When I moved here, there were 5 dogs on the property. Sadly, Sally was killed by a car yesterday. She had a habit of escaping through the fence, and this time she didn’t come back.

Her owner came over to inform me last night, totally distraught. I tried to comfort him, but he was inconsolable. She’d been his best girl for seven years.

My parents’ dog passed away two weeks ago. Lulu was my dad’s faithful little shadow, and he took her loss really hard. He vowed “never again” after their previous dog, Purdy, died many years ago, also of old age. I think he means it this time.

I fondly remember my beloved cats, Jonty, Shiloh and Charlie. Each loss was a stab to the heart. Lavis stayed with her daddy when we divorced more than 10 years ago, but I followed her exploits on Facebook (yes, she had exploits – she was a cool cat!) and was saddened by her recent passing.

Loving a pet is risky. Logically we know that we will most probably outlive them. Yet we love them anyway. And we grieve hard when they die. How brave is that?

Ask anyone who lost a beloved pet; they don’t regret having them. They treasure the memories. Most open their hearts again. Maybe not immediately, but eventually.

I haven’t been brave for a while. After my second marriage ended, I locked up my battered heart and told myself I wasn’t worthy of being loved, and was clearly ill-equipped to love. I kind of ghosted my friends, and even kept my family at a “safe-but-cordial” distance. Pets were not an option, for practical reasons, but also because I was not emotionally ready for them at the time.

When I came to Hopefield, I was suddenly confronted with my friends’ many pets, even a pet sheep! Some of them seem to have really taken to me (not the sheep), and slowly my frozen heart is starting to thaw. I’m not quite ready for a pet of my own, but it will come. In the mean time, I’m trying to teach Bailey, the young pit bull, some manners (she is rather exuberant) and to play fetch. Results vary. (It would help if I knew what I was doing. Here’s a tip: don’t keep the reinforcement/reward treats in your bra. Just saying. In other news, I need clothes with pockets.)

Similarly, I am slowly opening my heart to receive love from, and give love to, friends and family again. I don’t know how long they’ll be in my life, but I’m going to love them anyway.