When going to college, the one thing I was most sad about leaving was my dog. If you say you aren't sad about leaving your dog, you're lying. If you talk to a homesick college kid and ask them what they miss, they'll probably list three things: their family, home cooked food, and their dog. For me, I don't just miss my dog.
I went from living in the country surrounded by pastures and fields with neighbors that bawl when I shake a bucket to living in a town surrounded by houses and neighbors. It is a completely different environment and a completely different routine that I have in college.
I realized that my schedule at home revolved around my animals. Every evening was the same: check and feed the cows in the pasture, feed the horses, feed the dogs, feed the cats and finally go eat dinner. My free time was spent working or playing with my animals. Working with my horses became a stress relief and created a lot of memories that I cherish deeply.
Some people say a horse is just a horse and a cow is just a cow. But at my house, all of our animals have their own distinct personalities that make them just as unique as humans. People laugh when I tell them crazy stories about my furry family members and the things they have done.
I've probably spent more time with my animals than I have most people, but I've gotten to know them like people. I can tell you about my horse and you would probably think I was talking about a person with how well I know him. His name is Reno, I call him Baby Cakes, he like to eat stale cookies and drink Gatorade whenever I have it. If he thinks you have food, his lips jiggle with excitement like a little kid.
My phone has tons of pictures of fur covered friends and I find that is what keeps me going when I'm away from them. From pictures I have taken including adorable selfies, to the ones my mom sends me when she knows I really miss them. Pictures help me get through the long separation time between us when I'm at college, but I am always so excited to see them again.
When I go home I don't just pet my dogs, I go out and hug my horses. Seriously, I hug them. I think they miss me just as much as I miss them, and I think they know that I have been gone a while. I hope that me being there is just as relaxing and healing for them as it is for me.
So I don't just miss my dog, I miss my horses that think they are big dogs and should eat what I eat, my cows that bawl every time you start the tractor, the four-wheeler, or the ranger, and the fat barn cats that think they deserve treats every time you feed them. Life is different without them, but it makes me cherish the moments I had with them and when I will see them again.
