Some things seem to be universal truths. One of them is, unless you have a pet, you probably do get why people who do have pets get so attached to them.
I never had a pet growing up, so I to a certain extent know both sides of the spectrum. I have heard many people (including my mother, who is not a pet person) say things like, “I don’t understand why people will spend so much money on their pets” or “They treat their pets like members of the family.” (And I must admit that when I was younger, and before I had a pet, I did not “get it”)
And you know what. It is true. A great many of us, we do treat our pets as part of the family, we do treat them very similar to how we treat our children. And when they get sick or injured we do worry about them, and take care of them like a member of the family. Because they are.
Our dog Sweetie is 9 years old, and has been with us 7 years. She has been around my daughter’s entire life. Sweetie is like a friend to her, that doesn’t disagree with her, fight with her, or get jealous of her new toys.
And not only to LatteGirl, I have come to look forward to her warm greeting when I get home at the end of the day. I sit on the floor with her and LatteGirl when we are watching Disney Channel at the end of the day. She helps get my butt in gear (at times) to get out and be a great companion when I get on what my wife calls my “walking kicks.”
I love her like a second child, as does my wife. LatteGirl loves her. She is a member of our family. And there is nothing we wouldn’t do for her.
Thank you for sharing about Sweetie. I have had and now, I have not. When people ask me if I have pets, I normally ask them, “Do kids count?”
Right before I read this, I was just watching our oldest dog outside. She’s 17, if you can believe it, and, she was my first baby.
I’m in between. I’ve always had pets, but low maintenance pets like cats and fish are about all I’m cut out for. I have sugar gliders, the poor babies doen’t get any attention now that
I work full time. I’ve had dogs, and don’t have the patience for them.
we had a beagle for 11 years that I still think about every single day. I grew up with pets, mostly dogs. Now, my son is the really sentimental one— we had a fish (lightbulb) die yesterday, and he was really upset about it. I hated to tell him that his betta– blue racer– isn’t looking too hot either. sigh.