Have you ever agreed to take in a feathered or furred critter, especially one who screeches, mooches, tracks in mud, and leaves tripping hazards (dead mice, seeds, sticks, pinecones, deer bones) all over the floor? If so, you understand how much time, patience, and tolerance it takes to reap the benefits of animal companionship. Put people and pets in the same living quarters, it's also helpful to muster acceptance of each other's idiosyncrasies – people bathe, dogs and cats lick themselves – get over it.
If you're thinking of adding an animal to your family, I recommend you become a regular reader of the Slo Coast Journal's very own Best Friends column by Malcolm Riordan, D.V.M. There is much to learn and Dr. Riordan's page is a great place to start.
If you already have pets in the home, or know someone who does, then you already know there must be at least one accountable human resident who is either willing to mop up bodily fluids (from drool to diarrhea), or is influential enough to call for a clean-up crew. As any animal person knows, pet stewardship is not free from accidental indoor piddles or puke. Nor is it free from frisky dust bunnies that scurry under furniture every time a breeze blows through the house. Even more than that, animal ownership means you willingly agree to support a dependant – a charge who not only needs fresh water, quality food, and shelter – but leadership and companionship.
While I applaud well-intended people who bring home strays and shelter animals, I give a standing ovation in praise of those who treat their four-legged and two-winged pets like family members. These folks understand their animals have feelings. They recognize happy and depressed facial expressions, as well as telling postures on their pets. These animal lovers are sensitive and accommodating to their fur shedders and feather molters needs and preferences, giving them as much consideration, if not more, than other household residents.
To have a pet should mean togetherness, not isolation. Anyone can fill an old bucket full of water and throw some kibble out the door, but happy pets aren't banned to their room, yard, or behind bars or boards with nothing to do but dig up flowers or chew on an old bone. Joyful animals are those with a life. They get to take daily trips to the dog park or beach for social hour, spend a lazy afternoon curled up on your lap while you read, or take a walk with you around the block. To create a healthy environment, one that supports an attitude and atmosphere of well-being, this goes far beyond the basics. Animals need exercise and affection. They need humans who are committed to care for them for life, not just until they aren't cute anymore.
So, hang out with and hug your animals today and every day. It's good for them. Pets thrive when they feel a safe and secure sense of belonging.
Dog Beach - Image by Kathy J. Hambey
