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Jim Oswald: The Power of Pets

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Jim Oswald at KQED in San Francisco on May 16, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)

Losing a pet is never easy. Jim Oswald mourns the loss of his canine companion, Lulu.

Our dog Lulu, a short-hair, Miniature Dachshund, was just 10 pounds, but her presence filled every corner of our lives. She passed recently, after nearly 16 years of companionship to me and my husband, and it’s hard to describe the hole she’s left behind.

Lulu wasn’t just a pet. She was a sidekick, a therapist, a court jester and the CEO of snuggles. She was always game for adventures — road trips, camping, beach days, you name it. At Fort Funston, she would dig sand chutes to roll her ball down for hours, fully lost in her own joyful genius.

She was a creature of hilarious contradictions: fiercely protective with a bark that could startle a pit bull, yet gentle enough to burrow under the covers and fall asleep pressed against our sides. Her love language was kisses—dozens daily — and the clickety-clack of her nails on the kitchen floor became the soundtrack to our home. In grieving Lulu, I’ve been thinking about what our pets really give us. Not just the companionship — but a sense of presence.

Lulu did not dwell on the past or worry about the future. She taught me to appreciate the moment: a sunny patch on the floor, a treat from a stranger, a car ride with the windows down.

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Her joy was uncomplicated. Pure. In a world that often feels chaotic and disconnected, pets remind us how to love without conditions. They give us structure, laughter and purpose. And when they leave us, they take a piece of our hearts — but only because they’ve given us so much more in return. So, here’s to Lulu. Thank you for the love, the kisses and the joy. You were one of a kind. And if you’ve got a Lulu of your own, give them an extra cuddle today. With a Perspective, I’m Jim Oswald.

Jim Oswald is a marketing and communications executive at Joybound People & Pets in Walnut Creek. He lives in San Francisco.

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