Kind Love

by Anouk Frolic, author of The Be Kind Alphabet

The love for our companion animals can be intense, vast, grounding, therapeutic, hard and fast, and heartbreakingly sad when they leave us—always too soon—but worth every tear and heavy heart…to the point that we do it over and over again, because we know the love is so worth it. There’s infinitely more love within us to give and unfortunately, animals in need of being rescued from their circumstances.

If we’re lucky, we form a bond so close, we call them our “heart” animal. I have been fortunate so far in my life to have experienced several of those. My first one came to me when I’d set out on my own, leaving Canada for L.A. at age 24. I adopted a pup from a shelter in Glendale, CA. It was like the universe had an arrow pointing straight to her, as she lay snuggled in with her littermates. There was no hesitation, as I zeroed in on her. A squirmy, distended-bellied, white, whippet-lab mix, who needed to grow into her loose skin. I called her Meisje, which is Dutch for girl. She was my constant companion for 15 years, through moves across countr(ies), relationships, jobs..and for every single hike, walk, swim, camping trip I took. She was so in tune with me, all I had to do was give her a look, and she understood what I was saying.

One of my favourite memories was sitting with her in the dark at night, watching scary movies on my bed. She would be pinned to my side, and when things got tense, we’d look at each other, her eyes would be as wide as mine, and then I’d scream and she’d jump and lick my face and stick her butt up in the air and we’d laugh our heads off. 

The last year of her life with me, I fell into a depression, as I watched her slow decline. Everything in my life slowed down alongside her. Every moment was more precious than the next. Until that final day, with the vet on speed dial, we went for our final walk. We didn’t make it more than half a block from the house, when she turned to me, and I knew it was time to say good bye. The vet came and she fell into her deep forever sleep, while safely in my arms, and wet with my tears. She died knowing love. Something I wish for all animals.

My heart expands with love every time I think of her, and I share that love now with the two ginger cats I’ve recently adopted.