Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Why Pets

I recently started a subscription to a national magazine that I hadn’t read for a while. The first issue I received contained letters to the editor referring to the issue published two months before. The first four letters told me that the issue I’d missed featured an article about pets, and that the cover must have had a pet or two on it as well.

I suppose that, in the interest of fairness, the four letters had been chosen to exemplify the kinds of letters the magazine had received. Two letters lauded the pet article. The other two letters slammed not only the article, but also the whole idea of people loving pets.

I immediately wanted to rebut the last two.

Not everyone is a pet lover. I recognize that. If they were, shelters wouldn’t be so populated with poor, lonely creatures looking for love. But to slam the idea of others loving pets shows how short-sighted some folks really are.

What’s wrong with loving an animal because it loves you? How fun is it that auditions were held earlier this week for talented, beloved and well-trained pets to skateboard and dive on an upcoming Rose Parade float? Why is it that there were about 50 pet adoption organizations represented at a huge event held by Best Friends at the La Brea Tar Pits last weekend, each staffed by a lot of caring people who’d brought along some of their group’s adoptable dogs and cats --and that I had to choose to go to that event instead of a least three or four others in my area that same day?

Does caring like that make all of us animal lovers besotted, obsessed or addicted? Well, maybe so. But I don’t see that as a bad thing. Not when I’m showered with unrestrained love by my two adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. I’m a member of a huge and growing group of animal lovers, and I readily admit it. That’s also a reason I write stories--both mysteries and paranormal romances--in which animals are major characters.

Okay, now’s the time. Tell me how weird I am... or tell me that you’re on the same side. Do you love animals? If so, why? If not... I promise I won’t tell you off, but please tell me your reasoning, too.

17 comments:

Terri said...

I have 2 dogs, a mini American Eskimo and a toy American Eskimo. I have loved and had pets all my life! Cats, dogs, fish, reptile, hampsters, birds. Pets add so much to my life! The dogs I have now give me unconditional love! I get a laugh (or 5!) daily from my 2 characters (you can see a little of them on my blog - www.tprosesblog.blogspot.com) I can't imagine a life without pets!
I'd like to meet a man some day who is as excited to see me at the end of the day as my dogs are! LOL!

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

Linda, I am always amazed by how animals humanize people. I used Gracie, the rescue dog, in my books to illustrate what a loving man Detective Detweiler is, but beyond fiction, I've read stories of autistic children who have had breakthroughs after interacting with animals, tales of seniors whose quality of life has been enhanced by cats, and anecdotes about hardened prisoners who put aside their anger caring for horses.

Why? They offer unconditional love. And we can all use a heaping helping of that.

Jen Katzenberger said...

Let me first say, I love my cat. However, my cat does not run my household. I feed him, love him, play with him, take him to the doctor when he is sick, and cuddle with him. I don't dress him up in clothes, nor does he have the entire run of my house (I keep a cat free bedroom/sewing room). We are hoping to add a bulldog sometime in the future. We will have the same restrictions for a dog as well. I think that people that humanize animals, take them everywhere, dress them up....I guess that's fine for them, but it won't happen in my house.

Monica Ferris said...

To be the center of another creature's life, a creature who thinks you are the neatest person in the whole world, is tremendously boosting to the ego. It can soothe the raw edges of the rest of life. Notice how even the most impoverished of homeless people, living wretched lives on the street, will somehow acquire a dog who loves and trusts them. And how the people living at the top of our economic ladder will have a dog, too -- and for the same reasons.

signlady217 said...

I'm more of a cat person, but my husband's allergic to them. :(

Growing up we had dogs and cats, mostly at the same time. Even now my mom has a "spoiled-rotten" Chihuahua. One annoying thing she does is that every time mom and I are on the phone she finds a zillion things to bark about, like she knows it's me and just wants to get more attention! Goofy!

They do become part of the family, though.

Linda O. Johnston said...

I've had Cavaliers longer than I've had my husband, Terri. He claims he had to adapt, but he clearly loves them as much as I do!

Linda O. Johnston said...

I absolutely agree, Joanna. Isn't it great to be adored no matter what we do? I love those stories of how animals have helped people in need when other people weren't as successful.

Linda O. Johnston said...

I admire your sensible attitude, Jen, and I also appreciate your acceptance of those of us who let our pets rule our lives!

Linda O. Johnston said...

Isn't it great, Monica, how our pets don't care about our finances or standing in the community or anything else but us--and the fact that we feed them. Of course that's harder for some people than others.

Linda O. Johnston said...

Sorry about the allergy, signlady. Is there such a thing as a hypoallergenic cat? My older son is allergic to dogs, so he and his wife have a Puli, which is one of the dog breeds that don't usually trigger allergies.

My pups are more vocal than I like, but we're working on that. Probably will never succeed, but we're trying to reach a compromise.

And yes, as I've said probably too frequently here, pets are family!

Kate said...

I have a lovely, somewhat annoying (just like my 2 legged kids) Aussie, who wakes me up every morning with a big silly grin on her face. I also have been "foster mom" to 76 cats and kittens from our local shelter. I have enough love for my own kids, my friends' kids and as many four legged friends that come through my life. Why shouldn't i share it out?

Linda O. Johnston said...

I love your attitude, Kate. I'll bet your Aussie, foster kitties, 2-legged kids and friends' kids do, too!

Janie Emaus said...

I love pets, although I don't have one at the moment. But I take care of my daugther's pets when she goes out of town. There's nothing like a good lick on the nose to make me feel loved.

Linda O. Johnston said...

At least you have access to loving pets, Janie!

Betty Hechtman said...

I love animals and always have. They don't have to be my animals, either.

Linda O. Johnston said...

I'm with you, Betty!

dust said...

My dog Beardog and I
just want to thank everybody for
their hospitality.

Like me, however, Beardog is a
little jumpy because of the NFL
lockout.... we always watch the
games together... Yes, he likes
the Bears... and despises Michael
Vick...

Winn and beardog
http://ff-winners.com