PET CORNER
Animals and Prosperity
By Allen and Linda Anderson

Prosperity may not be a characteristic most people would associate with animals, although the rich among us sometimes exhibit their wealth by showering pets with expensive gifts and services. We decided to ask questions on Twitter and Facebook about how animal lovers associate prosperity with pets. Below are some of their answers.

Shawn Pendell Greenwell of the Animal Images Photography writes, “I have to admit that my pet photography business adds to my income, but it is not a job I do because I want the money. It’s just so much fun. I could make three times the cash photographing a wedding, but why? Would I rather have a bride and her mother squawk at me for eight hours or have purring kitties rubbing up against me or wiggly puppies licking my face?

The choice is obvious to me. You can tell how much fun I have by the shots I get. And I do free jpegs for any rescue or animal shelter that needs extra attention for adoption or fundraising purposes. I love what I do, and it is because of the animals.”
Shelby Kibodeaux writes, “I work my fingers to the bone for my dogs. They inspire me everyday to get up, make myself presentable, go to work, and earn them some money.”

Most people with pets would probably agree with Suzanne Moore, especially when reviewing their veterinarian bills. She says, “I don’t guess my critters do anything to enhance my actual wealth, but they make me feel rich.”

With most of us having no discernable way of measuring additional income due to an animal family member in our homes, we would agree with Rebecca Janelli. She writes, “I feel more prosperous. And it is because of the additional love my pets give to me.”
Tryphena Williams sums up the link between animals and prosperity beautifully. She writes, “When you feel loved, you also feel wealthy and happy. My Sam has a way of making me feel very important to her, and the feeling is mutual.”

Learning to Love Again
Betty Seligman from Seattle, Washington sent the following story to us. We published it in our Angel Animals Story of the Week online newsletter. It explores many of the themes that our social networkers expressed in regard to how animals enable people to experience prosperity by restoring or replenishing the will to go on living.

Betty writes:
I was in the bookstore with my son and grandchildren when I saw your book Angel Cats. Seeing the book reminded me of the first time I saw my cat Diva and how we made an immediate connection of love.
Diva is my miracle cat. Not only did she want to come home with me, love me, and enjoy my company, she encourages me daily to get up and continue living. Diva became part of my life as a direct result of an accumulation of life events, which I found myself trying to process.

My life had always been a series of wonderful experiences, but when my husband died in 1998, I found myself a newly-independent person trying to understand how to live in a world without my companion. I quickly discovered that my roles of stay-at-home wife and mother as well as volunteer, did not bring in a great deal of income.

Both my children were grown with families of their own. I had only to be concerned with providing for the family cat Kiki and myself. This was definitely something I had never experienced — I was in charge of making all the decisions.
At the age of 55, I went to work for a start-up company. After seven years I discovered that life had once again changed. At the time of my departure from the company, I was a very sad, confused, and angry person. I knew my emotions needed to change, for they were not only affecting me but Kiki, as well.

The environment in our home was so sad; it could not have been healthy for either of us. I cried daily and had a good case of “poor me.” My true wake-up call came when Kiki died at home in December 2006. Seattle was experiencing a very severe ice storm at that time, and most businesses were closed on the day Kiki died. I was unable to get to a vet so I spent the day with Kiki, watching as her spirit left her physical body.

The next few months my family tried to encourage me to get another pet. Those seeds were definitely planted, but I felt an overwhelming void and did not know if I had enough love to share with another being. Once I felt my sadness and anger subside, I discovered there was room for love to enter. Nine months after Kiki died, I went to our local pet store and thought I would just look at the cats.

I walked over to where a local cat rescue group had a variety of cats available for new families. There was Diva. She was six years old, a long-hair cat, possibly a Maine Coon. We made eye contact. At that moment the adoption was complete, and my healing process began.

Everyday that Diva is here is a blessing, and my ability to love becomes stronger. When she first came to live with me, I was very hesitant to love again for I felt in doing so I would somehow not be loyal to my previous cat Kiki or to my husband. I didn’t want anyone to take their places and reminded Diva of this daily for about three months.

She would just look up at me. Whenever I sat down, she would jump up on my lap and wait to be petted. Kiki had never been a cat who desired long periods of affection. I was amazed the first time Diva sat on my lap for about three hours. She would have stayed longer, but I felt the need to get up and move about.

Diva definitely has won me over. Now I have gotten in touch with a part of my spirit that has long been neglected. I am able to love again. The sadness that was so much a part of me has given way to joy and peace. She makes getting up each day an adventure that I thought was gone forever.

What greater prosperity could an animal bring than infusing your life with more love?

Allen and Linda Anderson are founders of the Angel Animals Network and authors of a series of books published by New World Library about the spiritual connection between people and animals. “Horses with a Mission: Extraordinary True Stories of Equine Service” is the newest book in the Angel Animals series published by New World Library. Subscribe to the Andersons’ free, online newsletter at www.angelanimals.net and participate in the Angel Animals forum and blog.