UPDATED 03/09/2025
I truly believe we don’t deserve pets. I didn’t have any growing up because I was allergic to cats, dogs, birds, and pretty much everything under the sun. The only pet I could have was fish and my parents never let my sister and I get one. They said it was “too much work”. When I became an adult and got a pet, I realized how important it was to actually have one.
My first pet was a cat named was Bender. He was a Maine Coon Cat and was gorgeous! He was big and fluffy and had brown fur with white paws. Bender was a sweetheart, was always right by our sides, and was incredibly friendly. Bender cuddled with me when I was sick and slept under the covers in our bed during the winter. He basically wanted to be close to us 24/7. When he got sick, we took care of him like he was a member of our family. Soon after Bender arrived, we had a friend with stray kittens in her backyard. We decided to bring Poe into our family. Poe had a dirty face, was bright orange, and was feisty AF. When we brought him home, we weren’t sure how Bender would take to him, but after a few weeks, they were inseparable.
Having these two cats in our lives brought us so much joy. I realized after having them, pets bring us a sense of comfort that no other human can do for us. They are loving to the point of being clingy and are truly a part of our families. But one thing I didn’t expect was the mental health relief I got from having them. When I would come home from a chaotic day of work, Bender and Poe would be there to great me at the door with light in their eyes. As soon as I saw them, I would feel instantly calm. My blood pressure would drop, and I would feel the worries of the day completely melt away. This proved to me how much we don’t deserve pets.
After Bender and Poe passed on, I was in a dark place for a very long period of time. I would come home and their faces wouldn’t be there to greet me. Watching TV on the couch would make me depressed because I would miss their cuddles. And when my husband was away on a business trip, I was lonely. Very lonely. It was hard not having them be there. I felt anxious more often, felt depressed and would cry for no reason sometimes. Heck, I still do that but we missed them terribly! My husband and I lost family members that were a huge part of our home.
Months went by and when we were ready to bring another family member into our lives, we wanted something bigger. We chose to adopt a dog from Rhode Home Rescue. A black Labrador/Hound mix named Aries who was full of energy, silliness, and gave us the same unconditional love we had with the cats. Aries brought lower stress levels, anxiety relief, and unconditional love to our home. But we noticed there were times when we’d lose our patience and get frustrated. Getting a dog is like upgrading to Pet Parent Level 2 and training a puppy is hard. At the same time, it is so rewarding when they learn. Aries learned fast and filled that whole in our hearts. He brought back the joy to our home. He’s been worth the headaches and again proved that we don’t deserve pets.
When it comes to choosing a pet, you have to choose the right one for you. Whether it’s a cat or a dog, a lizard or a bird, you should consider your lifestyle choices and whether it will fit in with how you already live your life. Whichever pet you choose, you will be rewarded with endless amounts of love and happiness. I’d love to hear your pet stories and what they’d do for you.
