A Beacon Of Light . . . God’s Gift Of Animals
By FR. RICHARD D. BRETON JR.
(Editor’s Note: Fr. Richard D. Breton Jr. is a priest of the Diocese of Norwich, Conn. He received his BA in religious studies and his MA in dogmatic theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Conn.)
- + + As the weather warms up and we venture outside, we are surrounded by the wonderful gift of God’s creation. In particular we enjoy the gift that animals play in our daily lives. We experience this in many ways. Our day often begins by hearing the singing of the birds at dawn as they rejoice in the new day. The creepy crawly insects get into mischief as they find their way into places they are not really wanted. Whatever our experience, animals are God’s gift to us to enjoy.
Over the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to reflect on the important role animals play in our lives. My particular focus, however, has been on the role dogs play in our lives.
September 1, 2011, would be a turning point in my life. My friend Esther was getting on in age and she had two Shi Tzus she had to give away. Kiki was one and a half years old, and Bella was one year old. Esther asked me to take her dogs.
Having a soft spot in my heart for animals, I didn’t hesitate and agreed to come and get both dogs. There was a problem, however — the dogs were in Houston, Texas! How was I going to get them to Connecticut? I researched the possibility of having them shipped by plane, but that was not possible. Their smooshed-in faces needed special care and they had to fly in the main cabin. So, I flew down to Texas and picked up my new furry friends.
Having arrived, I picked up Kiki and Bella and headed back to the airport for our flight home. It was quite an experience, to say the least! I had never flown with any dog, never mind two! We soon arrived back in Connecticut and my new life as a doggie parent began.
I had decided earlier that I would not keep both dogs, but only one. I chose to keep Bella and gave Kiki to a friend. Bella had quite a personality and had no problem getting herself into mischief. At one year old, she was full of energy and kept me on my toes. The transition for both of us was seamless and it seemed we were meant for each other!
Creation And Stewardship
The Book of Genesis recalls for us the moments of creation: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness He called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning — the first day. And God said, ‘Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.’ So, God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault ‘sky.’ And there was evening, and there was morning — the second day. And God said, ‘Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.’ And it was so. God called the dry ground ‘land,’ and the gathered waters He called ‘seas.’ And God saw that it was good….
“God said, ‘Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.’ So, God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.’ And there was evening, and there was morning — the fifth day. And God said, ‘Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.’ And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:1-25).
These moments in the story of creation were a kind of “preparation” for the greatest of creation, namely man! God created man with the intention of living within the perfect paradise of the Garden of Eden forever. All of the different creatures and animals created were solely for man’s enjoyment. In fact, the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us of this: “God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom He created in His own image. Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure” (CCC, n. 2417).
Everyone who has animals recalls the great importance they play in peoples’ lives. Today animals are used as a means of therapy for the sick and homebound. Many times, nursing homes will allow animals to visit, providing a boost of morale for the residents.
Animals are often instruments of God’s love by letting us know when a loved one is near death. I remember visiting a parishioner in his home whose family cat would not leave the sick person’s side. Day after day the cat just sat there with the person. On the day he died the cat sat on the person’s chest until the moment of death and then jumped down and left the room. The cat refused to return to the deceased person’s side; even if the family placed him there, he jumped away.
A Blessing To All
A little over eighteen months ago, my own dog Bella began struggling with neurological issues that caused a progressive decline in her ability to function. I began noticing she was having trouble jumping on the bed or in my chair. Soon it was difficult to go up and down the stairs, but most important, she began having trouble walking. Soon it was evident to me I had to make a decision regarding her condition. I struggled with this decision because of my love for her, but I was reminded of the paragraph in the Catechism where it says that our responsibility is to care for God’s animals. In doing so we are also called to respect them by not allowing them to suffer needlessly:
“It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons” (CCC, n. 2417).
There was a young boy who reminded me that pets are a gift from God to teach us how to love. After they have taught us everything they can about love, they return to the God of Love Himself. Now it’s our turn to take the love from our pets and love someone else.
On June 17, 2021, I made the decision to return Bella to the loving God who had created her. It was a very difficult decision but one that — out of love for her — I had to make. I was relieved to know she was not suffering or struggling anymore. I am very much at peace with my decision because it was done out of pure love.
I thank God for the gift of Bella. Not just for me, but for the many families, friends, and parishioners whose lives with whom she shared her love. She truly was a blessing to all.
In closing, if you have pets, give them a big hug today and thank the Lord for using them to teach you how to love!
