Most of the lessons in Prime Minister Forni’s book, “Choosing Civility,” focus on how we should treat others, such as “respecting the opinions of others,” “listening,” “thinking best,” and “speaking with kindness.”

These are vitally important lessons that we must follow in a civil society; to ensure that we are good and kind people to each other, which makes the world a much better place to live in.

An important lesson from the book, however, focuses on how we treat the planet and animals, “respect the environment and be kind to animals.”

I’ve been thinking about these lately, especially caring for pets, having recently lost our family dog ​​and one of our cats to cancer.

I thought about the relationship we have with our pets: what they give us and how we can best care for them.

They bring us love, joy and comfort. In a recent survey conducted by the American Psychiatric Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association, 84% of pet owners said their pets had a positive impact on their mental health.

Petting a cat can lower your blood pressure.

Anyone who owns a dog understands how they know when we’re feeling down and offer us a tail wag and a muzzle.

Hilarious pet videos abound on social media, making us laugh whenever we need it.

Our pets provide hours of joy and fun, as anyone knows who has played with a cat using a laser pointer or, for our dog, a water gun (she was trying to ” bite » water).

It is important to remember that humans domesticated cats and dogs. They are no longer wild animals, but pets. It is our responsibility to make sure we give them everything they need to be happy and healthy and protect them from harm. To give them the love, joy and comfort they give us. “How we treat animals is a measure of our character,” Forni reminds us.

Forni identifies many important ways to treat animals gently: not neglecting them or using force with them; if you’re not prepared to take care of them 365 days a year, don’t get one; abandoning a family pet is never an option; keep them safe; treat other people’s pets with care; and do not give or accept the gift of a pet without thinking.

I would add “ensure they receive appropriate veterinary care” and “stay current with the most current (reliable) animal care research.”

Our knowledge of pet care is constantly evolving. Even experienced pet owners can learn new things.

I learned that dogs need daily time to “chew” and “sniff” and that they should have a dog bed in a busier part of the house when they are feeling sociable and another more secluded when they are not.

I learned when we introduced our new kittens to our resident cat that we should start by having them each “sniff” something with the other cat’s scent and that pheromone products for cats can help appease them all.

The last thing we owe our pets is a good ending: a dignified death, ideally under the supervision of a veterinarian with our loved ones.

Our dear and sweet Ella passed away peacefully with many people by her side sending their love with her. It was a happy ending for a dear member of our family who brought us much love, joy and comfort. We did our best to reciprocate. We’ll see you on the other side, my sweet girl.

Elizabeth Hartman is a core member of the Oshkosh Civility Project team. Additional information available on OshkoshCivilityProject.org. Financial support can be sent to the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, memo line marked Civility Project, and is appreciated.

This article was originally published on Oshkosh Northwestern: Opinion: “How we treat animals is a measure of our character”