Published on 12:00 AM, April 08, 2021

Animals are better companions than humans. Here’s why.

If you tend to obsess over animals featured in movies and TV shows more than the human characters, you may have wondered how lucky these fictional people are to have such wonderful pets and animal friends. I completely understand you; animals can be better companions than humans at times, and these are the reasons why.

It is easy to predict where their loyalties lie

The way a dog wags its tail whenever it sees its owner after a long day, or even how a cat softly purrs while resting on your lap, with zero verbal communication, these animals manage to express their feelings towards you clearly. There is no need to analyse their behaviour, no unnecessary drama, no plot-twists, no pretending to like someone when deep down you actually hate them; things are exactly as they seem. Is there not a movie involving a scene where a dog was waiting for their owner to come home, unaware of how the owner had passed away? I'm not crying, you are.

They are the arguably the best companions, even in silence

Suppose you have had a bad day, and are exhausted. You want to take a walk but are not in the mood to talk to anyone. A dog may prove to be the perfect companion in this case, where it would be happy to go on a walk with you and your very presence is appreciated, without you even having to speak.

They manage to be a trustworthy security alarm

Dogs, birds, and even turtles can understand the presence of a stranger in the house. Many tame animals can recognise their owners from others. You can shower them with love and protect them from harm, and they can try their best to do the same for you. For example, picture a certain cartoon character that tries to protect its owners despite being a cowardly dog. You could even train your bird to dive into people's faces on command when you have an annoying guest over, and can use this as an excuse to get rid of them.

They are like human babies minus the potential ungrateful-teenage child phase

You won't hear pets randomly saying/indicating that you embarrass them. Cats can have plenty of mood swings, but the mood swings are not an age-specific phase they are expected to go through. The fact that you can easily find the cutest tiniest outfits for your pets at any age is a definite plus point.

They can even help you gauge the humanity of other people

Not everyone adores animals, which is alright, but living creatures deserve to be treated with respect. Animals can help you identify any person who is, for example, alright with animal cruelty, after which you may absolutely cut them off from your life. This saves both time and effort being put into a friendship that would have otherwise amounted to nothing.

Do you have pets who you believe are better companions than a lot of people you know?   

Bushra Zaman likes books, art, and only being contacted by email. Contact her at bushrazaman31@yahoo.com