“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened”
ANATOLE FRANCE
A large and conclusive body of research shows that the most important factor in a child’s emotional health, wellness and development is a positive attachment with a caretaking adult. That relationship within which the child knows beyond a doubt that they are loved and they matter for who they are, not for what they do. Including – especially – when they mess up. And this does not just apply to children, isn’t it what we all need most in life?
Sometimes, especially when relationships with people have been a struggle, an animal can provide that relationship; that sense of feeling loved, that we matter, that we are known. At Healing Hooves we aim to bridge the relationships people form with our animals to healthy relationships with people, but often the relationship with the right animal is the first step.
What abut you? How has the love of an animal helped you?
When I was younger, my dog was put to sleep when I was around 6yrs old. I was devastated, and didn’t understand why he didn’t come back home. I felt he was still with us and I prayed to him every night to come back. When I was nine yrs old my grandma passed suddenly. I then feared death of losing my mum, and every night I prayed to my dog and my grandma to keep us all safe and not let anyone else die. To this day, I don’t pray to god, I’m not a religious person, I am spiritual, and if I’m ever in thought of worry, I still pray to those I have lost, mostly my first dog, my late dog, and my grandparents, and I talk to all my present animals about my worries, as they are my attentive listeners; when looking into my eyes for a split second, as they often look away first, but they still listen even when purring and snoring, and when I’m finished, they move or nudge me, or stretch out, just to keep the physical contact, which is what I believe of them to be supporting me. Eddie seems to get me most, and I often feel that my grandad visits me within him, he’s named after my grandad, and is just as stubborn and strong, loving and cuddly with big fluffy hair, just like my grandad had that I would ruffle whenever I saw him. I have strong connections from past and present, it is comforting.