What is good about having a pet?
I’ve had some pets as a young child – a dog and a parrot at some point – and though I remember them fondly, I was too little to help care for them. They were more like my parents’ pets than mine, really. But there was one dog that I actually grew up with, and he taught me a lot about animals and how much like us they can be.
Lucky was the name of my dear furry friend. We’ve had him since he was three months old and it was love at first sight at the pound. He was a quiet and timid white puppy with black spots and sweet brown eyes. As a lonely kid, he was my prime source of comfort growing up. He was so cuddly and loved the attention, which was perfect for me because I loved to snuggle with this dog. I also loved to teach him tricks (mostly sit and stay, but I was only an amateur trainer!) and pretend to have conversations with him (his expressive eyes totally sold the illusion for kid me).
We had him in our lives for 14 years until his passing. His health had deteriorated suddenly. The time leading up to his passing was agony; I was not ready to let him go, but it was clear it was his time to go. Despite knowing it would be the hardest thing to do, I decided I needed to be there for my dear friend’s final moments.
It was the first time I’ve witnessed the death of a loved one, and it was painful and horrifying. It just felt so wrong. From this experience, I learned about grief and the pain it brings – the kind that just won’t go away. It was something that stayed with me for a long time, though it’s been getting better as the good memories would more often overcome those rough ones.
Many years later, I reflect back to the times I had with my beloved pet. He’s still remembered in our family today because he meant so much to us. Pets like Lucky are beautiful and have so much unconditional love to give. He’s taught me to care for something else other than myself. I’ve fed him, washed him, trained him, and he’s been nothing but a sweet companion. Even though the end and the grief that followed were difficult to get through, the valuable lessons of life and memories he gave me will always prove worthwhile.
bluebeary 