Cultural norms have taught us since time immemorial that dogs are man’s best friends, but if you’ve never owned a pet, it’s still hard to understand what makes animals and humans so bond. Is this it? … The relationship that drove Julia Navarro toGive up historical novels and thrillers for a while write “When they leave” In his words, this is a “story.” For him, it is impossible to categorize his books into a specific genre.
Julia has lived with a variety of dogs throughout her life. He can’t imagine life without them. This is not a special case. People who own pets usually keep them again. People who have never owned an animal define this as “an attempt to fill the void left when a pet dies.” But it couldn’t be further from reality. Life changes and with it, our company philosophy
“When Argos died, I felt like I needed to face my grief, because I didn’t know how to overcome it in any other way. “That’s why I work the way I know how: to write,” explained ABC’s Navarro, sitting inside a cafeteria in Madrid. Bring your dog Barbie, The Schnauzer doesn’t bark, stays in your arms, and stays still no matter where you look without moving. The result of this book is not only a tribute to his companion, but also a deep dive into “the relationship between dogs and humans since time immemorial, and the deep traces that have existed between them.” From the birth of humanity to today.
“When They Leave” is, for Julia, more than just a look back at what life entails. The astronaut dog Laika, a dog that appeared in literature, art, and movies, or a real hero who helped humanity. “Half-submerged dog” Francisco de Goya’s dog “Sergeant Stubby” and Virginia Woolf’s “Flash” coexist in the work as if they were inside Pipican. The author emphasizes that he will always remember his beloved dogs, who were “companions in many parts of my life, faithful, loyal, unconditional companions.”
When addressing the topic of loss, draw parallels with other loved ones. “Can you get over the death of a loved one?” Over time, the pain fades, but the memory remains. “They will be there forever.” For the writer, her life could not be explained without her presence. “These loyal and unconditional friends.” Navarro also humorously denies the cliché that pets resemble their owners. Far from being extensions of himself, the novelist celebrates the individuality of each of his dogs. “Barbie is everything but me. She’s a calm, gentle, loving dog…and I get nervous if I have to stay still for more than 10 minutes,” she confessed, reaffirming that what’s most appealing about them is precisely that they’re “so different.”
The importance of being called Barbie
“When I adopted Barbie, she already had a name,” Navarro explains. The introduction of this animal into the circle immediately caused a “shock”, and friends questioned: “Are you going to have a dog named Barbie?” But are you a feminist? Perhaps some believe that causal determinism (the hypothesis that people tend to be attracted to occupations, jobs, and even cities that match their names) must also occur in animals. Far from succumbing to pressure, the writer kept his name and drew valuable lessons. “I have come to the conclusion that stereotypes exist in the minds of others and prejudice in the eyes of those who judge.
The problem is not the name itself, but what other people want to attribute to it. “Barbie is just a name to Navarro, and it’s a beautiful name that fits like a glove,” she said as she stroked her dog’s head. She has a special section in her book where: “The importance of being called Ernesto” The author recalls his moments with Barbie and looks forward to the dog’s new life. And in fact, surrounding this work is a firm denial that animals are property. Navarro convincingly defends dogs as “another life” that deserves unconditional respect, a position that moves away from the classic view of pets as objects.
“It’s not an asset. Dogs and cats have their own identities. Barbie is not mine, Barbie accompanies me, and I thank Barbie for accompanying me, ”the author declares. This dynamic of companionship rather than possession extends to every dog that passes through the house, from Argos and Tiffith to Curro, all of whom are “part of the family.”
The problem lies in education.
“A dog will never let you down. He will never abandon you and he will never stop accompanying you. He is, without a doubt, the most loyal being that exists on the planet. No one, human or otherwise, is as loyal as a dog. For the author, living with animals… The experience left an indelible mark on his personality, the way he sees the world, and the way he interacts with nature. More importantly, it reinforces an important principle: “It gives us the perspective that living things must be respected. Sometimes there are other animals with much better qualities than some humans.”
Despite growing public awareness of animal welfare in Spain, the country enjoys disgraceful leadership in Europe, with the number of abandoned dogs and cats rapidly increasing to 340,000 a year. For Julia Navarro, this contradiction is a clear sign of collective failure. “I believe that a country’s level of civilization can also be measured by how it treats animals. Spain is suspended the author says. The sight of dogs “abandoned and embarrassed” on the side of the road and horses abused in the sun is unbearable, and she hopes those responsible “have had the same experience”.
Julia Navarro also shares two personal anecdotes about her dogs, Tiffith and Barbie. In it, they witnessed children beating animals while their parents downplayed or justified their actions. “I said to them, ‘Hey, please,’ and they said, ‘Oh, no, it’s a dog,'” she recalls of the incident with Tiffith. The reactions of adults who suggest that hitting animals is trivial infuriates the author.
For Navarro, the behavior of minors is a direct reflection of the lack of principles that come from home. “It’s no wonder that when parents teach that it’s okay to hit a dog, or that it doesn’t matter, some children end up doing that,” he says. Regarding animal welfare laws, the author believes that the laws enacted last year represent progress, although there is still room for improvement. However, its effectiveness is questionable.
Confronted with bills that he considers “too lenient,” or simply don’t apply, Navarro argues: The only fundamental solution is education. According to the author, it is essential that children from kindergarten are taught to respect animals and understand that they are not toys, but deserve consideration. “I don’t understand why someone who’s had a dog for five, six, seven years would suddenly say, ‘I’m not going to have a dog anymore.'”
The author also takes a firm stand against one of society’s most criticized practices: purchasing pets as gifts. The author is adamant that a dog is not a gift, but a member of the family. “Dogs are not toys, nor are they gifts for Christmas.” Navarro points out that animal sales increase during this time of year because parents acquire animals as if they were buying a “bicycle,” and argues that dogs come into the home to become part of the family. This unconditional bond is the fundamental value they taught him. “Anyone can disappoint you. It’s the dogs who never disappoint you. Dogs never abandon you. “They’re always, always by your side.”
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