Pets

When one says a pet, most people think of either a cat or a dog.  But they aren’t the only pets.  I had a cleaner who had a rabbit as a pet.  That rabbit lived in the house and sat on her lap each night.  I think she was allergic to cat fur so the rabbit was a replacement.

Every person at one time in their lives should have a pet.  But why?  Because it is a companion for one, but also it is another being that lives with you and shares your life.  It is there to meet you when you get home.  It gives you something to talk to. Some people have snakes as pets, or birds, and like with a dog or a cat, they talk to that pet.  It is their family.

You might not be aware of this, but having a pet is good for you.  Most retirement villages for older people allow them to bring their pets with them when they move in. Several years ago, this was not the case.  The people who had to pass their pet on to someone else used to grieve for the animal, and in some cases became ill.  Thankfully, now, you move into a retirement resort, and the animal comes with you.  Both the animal and the owner are happy.

There is of course another side to having a pet, especially when it is a dog.  Dogs need to be taken for walks.  Great way to get you outside and walking.  During COVID when people were virtually locked inside, if they had a dog, they had an excuse to go outside the building, at least twice a day.  It didn’t take long for those people without a dog to realise the benefit of taking a dog for a walk. Lots of rescued dogs found a good home, and found themselves regularly taken each day for a walk.  The rescued dog was happy to find a new owner and the owner grew healthy because of the regular walks.

Is there another side to having pets?  Of course.  Have you seen how dog owners talk to other dog owners when they are out walking?  Having a dog is a great way to make new friends.  Well, they are probably more an acquaintance, but everybody gets to chat to each other and meet new people.  Something one doesn’t do when you just go for a walk.  You might meet the same people every day, but you don’t stop and talk for several minutes, it is just a remark about the weather as you pass by.

You can’t take a bird, fish or snake for a walk, yet many people have such pets.  You might be wondering how they could be classified as a pet.  There is nothing tactile to the relationship.  All you can do is feed the creatures.  Ah, but there you would be wrong. 

Birds have been known to learn to talk.  Some birds whistle.  Living in the same vicinity with their owner, they know them and can relate to them.  The kettle goes on at the same time every morning, and if the owner doesn’t get up at the usual time, the bird knows.  They make a noise until the owner comes out to see them.  Might be a bird, but it is still a companion and both are dependent on the other.

With fish.  Keeping a tank clean is a job and a half, but there is nothing more relaxing than watching fish swim around a tank.  In and out of rocks and plants, coming to the edge of the tank to look out through the glass and turning and swimming towards you when you come into the room.  I have often wondered whether what they can see from the inside, is it the same as us looking in on them.  Whenever I visit friends who have fish tanks, I always hold a conversation with the fish, and they seem to know I am spending time with them.

When I first held a snake, I expected it to be wet.  But its skin was quite dry.  It was also contented to make physical contact with me.  Now of course it wasn’t a dangerous snake, so it was safe to pick up.  Most people I have met who have snakes as pets, say they wind themselves around their owner’s arms.  The warmth generated from a human’s body must have an impact on them.  I can’t think of anything nicer than a snake enjoying cuddling up with a human that way.  People who are frightened of snakes, I believe have been told frightening stories about snakes when they were young, and this has given them that fear. 

It is the closeness one becomes with one’s pets that creates a warmth between an owner and its pet.  They both enjoy each other’s company and that companionship keeps them healthy. 

Some people are allergic to certain animal fur, so they can’t have a cat or a dog.  For those people I do say there are other pets.  Not all of them have fur.  If the house feels empty and you would like to have someone to come home to, why not look for a creature which can still provide you with companionship but not affect your allergy.

Pets can be not only a part of our lives, but one of the reasons for living. 

Julie Finch-Scally ©