Conscious Pet of the Month

Gizmo, Carlsbad, CA

Buddhism and other ancient spiritual traditions view all animals as sentient beings, vulnerable to suffering but also possessing the potential for enlightenment. If you share your life with a pet – and even if you don’t – you have probably experienced their Buddha-nature and unconditional love. Animals offer themselves as they are, without the many distressing disguises the human ego often presents.

This month we are pleased to announce a new Namasté feature – The Conscious Pet of the Month – which will allow the Namasté community to share the joy and love their beloved animal companions bring into the world. We invite you to send us your photos and stories of the enlightened pet in your life. Please send them to namaste@chopra.com. Each month we will select one of the submissions as our Conscious Pet of the Month and make a donation to the Carlsbad Animal Shelter in the winner’s name.

We’re launching this new feature by introducing you to Gizmo, one of the furrier members of the Chopra Center family. Gizmo is an adorable Chihuahua and Jack Russell mix, a rescue dog who was adopted by the Chopra Center’s master organizer, Tiffany Murray.

When he was approximately four months old, Gizmo was found wandering along the highway in Palm Springs, California, in the heat of summer. He was rescued and taken to a nearby animal shelter. When Tiffany went to the shelter, she wasn’t even planning on adopting a dog . . . she was helping her niece, who had found a box of abandoned kittens and needed a ride to take them to the shelter. When Tiffany saw the tiny puppy, who was small enough to fit in the palm of her hand, she knew she wanted to give him a home.

Gizmo recently celebrated his fourth birthday. Since his official birthday is unknown, he shares a birthday with Tiffany’s teenage son, Alex, on April Fools Day, which is the month in which Gizmo was adopted.

Gizmo is a master of living in the now. When he eats, he eats. When he naps, he naps, and when he runs on the beach, he doesn’t seem preoccupied with thoughts about the past, thoughts about the future, or worries about what the other dogs are thinking of him.

Tiffany says that even though Gizmo appears to be both Vata and Pitta deranged, he is a warm companion and really great with children, even the little ones, showing a tremendous amount of patience. He’s also an incredible watchdog and protector. He loves to chase lizards in the yard, gnaw on chicken jerky treats, and play tug-of-war with Alex.