Publisher’s Letter: A Lesson in Love

This is such a fun issue. Who doesn’t like animals? I mean, there are some of you that don’t like animals … but you’re also the same people who don’t like French fries and America. (I tease, I tease!)  

Pets have always been a big part of my life and my children’s lives as they grew up. We always had puppies and kitties in the house and on the farm, and now as adults, they have carried on with having their own pets as part of their families. It is heartwarming to tell stories of our favorite pets from the past such as my cat Walter White who only would lay in the whites in the laundry room or was so chill that you could turn the water on in the sink he was laying in and wouldn’t move or my dog Ellie that would let the kids bury her in sand. It is adorable to watch my granddaughter crawl excitedly toward my sister’s dog Griffin when we visit (who is a giant Golden Retriever who is afraid of a tiny baby) or have my dog Rhodey take immediate possession of her when she comes to my house. She is his baby for sure.

Having pets in the family is a big responsibility. It has taught my kids to care for another living thing. It has taught them to think of the needs of another. It has taught them what it means to have a responsibility outside of yourself. It gave us opportunities to teach them about love and the circle of life. And now, as all my kids have left home, it has taught me that having pets around isn’t the same when you’re an empty nester. As my life has changed and the activity of my house has diminished greatly, I look at my two big doggos and just know that they aren’t getting the same attention they did when the place was swarming with kids. I have a lot of dog mom guilt about that.  

I travel a lot and work long days. Dog sitting is expensive. I investigated doggie daycare. Holy cow!! That brought back PTSD from having a daycare bill that was higher than my mortgage. Truthfully, the story in this issue about rehoming your pets was one that came from a conversation that I had with friends of mine who have found themselves in similar situations through life change for themselves or their parents. When it was brought up in our advisory board meeting, it was met with the most discussion of any other point we discussed. It’s a hard conversation to have and one no one wants to have out loud. Admitting you can no longer care for or want to care for a pet comes with embarrassment and shame. If you find yourself needing support, please do turn to the resources provided in this issue. I am hopeful they can be helpful to you as they have me and so many others.