This week, my mom got a cat from someone who was giving it away. The cat we’d had for twelve years had recently died and my mom was heartbroken, so she decided she must get another. Aside from the cat, we have two small dogs, and my mom loves each of them like her own child, often calling them by my or my brother’s name, or even calling us by their names.
Our pets are a lot of work, though; our oldest dog is twelve with congenital heart failure, bad eyesight and is almost completely deaf. She has several medications to take daily. Our other dog, a nine-year old miniature pinscher, has horrible allergies and must be medicated for that as well. Our cat, the most recent addition to our family, who’s relatively young at two years old, wants constant attention.
My mother is especially stretched for time now, around the holiday season because she not only works full time and makes dinner every night, but does all the shopping for my brother and I, and for many other members of our extended family, makes snacks and food to take to family dinners, wraps gifts, and addresses and sends out all the Christmas cards. At the ends of her busy days, she always finds the time to hold each one of our pets and make them feel loved. She never forgets to give our dogs their medicine or put food out for the cat. She makes time to hold and pet each one to make sure they feel loved.
Our new cat, who my mom named Lydia, has really been a blessing to her. She loves all the members of my family and is so sweet. She entertains my mom and makes her smile. This is why I think it’s important to have pets. Pets aren’t important to everyone, but a lot of the time, they can make you feel better when people can’t. My dog will sit next to you and keep you company when you’re lonely. My cat will make you feel wanted. It really makes a difference to have animals around at our house. They make my mom feel needed and loved and appreciated, when maybe me and my brother and dad don’t do that enough. They fill a special place in her heart, and the rest of my family’s. I really couldn’t imagine growing up without pets and I hope my children will have the same opportunity to do so.
Sugar, our chihuahua
Riley, our min-pin
Lydia, our cat
