The Dogs Know

They always know. I don't know how but they do. But they do.

When Kim was in the hospital the dogs were off. Restless and following me around the house more than usual. Staring at the door like they were waiting for her to walk through it. They knew something was wrong even if they couldn't understand what.

Dogs don't need words. They seem to read energy, your body language or shift in routine. They can sense stress you're carrying even when you think you're hiding it. You're not hiding it, not from them.

The whole week she was gone they were glued to me. Normally they split their time between us. Not that week, they stayed close. Like they were keeping watch or maybe they needed the comfort as much as I did.

When she finally came home this last Friday night they lost their minds. Not the usual excited greeting. Something more. Relief maybe. The pack was whole again. Everything was back where it belonged.

Now they follow her around. Careful and gentle. They know she's not 100%. They curl up near her but don't jump on her like they normally would. Somehow they understand she needs space and closeness at the same time.

I've had dogs my whole life. Every single one has had this ability. They feel what we feel. They carry some of the weight even when we don't ask them to.

People underestimate what pets do for us. They're not just animals in the house. They're family and they show up. They pay attention.

They give a damn!

I want to come back as my dog when I die. They've got life figured out better than most humans.

Anyone else notice their pets acting different when life gets hard?

Thanks for reading,
Joe

_{Notes:
-All content is mine unless otherwise annotated.
-Images are my own unless otherwise noted.
-Photos edited using MS Paint and/or iPhone SE.
-Page Dividers from The Terminal Discord.}