Cassie

Leaving work, the day is far from over. 

It’s payday, and a detour on the way home finds me at the veterinarian’s office to grab a large bag of prescription dog food.  Cassie, our 5 year old cockapoo, has a history of bladder stones and is on a special diet.  She and Chi Chi, our Pomeranian mix rescue, have been eating dry cat food mixed with their canned food for about two weeks and I’ve been feeling guilty.  

Vets sometimes feed cat food to sick dogs to get them to eat, so it’s probably a treat.  The smell of the dog food as I’m mixing it every morning disgusts me, but when I think about it, they lick their butts and think the poop in the litter box is a delicacy, so it probably hits the spot for them.  The cat food sure smells better, but I know that it’s not the healthiest diet for them.  It will be nice not to have to rationalize or worry tomorrow morning. 

Chi Chi

I often joke that I like my dogs and cats better than my kids.  Sometimes it’s not far from the truth, as anyone who has survived a teenager can attest.  I know that sounds awful but, my furry kids don’t talk back. They don’t say, “You’re ruining my life…I hate you!”  Cassie has never pretended that I’m not with her when we’re out in public.   Chi Chi doesn’t ask for the car keys, or money, or threaten to go live with his father.  I can’t recall a time when our cats, Boo and Sebastianne, lied about spending the night at a friend’s house so that they could sneak off to a party with their boyfriend.  And I know I’ve never received a call from the school involving any of them.

After years of working day in and day out with the great American public, I sometimes think I may like my pets better than most humans.  Most of the people I meet these days, however, are wonderful.  I’ve finally found the perfect job in the pet industry.  I’m really comfortable with pet people.  I know deep in my soul I’m a crazy cat lady.  And hoarding, oh my, I could really get myself in trouble and end up on one of those hoarding shows on TV if I had a bigger place and a fatter wallet.  Class warfare and political adversity cease to exist among people when they’re with their beloved pets.  Those of us that love our pets don’t need to see the loads of research proving the many ways pets keep us well and care for us.  We feel it in our hearts and souls every day.  My cats and dogs have helped me through the darkest days of my life, and they are taking all my secrets with them when they go to their graves. 

Sebastianne and Boo

When I finally reach home, I see them in the windows.  They know the sound of my car.  As I get close to the door, I can hear the mad scramble and when I walk in they’re all waiting for me, tails wagging.  Cassie is so happy to see me she can barely contain herself and does a twisting jump in my honor.  Chi Chi pushes to the front to get to me and both are sporting big goofy grins, my favorite kind.  Boo and Sebastianne pretend they don’t care, but they’re almost always sitting off to the side trying to look nonchalant.  They were sitting in the window when I pulled up, so I know they have come to greet me, just don’t tell anyone!  They make me feel like a rock star every time I come home, even if I’ve only been gone a short while.  No wonder we love our pets so much.  They give us everything they have, unconditionally.  They are family that doesn’t speak, they just love.