Some Animals Are Far Better Teachers Than the ‘Masters of the World’

When I decided about volunteering in Brazil for three months, I had to make a difficult choice: give up on my rented apartment since I couldn’t afford the expenses.

When I was back, I had to spend a month hustling between two places in two cities until I could find a new home for my baby MiMi and myself. I didn’t know the Universe had some plans for a third living creature to share it!

In my parents’ place, a cat once visited and I happened to be feeding my furry kid MiMi. I didn’t think twice before giving him some of the food. The number of new visitors was increasing from a day to another.

Two days before leaving for my new place, a white kitten joined the party and was meowing in such a cute way that one could only put a hand on the heart and make that loving facial expression!

What I didn’t first notice was that the tiny creature had an injury on the neck. It was a no-brainer to become his foster mom. Suddenly, all the circumstances made perfect sense:

I needed to be right there at that moment to meet Snow! The Universe always knows better, right?

What does this introduction have to do with the topic introduced by the title, one might wonder?

Before meeting Snow, MiMi was my only fur kid for ten months. I adopted her from the streets — or shall I say she did — when she was four months. I wrote a piece about our magical connection here, should it feel worthwhile.

It seems to me that I spoiled her to some extent without meaning to. When we were in Brazil; more precisely in the forest, we had the privilege to meet Simba: a precious dog. She made our stay bearable despite all the challenging circumstances.

To say I am grateful to Simba would not give enough credit to my feelings toward her exquisite being. Here are a few reasons:

• Her unconditional love: Before going to the ‘bathroom’ and washing my face, I head in her direction. She recognizes the smell from distance, gets excited, and asks for being pet, which I feel fortunate to offer!

• She was my muse sent by the Universe to finish healing a deep wound: A few months ago, I was the witness to a horrible death. The victim was a dog looking exactly like Simba. She transitioned in my arms. Because they look so similar, with every gratitude look I was receiving from Simba, I was imagining the one I couldn’t save comforting me, telling me that I did my best and that this was merely an “Au Revoir”!

• She was a fabulous role model to my baby when it comes to patience: Because Simba’s food was of the worst quality and that I noticed how much she hated it, I didn’t have much choice but to share Mimi’s food with her.

MiMi is now a big sister. Her brother Snow is seven months and is still getting crazy when I am about to feed them. Observing how my girl is playing the patient and ‘wise’ role is heartwarming, to say the least.

Simba was such a phenomenal teacher! For such a gift, I can’t thank her enough...

For those of you who are stopping by for the first time and have no clue about my very special connection with animals in general and dogs in particular, I want you to know how humbled and honored I am by your decision to give some of your precious time to this piece!

I started writing it yesterday and stopped when figuring out it was very late for my babies. On my way back home, there were four small breed dogs. I wouldn’t be able to guess the name given that it has never been a priority for me.

More importantly, three of them welcomed me with a touching enthusiasm and a flow of kisses! Their mom informed me the fourth was blind. I handed my bag and keys to her, came down to the dog’s level, and started calling and guiding him to me.

When he was successful, he eventually gave me delicious kisses, and I felt as if I had the whole world between my arms. My heart was about to explode!

Should it feel worthwhile, this was the only captured moment of my random meetings with dogs in the streets. I am thankful for the thoughtfulness of my friend!