What is good about having a pet?

The question immediately takes my thoughts to the outrageous vet bills, the pet insurance that jumped 70% in premium, the dog food that doubled in price during transportation issues caused by covid – but of course never came back down. The dark spots on all my rugs and the places where the wood floor has warped from impatient bladders. The hair! The dust! The smells!!

But I wouldn’t trade my dogs for all the tea in China.  They keep me going – whether I like it or not.  There are days that sleep would really benefit my overall health and functionality – and it should be noted that I truly love sleep – and tea – but have not gotten a good, solid 8 hours in three thousand six hundred and ninety-nine days or in lay terms; since the day I brought Maybe home.

I’ve had everything from hamsters to horses, a brief stint with a tarantula and the best summer of my life, first grade, when the teacher made me the patron saint of the classroom lizards.  They bit my older sister, that was awesome!

It’s easy to forget that animals are sentient beings, probably because they don’t talk. Or more likely, because they don’t complain.  But when you dial in, you know they have thoughts and feelings, sometimes they’re sad or hurt, they enjoy games and jokes.  I know when Maybe is happy and having fun, but when Brick gets going….  He’s the more vocal of the two, he chuffs me when he thinks I’m a jerk, he whines when I accidentally lock Maybe in the garage but his laugh..  when Brick gets laughing I can’t help but stop the world to laugh with him.

Is that good?  Eh, I don’t know.  But I know they make me be good.  I never stay out late; I won’t drink because it’s imperative that I make it home. If I’m home I don’t drink because my floors need me to get up to let the dogs out in the middle of the night. I don’t have human kids, but I expect the burden of responsibility must be similar. You have to eat right, pay your bills and make it home every day – because they need you.  Yea, that’s definitely good.