Our Families and Other Animals Do you have a pet? Until a couple of years ago I had a cat, the strangest of creatures – alternately affectionate and aloof, even vicious, and you could never tell which mood she’d be in at any given moment! She hated pet carriers with a passion, as many a claw inflicted wound to my hands and arms (even my back once!) would attest. Trips to the vets, or house moving, were a nightmare of the highest order.
Sadly she ‘crossed the rainbow bridge’ on New Year’s Day 2018, completely out of the blue. I came downstairs (slightly the worse for wear after a New Year’s Eve party) and found her lying on the kitchen floor – unmoving apart from a slight rise and fall of her chest. Picking her up, I moved to a chair and, as I cradled her like a baby, she drew her last breath. It felt as if she had waited to say goodbye to me. Our pets squirm their way into our hearts and when they leave us, they leave a massive hole, we miss their antics and silly habits. Even the things that made us cross; like refusing to eat anything out of a tin in the case of Gabby cat; become endearing foibles when we look back at them. We (my other half and I) would love to welcome another fur baby into our home, BUT we currently live in a private rental that doesn’t allow pets, as so many rentals don’t for some reason. So we will have to make do for now with the antics of our neighbours various pets; at least seven dogs and a horse at the last count; and watching the sparrows, blue tits and other small birds which visit us daily to eat from the feeders my other half keeps well topped up with seeds. One day we will have a dog, he wants a mahoosive one – a Malamute to be precise! I would prefer something
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smaller that sheds less hair and requires less grooming – I’m sure we’ll find a compromise eventually. Our pets give us so much unconditional love but there are so many other ‘hidden’ benefits too. A quick search online gave me these facts from the “Centers for Disease Control” in the USA: Some of the benefits of having a pet include: ✔
Decreased blood pressure
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Decreased cholesterol levels
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Decreased triglyceride levels
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Decreased feelings of loneliness
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Increased opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities
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Increased opportunities for socialisation
Perhaps I need to move again, to somewhere that will allow animals, it seems such a shame to miss out on all those health benefits doesn’t it? These articles are researched and written by Laura Billingham, a local content writer and author. Laura moved the Peak District several years ago to pursue her passion for writing. To find out more visit www.landgassociates. co.uk or contact Laura on 07736 351341
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