PETS AND THE JOY THEY GIVE US
Many years ago when I first lived in Athens, we occupied a small hundred year old cottage on a hilltop with a view of the Acropolis in the distance. Behind the cottage was a lean-to where we kept firewood etc. A female dog, heavily pregnant with her soon to be puppies, had crept in there. We couldn't keep them. Once they were born and their eyes just opening, a dear friend drove me and the dog with puppies in a box with a blanket ,to the local Animal Welfare near the centre of Athens.
At this time, Greece wasn't well know among foreigners like us as being very fond of animals, or it appeared that way, and we knew that it was unlikely we'd find homes for the four puppies (we'd tried among family and friends) . At this point I must describe the dog, whom I called Josephine, as she resembled the main character in a wonderful book called "Beautiful Joe" by Marshall Saunders. This character had no ears or tail and was a real animal, Josephine had no ears or tail, but to me she was beautiful. The look in her eyes, so wise and peaceful.
Anyway w had to leave the dog in an empty horses stable with a half door. We carefully placed the bxo with the gorgeous puppies (they looked like small Labradors) inside with the mother. The man in charge closed the bottom half of the door on them. The minute Josephine realised what was happening, she tried desperately to follow us, ignoring the puppies she'd leave behind. This was a heartbreaking moment and I never forgot it, neither did my friend. It took me ages to get over it. The man in charge promised he'd try to find homes for them.
Later we owned a lovely dog we called Lady, brought to us thin and almost wasted and very scared indeed. With a lot of patience I never knew I had, I gradually managed to feed her, then got to stroke and pet her, but it took two weeks. I then managed to take her for a walk in the surrounding wood, with her wearing a leash that she patiently allowed me to place round her neck, However, each time a human being came into view she would go completely mad, tugging at the leash and barking, choking, and obviously scared again.
It took me two months to slowly introduce her to people again, Children are a good foil for fear in animals if they realise there is no need for it. Then friends took her out and she was loved by all. This little story (a true one) is to illustrate what pets mean to us. We can also experience heartbreak and the mourning of a lost pet is hard to bear and has to be lived through just as it is with close members of one's own family.
We have a dog in the family again, this time my grandaughter owns him and he's magnificent. She named him Neo and he's not only beautiful, but amiable too. My daughter often dog sits while their owners, her friends, go on holiday, sometimes for up to three weeks, but Neo is cool with it all.Sometimes I have him for the day. Lovely.
The strange thing about this little tale is that I looked up the book I had called "Beautiful Joe" as it was a family favourite and I even took it with me when I settled in Greece. Unfortunately I learnt a lesson as I loaned the book to someone I met and they never returned it. Years later with a best buddy I had, I was visiting a local market in the UK and found Beautiful Joe again. Not the same publisher as there was no photograph of the real Beautiful Joe, but my buddy Mike bought me the book and I still treasure it. There is a whole town in America that celebrates this book! I've never been to that town, although I have been to the United States. Don't be lazy, look up the book and see where it takes you!
Love your pet.
Pets are a necessity
Some people may disagree with this but to have a pet makes your life more enjoyable when they are around. We had pets as children and my sisters and I had fun with them, a cat and budgerigars, canaries, and a dog. They were all well loved and mourned when they died. as an adult I had no pets of my own as I seemed to be constantly in one place or another, but the family pet always there to go home to.
So you may have a dog (we have one in our family but it doesn't live with us) or a cat or a rabbit or a bird, or whatever, but to be sure you will love their antics and benefit from their affection. May you always find time for a pet. Some people even have the sort of pet that is unusual even though beautiful. Hopefully
you will have the space and means to keep it. More of this in our next. Love your pet.
