Petophilia: Can you ever love your dog too much? (And no, we don't mean it that way.) (thanks, Todd
Some might see this sort of attachment to one's four-legged companions as unnatural and unhealthy. I can certainly relate to it, though. Never having had any children of my own, I was always perfectly happy with my feline companions. In fact, I had one that I'd hauled all over the country with me, and he seemed quite happy being wherever I was. Makis is now buried in the backyard, having died almost 4 1/2 years ago, but there is still rarely a day that goes by without me remembering something about our 15 years together.
You see, my relationship with Makis, a beautiful and placid Maine Coon, outlasted every other relationship in my life. He was there for me in ways that no one else in my life ever was, and that meant a lot to me. I still miss him terribly.
I encountered Sam, a 34-year-old investment banker, and his dog, Namath, when Sam responded to a column I wrote. He told me he loves his dog "to death," so much that it sometimes unnerves him. Sam and Namath, a German shepherd/husky mix adopted three years ago from a shelter in Brooklyn, jog together, play Frisbee, take long hikes in the Catskills. Sam was planning a Caribbean vacation last year but decided instead to rent a cabin in New Hampshire so that Namath could come along. "I have to say it was great, one of the best times I've ever had," he reported. He's considering leaving New York City so that Namath can have more space to run.
Human companionship? Sometimes Sam dates, but he's increasingly inclined to stay home with Namath, who's more fun to be with than most of his dates, he says. He's rarely more content than when he and Namath are relaxing on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn, watching ESPN. "There is nothing I wouldn't do for him, nothing he wouldn't do for me," Sam says. "We understand each other."
For years, that was a snapshot of my life, and it wasn't such a bad thing. Now that I'm married and have two stepchildren some would say that my life has more "balance"- and perhaps they'd be right. There are times when I still miss coming home and having Makis greet me at the door. Of course, I wouldn't trade what I have now, but 4+ years later, I sometimes still feel the tears welling in my eyes when I think about him.
Some folks have this sort of relationship with their children and their spouse- and that is truly a wonderful thing. I never wanted children of my own, and Makis filled that place for me. He was the sort of son/companion I will probably never have again. I still miss him.
