His love seemed perennial and inexhaustible. Even animals and birds shared in his affection and care. He would regularly go to the dairy and feed the cows bananas, molasses, and barley powder. Quite often people would see the old swami stroking the cows in the monastery compound. He would ask his attendant to spread grain on the roof adjacent to his room so he could watch the birds enjoying their food. His pet dog, Kelo, would get baths and special dinners. Pointing to Kelo, Shivananda would say, “Kelo is my dog and I am the dog of the Master.” One night the swami was meditating in his room when a cat entered, crying “mew mew.” Shivananda bowed to the cat with folded hands, and then said to his attendant: “The Master has kept me in such a state that I see everything as conscious. I see the play of consciousness in the wall, door, bed, and even in this cat.” (Source: God Lived with Them)
If anyone ever asked where he would go after leaving the body, Swami Shivananda replied that his rightful place would be in Ramakrishnaloka (abode of Ramakrishna) with the Master. His life is a glowing example of a person who continuously lived in God-consciousness. One day he humbly said to a monk: “Look, I am my Master’s dog. As a dog protects the precious wealth of its master from robbers, so I am protecting the valuable spiritual treasures [discrimination, renunciation, knowledge, devotion] of the Master in this monastery. He who stays here like a faithful dog will attain the greatest good.” (Source: God Lived with Them)