Salma Hayek did a cute brief video for People Magazine’s Most Beautiful issue featuring her rescue owl, Kering. (This came out a little while ago, but I’m just seeing it now.) We last talked about Salma’s owl in February, when she mentioned it in an interview with Colbert. Salma told Colbert that she became obsessed with owls and then realized she could rescue one, which is legal in London where she lives. However in her People video Salma makes it sound like she just came across the owl rescue site and then adopted one. Whatever the case, it’s clear Salma adores that owl. She’s also a devoted mom to her other pets, which include two dogs. In her video she talks about how incredible her owl is, and I especially liked how she talked about the pets she’s had in her life. Here’s part of what she said and you can see the interview below.
On adopting her owl
I love owls and they were advertising some owls for rescuing about two years ago. I gave it to my husband as a Valentine’s present and I named her Kering because that’s the name of his company and their symbol is an owl. [He said] ‘this is your own present for yourself.’Her owl sleeps in the room and stays by her
Sometimes when my husband is not in town she sleeps in the room with me. I watch TV with my iPad and she likes to stand on the iPad. When I go to sleep she’s flying around. Sometimes it can be scary because she’ll land on my head… grab my feet. She will rub on me or… go on my neck inside my hair or on my head, my shoulder, my arms. I can feel her rubbing against me and I feel so blessed.On the joy of having pets
I think about all the animals I have had in my lifetime there have been so many and all the love that they have given me. It makes me feel so blessed. I’ve had so much love because I’ve had so many pets. They make me laugh. I love cuddling up to them. I like the relationship that you can establish with an animal. They all have their different personalities. Because they don’t talk, you have to be present with them, to communicate with them, to understand them. They always make you feel welcome, they never complain and if they do it makes you laugh. I like the responsibility also. A relationship with an animal is something really pure.
[From People’s Instagram video]
Salma got choked up toward the end and it was sweet. I’ve rarely heard someone describe the joy of pet ownership so well. She also said that they helped her a lot during the pandemic and lifted her mood. I could relate so much to what she said about pets. Right now I don’t have any pets because I’m renting, but when my son goes off to college that will change. I miss that companionship and love. Salma can be full of herself, she’s a celebrity married to a billionaire, but you can tell that she loves her pets and is devoted to them.
I’m probably in the minority, but I’ve always found her to be extremely overrated.
I saw her once in NYC. She was coming out of the St. Regis and I was stunned at how beautiful she is in person. As for animals. Better than people. My four legged children (dogs & Horses) are the owners of my heart. Never really thought much about wild animals as pets or sea creatures but I cried like a child last night watching ‘My Octopus Teacher’!!
Yes, I surely agree about the pet topic, I just meant I find her overrated acting wise tbh.
I love what she said about pets. Their love is underrated.
Yes. She put it really well. My cats add to my life immeasurably.
A pets’ love is not underrated to those who have them— but also, neither is my love for them.
I just realized yesterday- with no questions. how strong my love for all of my pets is. Its like… embarrassing to admit but its so permanent and forever and solid. I can’t say I have this with people in that same way– its so selfless and unconditional- which is hard to ever come by in people unless its your direct nuclear family members, maybe.
the remark about having to be with them because they dont speak- bang! Thats it right there. You form a bond with them in other ways, that is truly unique.
So that– its good that this is being said publicly. It’s so true… and it really is valuable and meaningful
Yes, this. I love my cats, and they have been a lifeline during this pandemic. Sometimes, and this is going to sound silly, I worry that they don’t know how much I love them, because we can’t speak to each other! But as you say, the bond between pets and humans is really special, because it has to be built over time, based on behavior, rather than using words.
I think they know. Because you take care of them and they trust you to keep them safe. It’s like why cats trust to sit near you or on your lap.
So far with my dog, I think of it whenever he looks up at me when he’s nervous in a new space. And does that mean into my legs.
They communicate, just not in words.
I agree. I mean I tell my cat that I love him several times a day and then try and do the things that will help him understand – chin scratches, comfort him when something has rattled him, give him lap time, let him sleep on my feet (NOT comfortable), bedtime treat routine. You get the idea.
HIs behaviour to me suggests he’s relaxed and trusts me so I’ll take that.
I love my dog more than anything on this planet. And that rubs some people the wrong way. I’m with Salma on this one, the love and trust you get from an animal is sooo pure, it just doesn’t compare to any other sort of love that I have ever experienced.
Their innocence just makes your heart open up completely. My dog has the best life possible but in addition I try to donate as much as I can to verified stray dog and animal nonprofits around the world, to give back to dogs (I had another dog growing up) and cats and other animals. Stray domestic species like cats and dogs suffer so much when they don’t have a home.
Please don’t adopt wildlife as pets. The owl should have gone to a sanctuary.
She also talked about in a former interview about how the owl scared her daughter and servants (?) and she just thought that was the funniest thing.
I hope she’s not encouraging people to purchase wild (as opposed to domesticated species like cats and dogs) animals as pets. e.g., Otter parents get shot so you can have their cute babies as pets and drink coffee at a cute otter cafe (apparently popular in South Korea and Japan).
She’s certainly not discouraging them… :(.
I remember as a teen, rolling my eyes when my mom’s cat went missing for 3 days and she couldn’t stop crying. Now, I adopted a cat (quite old already) and I’m already scared of losing him. Damn, I cannot imagine my days without him now!
Senior pets have so much love (and lessons) to share. May you have many, many quality days with your boy cat!
Thank you!!
I agree with what Salma is saying. I love my cat more than anything in this entire world. The love I get from her is more than I could ever get from any human. The love of a pet is so pure & unconditional.
I lost my baby boy on Sunday, my doberman called copper he was only 4, without going into detail time was not on our side to find out the cause in time, I have had 2 puppy dogs before and still feel their loss, but also the love, at the moment I am in emotional pain, reading the comments and article is very helpful, I have also read pets love and bond can be stronger because all through their life you look after them and they depend on you and love just hanging out with you, I miss my buddy, still in shock and maybe going through a bit of the anger stage, other peoples comments do help
Porsha, I am so sorry to hear about your baby. RIP sweet Copper. The death of a pet is one of the greatest pains a human will ever experience. When my last cat died in 2017, unexpectedly at the age of just 4, I was so upset I was crying & screaming, so I understand the anger stage quite well. It took me months to adopt my new cat who has truly become the love of my life.
Thank you for your kind reply, I just realised I have been reading celebitchy everyday for over ten years, it really is the best of all the gossip sites, the comments are always upstanding, no scatter brains or junk, I am in Australia its 12:30am, hard to sleep and just ate half white choc mudcake, as I have not really been eating
Porsha, I completely understand and sympathize with your grief. The illness and loss of a pet is hard enough at any age, but especially tough when you would expect them to have many years left.
Your anger and sadness are very understandable. Peace to you as you travel this hard path.
All I can add is that losing young pets (including a newly adopted puppy who died of parvo within. 24 hours) is that it made me better appreciate every minute with my pets. I never take them (or our time) for granted.
I’m so sorry to hear that Porsha, what a terrible situation to be in. I hope you can find your way through this really dark time.
I’ve now had four years with my cat which have been wonderful but he was already eight when I inherited him from my grandmother so I’m even more aware that I just don’t know how long we have together. He’s having an anaesthetic on Friday for a teeth clean/extraction and I have no idea how I’ll concentrate at work until they finally call to say he’s done, it’s making me twitchy already!
Take care of yourself.
I’m so sorry, Porsha. What a hard loss.
Christina Hunger is a a speech therapist who taught her dog to speak using recorded buttons. It’s amazing the complex thoughts and questions her dog Stella expresses. She’s on instagram @hunger4words and it’s amazing!