Pet lovers see the world through different eyes

Pet people are special people. They give love unconditionally to dogs who give that kind of love right back. They give love to cats even though some won’t even acknowledge their existence. They give love to fish who are probably amused at the faces that get made at them all day.

I had a dog when I was growing up — though I probably didn’t realize my brother and sister each claimed her as their dog until long after she passed and we shared stories about our beloved pet. Hearing their memories made me think: “When did they have so much time to spend with my dog?!” I always knew I shared the dog with Mom, as she was the one who always fed and cared for her, the same as she did for the rest of us. I finally figured out she was the family’s dog when I found her collar in the basement where Dad had lovingly stored it all these years.

My parents never had another pet until my brother and sister-in-law moved overseas and their cat became Mom and Dad’s cat. When I moved home, their cat became my cat.

My brother and sister have had their fair share of pets. My brother even had a ferret, though I’m not sure why. Other than the cat I inherited, I’ve never had another pet and have never had a desire to have one.

I love dogs, but they seem like a lot of work and keep regular hours, which is hard for me to commit to. I’m not fond of cats and although I’ve seen ads about training cats to use and flush a toilet, I’m very skeptical of the reality of that process. I do know I do not like to empty or clean the kitty litter box. I’m also reasonably sure they mock me when I’m not looking and ignore me when I am. A fish would seem an easy choice for me — self-contained, low maintenance and no heavy bags of food to toss around. Unfortunately, the thing I like best about fish is the selection of toys you can put in the aquarium. Treasure chests that open and close, mermaids sitting on some rocks, broken remains of a palace, these are the things that tickle my imagination, but I have to believe that society looks down upon a fish-less tank of water.

Although every pet owner will attest to the benefits of owning a pet, I was reminded of the downside of owning a pet last week when my sister’s dog passed away. I felt my heart break the moment I heard the news. That lovable lug — 100 pounds of pure puppy-like energy — never ceased to amaze me, and I will miss him.

Miriam Nelson is the news editor of the Wittenberg Enterprise & Birnamwood News. Readers can contact her at mnelson@newmedia-wi.com