Pets

Mushies, tushies, bubbelehs

I went on substack and asked the algorithm to send me pictures of dogs, cats, happy babies and seasonal changes. I decided I needed a virtual hug from the internet. And guess what, I suddenly have these pictures. I am not sure if that was because of my request or its just who I follow at times. But the pictures did give me joy!

Babies, of all kinds, well mammalian babies (and yes you might think this is prejudicial but I admit it, I can’t find scally things huggable) of course give me joy. Well, I love my own babies, and love looking at pictures of babies, but do not have a desire or want for anymore babies of my own. Except maybe a puppy or kitten at sometime in the future. (Grandparenting is a different issue.)

We have had 9 dogs during the 42 years of our marriage. We also had had cats for years before I became pregnant with my sons. And yes, my sister took in the cats. Having had 2 miscarriages, the obstetrician wanted no issues and told me to get rid of the cats since I was considered high risk. (There is the virus you can get which can cause issues for the unborn babies.)

I loved my doggos. Every last one of them. From the wheaten terrier, to the bichon, to the mischievous labradoodle, to my mom’s maltese, to the greyhounds we rescued. Whenever any of them crossed that rainbow bridge I was heartbroken and to this day I miss every last one of them.

They say that people live longer when they have pets. That you get an endorphin rush from your pets and they get one from you too. There is something special about pets. Or maybe it’s an American thing. Americans generally dote on their pets.

They actually say Americans spend more on their pets then they do their children. Of course, being that Americans aren’t having as many children as in previous generations might be the reason for the financial discrepancy, but I haven’t really delved into the numbers fully myself. But if you were to judge by the number of pet ads on TV (or streaming) we are more interested in buying things for our animals than for people.

I have always been of the mind that you get a pet to spoil them or there is no reason to have one. Ok, there are working dogs on farms of course, and they are loved and taken very good care of a well, but I'm talking about the spoiled wolf descended 4 legged creature that needs to sleep on a comfort foam mattresses and have satin pillowcases at night. No, mine doesn’t have satin pillow cases, but that is only because she scootches up between me and the husband and burrows her way under our covers and pushes me off my pillow at night. I only have the basic cotton pillow case.

Oh yeah she is one spoiled hound.

I never will understand societies where animals are not treated well. It is a sad thing when cultures do not treat their most vulnerable well. Domestic animals and babies are as vulnerable as they get. It hurts my heart when I see pictures of strays and of the animals in shelters. I want them all to be loved and taken care of (just like I wish all the babies/children in foster care had a loving home, too. Or at least a good path towards independence once they age out. Talk about the inadequacy of society.)

And yes, I have plans if I ever win a billion dollar lottery. Ok it doesn’t quite have to be a billion dollars. (Instead of like that billion dollar lottery winning jerk who just keeps buying houses in California. Sometimes good luck is simply wasted on the wrong people.) It’s all worked out in my head actually. I lay awake at night when there is a big lottery drawing coming up with different foundations to create.

Meanwhile, right now we have only 1 pup in the house. We usually have 3 dogs at one time, and the boys are annoyed because our pack is the wrong size. And we can tell that our greyhound misses having other dogs around her. But we do need a break after decades of having so many pets in the house.

They say there are several stages you go through in life when it comes to pets.

The pet you get when your children are young.

The time you need without the pet, once you are an empty nester. So you can go galavanting around the world without worrying about an animal. (We haven’t reached that stage yet, and I’m not sure we ever will.)

Then the pet you get to keep you company in your golden years.

Of course, this doesn’t hold true for everyone. It certainly didn’t for my parents.

I remember my parents actually had 7 animals in their house at one time when I was an adult. (Notwithstanding the times we had dogs throughout my childhood)- 4 dogs and 3 cats. Each from their children. My husband (when he was just my boyfriend) had bought a cocker spaniel and bred her. She had 7 puppies and my parents kept 2. My sister went away to school and got a cat, which she could not keep in the dorm so that kitten came to my parents. The same sister then got a dog when she lived in an apartment, but worked too much so my parents took that dog in, and then there was the little obviously abandoned bichon mix who followed those 3 dogs home from a walk one day. The sister who took my cats when I was pregnant was living at home at the time so my folks ended up with their own animal farm.

We have a powerful need for pets in my family. The love and warmth and sheer joy that they bring makes a house a home.

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Note: I have not activated paid subscriptions. I do see other authors use a tip jar or ask to buy them a coffee. I am not going to do that. If you feel that I have reached you in some way, please give to your local food bank, or considering this post, give to your local animal shelter.