Sure, many of us giggle at the misspelled “I can haz cheezburger” adventures of felines on websites like LOLcats.com, or forward the viral videos of dogs playing when their parents aren’t home that seem ubiquitous on Facebook and YouTube.
But the unconditional love that pets are known for can be extra meaningful for people who go through life being judged. Few episodes illustrate this more clearly than the early days of the AIDS epidemic when cats, dogs and other pets took the place of the mothers, brothers and best friends in the lives of those dying from the disease.