Pets bring me lots of joy. I’ve kept pets most of my life. Since I’ve usually lived alone and worked full time, cats have been my most common pet. They fit well into such a life, being largely self-contained and ambivalent about human interaction. I’ve only had a few dogs over the years. Still, I’ve observed one major difference between cats and dogs.
I’ve known cats that were affectionate, even a few that I would describe as emotionally needy. They all have personalities, quirks, bad habits and sometimes even a sense of humor. But in my experience, I’ve concluded that cats don’t have a soul. There’s a being there, for sure, but I don’t think it’s a soul. It’s not a conclusion I could defend in debate, just a feeling developed over the years.
Dogs, on the other hand, are almost all soul. They need, communicate and bond. They invest in us as much or more than we invest in them. I think this is true of all dogs, but there are degrees of difference. And while I love my blue heeler Buddy with all my heart, that love has never supplanted the loss I feel for my golden retriever Freeway. Any sight of a golden—real, photographic or selling dog food—and I’m all verklempt. I miss Freeway with an ache that never goes away, and it’s all about that sweet, sweet soul.
I think when we finally achieve enlightenment and attain nirvana, when we have a choice of whether or not to return to corporeal existence—then, and only then, do we get to choose a life as a golden retriever. It’s the culmination of perfect existence, and brings light to the world.
Woof.