Hurray for Pets!

By Carol Britton Meyer

My family always had pets growing up, but as much as I loved them, I didn't consider myself a "dog/cat person" until several years ago.

My sister's love for and understanding of animals of all kinds, especially dogs, inspired me as time went on, and we "adopted" our first dog -- a rescue pup -- several years ago from my son, Chris, because of his long workdays.  Thanks, Chris, for sharing Cody with us!

When Cody passed on in 2017, I was inconsolable.  He was like a best friend -- so loving and loyal. We still miss him and always will.

Since then, we have welcomed two other rescue dogs -- Chihuahua Benji and Shih Tzu Quinn -- into our home -- both thanks to my sister, who really owns Ben but has other dogs, so we share! 

They don't shed much, provide great companionship to our entire family and to each other, and get along well -- most of the time!!
There are the usual competitions over who should have the blue velour bone -- even when we give them each one! -- and there are numerous pup beds, blankets, and throws in the living room to make them comfortable -- not exactly the designer look!

Earlier,  my son, Marc, adopted two Maine Coon kittens -- now fully-grown Miso and Osupa -- and what a crazy but totally lovable mix the two cats and the two dogs make!

There are those days when it's cold and Quinn wants to go way up the road to a certain spot, and I pull the thin jacket that I grabbed as I left the house around me, wishing I had bundled up. But my bad for not planning ahead!

In my opinion, the challenges of pet ownership are minimal and the benefits hard to count.   Especially during these very different times, it's nice to know you have a pup and kitty or two -- or four -- on your side!