Last week, for Thanksgiving Day, we shared the thoughts of pet owners and pet professionals on the simple topic of the gratitude they’ve felt during this last difficult year for their own much-loved pets.
Here are more answers to the question, “Why are you thankful for your pets?”
Kat Camplin (California) When it’s so easy to be overwhelmed by the virus and the election and the “new normal,” having a dog who gets in your face and barks at you to get up and do things—it’s incredibly special.
Photo by Kat Camplin
Darcey Byrnes (Washington) I am thankful for my five chickens because they are my pets with benefits! Eggs, fresh eggs. (This time of year, not any, as I do not light-supplement to keep their hormones at laying levels.) They are entertaining, each a distinct personality and voice quality. Some are more loving than others and really seek out cuddle time.
Teri Stripes (Washington) My dogs love me unconditionally.
Lori Leah Monet DVM (Colorado) My cats fill out my life. I spent most of my life pretending to be something I wasn’t. I never had to pretend with my pets.
My dog was my best buddy his whole life. He was abandoned at about six months. The original “owner” dumped him because he didn’t know a setter was a large dog. Sam also was a cryptorchid. For the next 12 years, we were never far apart. He went everywhere with me . . . even when I did things that were not the smartest. I picked up a hitchhiker one night and, for the next 300 miles, Sam had his chin on the guy’s shoulder. When the man would move, a slow deep rumble came from Sam’s throat.
Sam was also a good babysitter with my ferrets. When they would make an escape attempt to the chain-link fence, Sam would gently grab them and carry them back.
We went on many adventures together. He was my surrogate child (I never had the desire for children). He passed in 1987. I have never had another dog.
Now my cats are the center of my world. Truthfully, they keep me alive. I need to keep going for the rest of their lives.
Timothy Page (Oregon) The fish in the pond don’t complain. Coco makes sure I take him to the park every day to get my exercise. Chiquis reminds me you can still play and have fun when getting old.
Lorna Walsh (Washington) Mocha is a tail-wagging ray of sunshine. Always playful, cuddly, and full of curiosity. Just seeing her never fails to make me smile, and cuddling her relaxes me no matter how stressed I am. Thank God for dogs.
Vanessa Gaglione George (California) Unconditional love 24/7.
Hollie Burke (Washington) In these sad days of the COVID quarantine, they give me warmth and happiness! I believe that if I didn’t have them now, 2020 would be even more devastating than it already is. I am so thankful for my four pets—every day, it’s something new!
Sherry Al-Mufti (California) I am thankful for each of my three dogs for similar and different reasons.
Jacques, a Papillon, has been my constant companion for more than ten years. Before I opened my training business, he commuted to work with me every day, and he has traveled whenever I have traveled, including overseas. I am thankful for the fact that, as the dog with whom I completed my evolution to a new way of training, he has taught me so much about training and about relationships with dogs. I am thankful for his ability to adapt instantly to any and every new set of places and conditions, wherever we go. I am thankful for his passion for the sport of Barnhunt and for his continued activeness, strength, and interest in life as he approaches 12 years old—and I’m hoping for many more active, fun years together.
Janey, my “mystery mutt,” started her life with me as a foster from a local SPCA. She was so fearful and anxious that she was not adoptable, and the people at the SPCA asked me to evaluate her and to see if I could help her. I could not touch her for several days after bringing her here. I am thankful for the resilience she displayed in her ability and willingness to work with me in overcoming her fear and anxiety. I am thankful for her amazing sports talent that made it almost imperative that she join my household as an up-and-coming sport dog. She now has two Trick Dog titles, and is working on her Open title in Barnhunt, is nearly ready to join a team in the sport of flyball, and will start agility classes with the New Year.
Zinger, the newest and youngest member of the family, is a 9-month-old Papillon who’s a real live wire. I am thankful for his extraordinary self-confidence (although it is a bit unrealistic at times and could put him at risk if I am not careful). I am thankful to his breeder for offering him to me, and for rearing him so well for the first four months of his life. I am thankful that he shows great interest in and natural aptitude for sports, including water sports—swimming and diving are not passions you expect from a papillon.
I am thankful to have each of these extraordinary and very special creatures to enrich my life, and to help keep it lively and interesting.
Heidi Ritz (California) I live alone and am always thankful for their enthusiasm and interest in me. Looking into their eyes when I talk to them, I see their love. And when they are silly, it always makes me laugh and makes my day. They have no motives—well, other than getting as much food as possible—and they are always down to chill!
Gail S. Green (Oregon) Frolic has made me laugh today at the same things that I thought were tragic in my life before her.
Photo by Gail S. Green
Sandie Hanlon (Massachusetts) I’m thankful for my dogs all the time, as they bring me so much joy. I haven’t had one day where we have been locked up during COVID that we sat around. They get me out, going for hikes, sniffy walks, and agility training. This summer, we painted the house and they were happy to play in my yard and watch. They have been funny, watching my husband rake and leaf-blow this fall. Every time he makes progress with a pile, one of them will run up with a toy and drop it in the pile: “Play with me!” They are willing to go anywhere and do anything with us. Since the COVID shutdown, we have driven quite a bit to find remote state parks and places to hike with the dogs. It’s been a great adventure and we have found some new places that we probably wouldn’t have found without the need to give the dogs enrichment.
Bonnie Norris (Texas) They remind me that I’m an animal, too.
Donna Lange (Washington) Unconditional love, and they make me laugh. Sometimes I’m not happy with them (cats) but, overall, I don’t know what I’d do without them.
Mary Tichenor (Wisconsin) They make getting out of bed each day a joy.
Linda C. Wood (Washington) [Our puppy] has brought such love into our lives and is excellent company for me.
Clair Eccles (England) Because they have taught me so much. They have forced me to learn more about their individual needs and how to get knowledgeable about their issues. They also fill my heart with joy, laughter, and love.
Gin Hughes (Oregon) One would think I am most thankful for Bailey because she is my service dog and she has allowed me a life of freedom to do things again. The truth is, I am most thankful for her love and friendship, her happy boxer wigglebutt, and big kisses every single day.
Lorna Doone Brewer (Washington) This might be a weird one, but here goes: Our home has three children and lots and lots of pets. We’ve had fish, frogs, sugar gliders, cats, a dog, a bunny, a bearded dragon, snails, and mice. Some of those animals have fairly short lifespans, which means we’ve had our share of pet deaths, which can certainly be hard for the kiddos. That said, when my mother (who lived with us) died in August, the kids were sad, but they were also better prepared to deal with her death than they would have been without the pet experiences. The children truly understand that death is a part of the life cycle and they were emotionally and rationally equipped to process and accept my mother’s passing.
