God Gave Us Animals
I’ve always found it aggravating that we’re expected to pick a side in the great “Dogs vs. Cats” debate. As if loving one means you have to hate the other. Stupid. Personally, I’m a both/and kind of guy.
I grew up surrounded by my own little menagerie of animals, so narrowing it down to just one favorite seems idiotic to me.
Dogs or cats?
Faithful Friends and Furry Faces
My first pet was a big German Shepherd named Flint. Loyal, protective, and endlessly patient, Flint set the bar high for every dog that followed.
Years later, Terri and I opened our home to a spirited Blue Heeler mix named Danny, who brought joy and chaos in equal measure until he crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2017. These days, our household is ruled by five indoor cats—each with a distinct personality and enough quirks to keep things interesting.
My mom has a rescue dog named April who loves nothing more than hopping in the truck and going for a ride with me.
Growing up, it wasn’t unusual for us to have cats lounging in the window, dogs playing in the yard, rabbits tucked away in hutches, and even the occasional horse in the pasture.
If it had fur (or feathers), chances are it found a home with us.
God’s Creatures, Our Companions
I’ve never been a fan of spiders or snakes—call it a boundary—but I have a quiet admiration for turtles and lizards. There’s something ancient and oddly peaceful about them.
Whenever I think about the animals we’ve loved and been loved by, I’m reminded of the deep kindness and intentionality of God.
“The righteous care for the needs of their animals,
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.”
—Proverbs 12:10 (NIV)
There’s something about caring for animals that brings out a gentler, more attentive part of us. In their vulnerability, we find a mirror of our own need for compassion. They remind us that stewardship isn’t just about land and resources—it’s also about love.
Final Thought
Naturalist Henry Beston once wrote:
“We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals…
They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations,
caught with ourselves in the net of life and time.”
So when people ask, “Dogs or cats?”
I smile and say, “Yes.”
May you love well, live wisely, and walk humbly—one paw print at a time.
Genesis 1:25 NLT
What were your favorite pets growing up? Do you keep animals now?
Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear from you.
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Until my next post…
Be salty, stay lit.
Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™
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The Stigma Stops Here.🛑
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Dogs and cats!!
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How fun to have older pets who age well with us.
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And cats not are cats. Silly autocorrect.
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I’ve had Hamsters, a Parakeet, Dogs are Cats. Now, I am down to three cats. Two 10 year old and my oldest is 13. I was never blessed with Human children.
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Beautiful. Funny you said that about being mildly allergic to dogs, Bridget. I have a mild allergy to cats. Yet, here we are; loving God’s creatures best we know how. Thanks for reading and sharing!
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My father was allergic to cats, so we always had dogs. (And an allergy test years ago showed I have a slight allergy to dogs.) But in spite of that we currently have two dogs – Buddy who is 13 and Tucker who is 8. I agree that both dogs and cats can bring joy to the home.
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It IS amazing how we remember our pets from long ago. And beautiful, too. Thanks for reading and sharing!
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We have both a dog and 2 cats. Monty is only 7 months and we have an older lady, Leia. Our dog Chino is a mixed terrier and is 12. Whilst I love all of them, he has a soft spot in my heart. My first dog was a cairn terrier called Bobby. I love terriers. I wouldn’t have hamsters anymore though. They just keep you awake on their wheel all night and are prone to escaping. We used to have birds (budgies) when I was a small child that my mum loved. She used to try to teach them to talk. Her favourite was called Sparky. Amazing how you remember all these pets from long ago.
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Ahead of their time your folks were…ahead of their time, David. 😀 Hope you’re spoiling those new pups properly. Blessings to you and Nancy!
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When I was a kid my family usually kept two dogs and two cats. It wasn’t an either or thing, it was a both and.
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Thank you! I appreciate your comments and encouraging words. Thanks so much for reading! 😃
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I love this post! Yes, why not both? I’ve had mostly cats throughout life, but I had a really sweet miniature pinscher a few years back. I used to have snakes and do NOT recommend it 😁 Love the painting too 🎨
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