As I write this article, I am waiting on my sister to come up from Kennewick, Washington, to bring up a 1-year-old cat named Shiloh. I got 2 kittens from my sister last Labor Day last September when they were 4-months-old. That would be Timid and Tribble. And I love them dearly so I have no doubt that I will feel the same way about Shiloh
I have always pets in my life, from childhood on up to the present. I can’t remember a time when pets weren’t in my home. There has been a large menagerie of animals through the years from parakeets, goldfish, and hamsters to cats and dogs. There was also a crow named Joe, a rat named Bruno, and even a rooster named Charlie Peckers. It was different but never boring.
I have never been sorry for having pets. Each one has been a great experience full of enrichment. It certainly has the promise of being a loving relationship for both the human and the animal, no matter the age of either. It provides companionship and quality of life for both.
For children, it can provide an opportunity to learn about loving, responsibility, caring, compassion and kindness. The child gets to learn what it takes to feed, water, and interact with the pet. It may involve walking the dog, changing a litter box or cage, and how to touch the pet. It might involve putting down a dish of food or water(water bottle for rodents or birds). With this said, it could translate into how this child may interact with people at any point in his or her life.
But not everyone can have pets for various reasons. Not all people want pets. That doesn’t make them horrible people. As long as they aren’t going out to harm an animal in some way, it isn’t a big thing. Some folks have allergies that make it impossible to have pets. Let’s not be hard on those who can’t have pets for legitimate reasons of their own. Of course if they try to make stew out of Fluffy, the calico next door, then we are truly obligated to put someone away in a padded room on some uncharted island in a sea far away.
But I digress. In the time that I have given you my humble opinion, my sister came with Shiloh. She is an adorable black and white tuxedo cat who is very sweet and shy. I love her already.