Once Randy dies, that’s it. No more pets.”
That’s what my 64-year-old neighbor told me several months ago. I agreed.
Last February I had to put to sleep my Havana Brown feline Carlotta. It was horrific for me and worse for her soulmate black coal feline Jason. I vowed that when Jason, who is 17, passes over, that’s it. No more animal companions. I could not get through pet grief again.
Also, I have seen what happens too often to pets when their “parent” dies. Relatives tend to drop them off at the shelter or even let them run loose on the street, despite the legal contract of the will which specified and funded the care instructions.
That was that. This summer Randy, an exotic bird, had to be put down because his injury was not healing. We all grieved. Then my neighbor began planning her life, which included travel, now that she is “pet-free.” That looked pretty good to the rest of us.
Then, in THE NEWYORK TIMES MAGAZINE, on July 29, 2012, some of my Baby Boomer circle of friends noticed a piece advising the aging to start new pet families after their last animal companion passes on. Leader of the mission is Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Association. His message includes the health benefits to us humans from the companionship.
Thrown for a loop, I discussed this with a friend who is a member of the Silent Generation. I assumed she would be sympathetic with the reasons why I didn’t want to adopt again. Her response: There are so many cats and dogs which need homes.
Maybe All The Single Girlfriends can help me with this one.
