The Importance of Pets

Pets come with their own agenda. Whether you be rich or poor, king or pauper, a pet is oblivious to all of that and will simply treat you as it sees fit. My experiences have been with stray animals, dogs and cats, and I know that they have added a great deal to my life.

What is it about pets and why are they so important to us?

- They need looking after. Pets rely on us for their food, warmth, safety and so, no matter how we're feeling, we have to get up, get out of bed and look after them. Someone I know with ME found her symptoms improved when she got a dog. She had to get up and let it out into the garden. And the companionship she got from him made her become more alert and engaged in life. She found it easier to make more of an effort and become more active.

- They are demanding. Many of us spend more time trying to choose the correct pet food for our beloved pets than we do for ourselves. I regularly join several other animal owners in the pet food aisles, trying to determine which brand and flavour they are going to decide to eat. But that situation is one that we undertake with love, humour and commitment.

- They are welcoming. What a difference it makes coming home to a house with animals in it. For one thing, there is more of a requirement but also a desire to come home when there are animals waiting. Single people sometimes delay coming home to an empty house. But when there are animals in it people are often loath to leave them for too long and it is welcoming to return home to their companionship.

- Life is put into better perspective. Priorities change when you appreciate that you can't move because a purring cat is on your knee or a dog is lay across your feet. Somehow the days stresses and irritations fade into a calmer place when you're taking your dog for a long walk or are concerned about the health of your cat. Other things are put into a different perspective. Anyone with animals recognises getting ready for an evening out only to discover the animal hair on their outfit, or the fruitless search for a missing shoe that is eventually discovered in the dog's bed. Priorities change as you ruefully smile at the discovery and determine to be more careful next time.

- It becomes easier to be calm. I've lost count of the things that have been broken by a cat jumping onto a surface, but I've learned to shrug and just treat it as an opportunity to replace something old with something new. The main concern is that the animal is unhurt. A friend had to rent an office space because his cat kept sending out emails, walking across the keyboard before he had finished his work. There's no point in being angry. The animal hasn't a clue what's going on. So it's better to just be pragmatic and deal with the situation in the most constructive way.

Animals are a valuable addition to our lives. They teach us about patience, love, companionship, responsibility. They rely on us and give such a lot in return. When they die we are often devastated but value the gift of having had them in our lives for a time. The memories and anecdotes can stay with us all our lives.