will forever be a part of my life, though just not in a professional, veterinary capacity. I still enjoy the idea, though, and watch and read veterinary shows and books. So when a dear friend of mine gifted me ‘Dogs and their Humans’ by Noel Fitzpatrick, I was surprised. I didn’t know who that was (try not to blame me! I only have one basic streaming service). Therefore, the following is everything I learned in the last 5 minutes, courtesy of Wikipedia.

Noel Fitzpatrick is an Irish veterinary surgeon, residing in Surrey, England, who became known as the Supervet. Named so after his television programme. His practice, Fitzpatrick Referrals, specialises in orthopaedic and neurosurgical disorders in animals. It is this veterinary practice that is featured in the Supervet TV show, but also some others. In another word, the man is famous.

Noel is perhaps most well known for his central goal and philosophy in life – One Medicine. It focuses on centralising the use and availability of medicine for both animals and humans. It also promotes refining and replacing the use of animals in medical experiments, learning instead from naturally occurring diseases in all species, making the new advancements available for humans and animals, at the same time. To leave the veterinary field better off than the way he found it. While it is mentioned throughout this book, One Medicine is not its focal point. It is more so a celebration of humans’ best friend and the relationships that develop. It acts as an entertaining, but also educational piece of literature where we read the collection of just a few cases Noel worked on, their human and animal aspects.

‘Dogs and their Humans’ is an incredibly heartwarming read, comprising short enough chapters to come back to at anytime. It doesn’t only show you stories of joy and happiness, though – it shows you real life, and the tough but necessary choices that come with it. Outside of the animal stories it goes through, it is a well-written book that made me want to dive into it more and more. It’s funny, emotional, and educational. It’s also passionate, and it comes across very well.

‘Dogs are a perpetual reminder of what matters. The here. The now. The eternity of true unconditional love. Everything else is just background noise.’

Admittedly, dogs are probably the most joyous of our pets. However, all other species (from my own personal experience, anyway) offer us their emotions if we are willing to listen. Every time Baloo comes hopping up to me and lies flat on the ground with his butt towards me, I know I managed to make a peaceful home for him, one he feels safe enough in to turn his back to me. And then I get to pet him for at least 30 minutes, that is his demand!

It is an incredible privilege to share this mad journey with the amazing beings that all animals are, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

I’d like to hear all about your animal companions now, if you’re willing to share their names and your stories down in the comment section! Let’s share some joy.

‘Life is so much better with paw prints all over it.’