The quest for love is never-ending. From the time that we first understand the meaning of “happily ever after” in fairy tales, until we are older than some objects which are dubbed “antique,” we know that “love is the answer” to so many of our problems (my apologies to Todd Rundgren and his band, Utopia).
However, love can be elusive. On “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” television shows, 25 or so singles vie for the “love” of one desirable and available person who is (supposedly) also looking for a true love. Things seldom turn out well for those lonely people. Seventeen seasons of “The Bachelor” and nine of “The Bachelorette” have only resulted in two marriages. As I write this, three more of the made-on-television couples are still together; that number, of course, could change before this goes to press. Those are pretty bad odds for contestants who claim to really want a relationship, one with the potential to lead to the altar.
There is one way to find real love, the kind where you are adored. That is the animal shelter. Every county has one.
The Columbus Lowndes Humane Society recently moved into a beautiful new facility on Airline Road. It is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. If you can’t make it to the new shelter, you can meet some of these beautiful bundles of love at Petsmart the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The new shelter is certainly worth a visit. Cats and kittens romp on towers covered with textured surfaces just perfect for scratching, and with little platforms to perch on. There are shelves with cubby holes for cat naps. It looks as though the cats have been neatly filed on bookcases. There are dogs of every age, from puppies to already-housebroken adults. They are all so adorable you may have trouble choosing just one.
Our three “children” all come from shelters. Two are from the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society; one is from New Orleans. Loa-Kitty is the last of our original family who evacuated with us as we fled Hurricane Katrina eight years ago. These, along with the two we lost since we settled here, have given us so much joy, and more love than we could ever have received from any media-baby bachelor or bachelorette.
Pets don’t care if you hair is a mess or if you are overweight. They just love you, with no conditions or requirements. I have found that they are true empaths. My children can sense when I am sad or sick. They cuddle up with me and try to tell me that everything will be alright. Somehow, I always feel better.
A four-legged sweetheart (or in the case of our Freda Jolie, three-legged) are the best kind. They are uncritical, totally accepting and completely faithful. I’ll bet you can’t say that about TV romances.
“The Farmer’s Almanac” has predicted another frigid winter. This is all the more reason to curl up with my three “personal leg warmers.” I wouldn’t trade them for all the eligible bachelors in the universe.
Forget “looking for love” on dating sites. The animal shelters are closer and the “love affairs” so much more satisfying. The adoption fees may be cheap, but the love you receive is priceless.
Adele Elliott, a New Orleans native, moved to Columbus after Hurricane Katrina.
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