WALTON - The feeling of love transcends almost all barriers, which is proven by the relationship between animals and their owners. While humans and their pets do not speak the same language, the relationship between them demonstrates there are many ways to show, communicate, and feel love aside from an exchange of the words “I love you.”
Kim Halaquist, of Walton, an animal lover, exemplifies the idea of shared love between animals and humans - though she does not view herself as an owner.
“To me, it’s like, ‘I’m not your owner. I care for you and you live with me,’” she said, believing animals - like humans - are sentient beings with thoughts, feelings, and their own purpose for living.
Halaquist has a cat, three horses, and two dogs adopted from the Heart of the Catskills Humane Society in Delhi, and treats them all with the same respect, and personal autonomy she would another human being.
Her oldest dog, Sidney, was surrendered after his previous owner died in 2016. Halaquist was hesitant to adopt another dog, fearful of Sidney feeling less loved or receiving less attention, she said.
That is, until her daughter pointed out she currently owns three horses, which swayed Halaquist’s belief that she could continue to provide Sidney with the same amount of love and maintain their strong bond, and have another dog to keep him company.
Genny, the dog she adopted in mid-November 2024, was found on Dirt Road in Delhi, after her owner died.
When Halaquist and her daughter picked up Genny at adoption, she was scared and shaking in the car, Halaquist said.
“So I just looked at her and I said, ‘You’re safe. No one is going to hurt you,’” she said, and within five minutes the pup was noticeably settled and more comfortable with Halaquist.
While the two dogs came from unfortunate circumstances, their personalities and display of affection are a testament to Halaquist’s patience and understanding of their communication. Halaquist refers to Sidney as her “heart dog,” as her and Sidney are closely bonded and rarely ever apart.
Halaquist believes Sidney was trained by his previous owner not to get on the furniture, she said, and to remain close, Sidney prefers to sit on the floor, on Halaquist’s foot. Sidney loves to be rubbed down and petted, responding to the attention with kisses and nudges as his own display of affection in return.
Sidney also has a keen sense for keeping Halequist safe and away from people, she said, recalling a time when Sidney nudged her off a walking path when someone with a bicycle was riding toward her.
“He’ll even do that with Dave,” Halaquist said of her husband. “If Dave tries to hug or kiss me, he’ll nudge himself right in between us and pressure my legs,” she said humorously.
Like people, the two dogs have different personalities and ways of communicating their feelings and needs, Halaquist said.
Genny, unlike Sidney, “plops herself right on the couch,” Halaquist said. If Halaquist sits on one end of the couch while Genny is on the other, it is not long before Genny has worked her way closer to Halaquist to lay beside her, touching her at all times as a way of feeling secure and safe.
Another stark difference between the two dogs is their love of car rides, Halequist highlighted. If she suggested they all go for a ride, Sidney is ready to go, waiting by the truck with his tail wagging, while Genny must be walked out with a leash and urged into the vehicle.
Not “forcing” Genny into a ride is just another display of Halaquist’s true love and respect for animals as individuals. In her opinion, no single being is more superior to another, she said.
“I don’t feel there’s any living thing on this earth more superior to anybody else. So there’s this balance when trying to get Genny into the truck, where I know she’s kind of fearful and doesn’t want to, but I try to comfortably encourage her so that she feels safe.”
Halaquist demonstrates that same compassion and recognition of autonomy with her horses, she said.
“You know, I ask my horses if I can get on before I ride them,” she said, and will stand on the mounting block and invite her horses over to her on their own free will. If they want to be ridden, they will come to her so she can mount, she said.
Halaquist’s view on respecting animals as their own beings, with their own feelings and sense of existence, is the same she has on human beings.
“It’s the same thing with people, but people have voices,” she said.
Often it seems as if pet owners will impose their own will on their animals, forcing their pet into situations or activities because as a human, they feel superior to their animal.
“People are forced into things by society, by pressures, by expectations,” she said. While it seems as if things are changing within society, and the newer generations are more accepting to the will of other people. “You still have an awful lot of people that have that hierarchy mentality of ‘The man’s the boss, the woman’s subservient, and children have to toe the line.”
Halaquist’s love for animals, and her animals’ clear love for her, is a demonstration of understanding, respect, and communication between two different beings without ever exchanging words.
“I love all animals and all living hings, but the ones I take care of, obviously, are special. And there’s a feeling you get when you pet, or hug, or touch your animal. Or when your dog runs to you as you come home,” she said. “Animals really can offer a great service to us - to allow us to be happy.”
