Question:
I have decided that my only true friend is my dog. People have caused me so much hurt, but my dog has remained loyal. I am giving up on humans. Why can't I find a man as loyal as my dog?
Answer:
I understand your desire to withdraw from human contact. Human relationships are complex and often painful. Whenever you put your heart out for someone, the risk of being hurt is high. The more intimate the relationship, the higher the risk.
An animal's friendship is certainly safer. Animals are accepting. They don't change. They are for the most part predictable and dependable. They are easily controlled. Unless you get bitten or physically attacked, you won't get hurt in a relationship with an animal.
But you also will never be challenged. With an animal, you will never have to question yourself, improve your ways, apologize. Your dog makes no demands on your personality. You can be as stubborn and inflexible as he is. This is not good for you. When animal companionships replace human contact, only the animal benefits. The human stagnates.
In intimate human relationships, we are called upon to change and grow and develop with our partner. We can't control each other, nor can we predict each other's moods. We have to be ready to go out of ourselves and address the emotional needs of another. And as those needs change, we must adjust with them. Through sharing a life, making each other happy, and even sometimes hurting each other, we learn about ourselves and grow as a person. Our partner becomes like a mirror. A dog can't do that.
Don't give up on human beings. Your dog has found a wonderful one. You will too.
I am married and have a very few friends. I try to be a mensch to others 99% of the time. But, because of my growing up. Beaten, threatened and living in fear (by my Jewish father) I only trust my wife, and a very good friend and my old cat. When she died, so did I to a extent. I now have a wonderful new cat (that I feel G-d) has placed in my life. This cat has also bonded with me. G-d I believe know the pain I was in losing my old baby and placed this cat in my life. I would not be here today with out my cats. My wife and I now have group homes with special needs individuals. It is nice with my staffs, my wife and G-ds help, we all love them and making a real difference in there lives.
Now my wife’s daughter and grandkids are coming from a violent, Corrupt country. And they already look at me as grandpa. I tell them I love them and can not wait to hug them and spoil them (in a good way). This is what G-d has given me. Thank you G-d.