Dogs and Cats and More, Oh My!

Santa brought Hazel a new raincoat for Christmas!

I met Hazel through a mutual friend. I agreed to help by dropping this dog at the local Humane Society on a Saturday morning. For Hazel, it was a return trip to the shelter. A mix between cocker spaniel with big, soulful eyes and long eyelashes and a sheltie with a long, silky coat, her crime of rejection was not doing well with small children. Hazel was quaking in fear when we arrived at the building. Just like Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem, there was no room in the inn for her. The Humane Society was full and they couldn’t accept her there until the following Tuesday. I agreed to take her temporarily until there was an opening; and the rest is history. She fit seamlessly into our household. There is no way we could return her to shelter life.

It’s not surprising that in the Boomer Babes survey that 54% of respondents reported pet ownership. There seems to be an inborn need in us to care for something and a pet can easily fill the bill.

Dogs make up 53% of pet ownership in our survey. Compared to the rest of the world, dog ownership is highest in the United States. History abounds with dog relationships. There are lots of books and stories covering the topic of the loyalty of dogs. Recently there was a viral photo of a dog lying beside his fallen soldier’s casket; and of course there is the famous Grayfriars Bobby, who returned to the same railroad station platform day after day to wait the return of his master. They reflect the patterns of our lives and are intuitive about our feelings. They seem to sense our needs, sometimes before we even realize for ourselves what they are. They are quiet when we’re tired or sick. They exhibit boundless joy when we’re happy or excited.

In my own neighborhood I see a core group of neighbors who would be lost without their dogs. Their best friends give them reason to get up in the morning because there is something/someone for which to care. Their dogs keep them active as well. In my Weight Watchers group we say that if your dog’s overweight, chances are you are too. My own husband admits that if it weren’t for dog walking, he would not simply “go for a walk.”

While outing our dogs, we develop social interaction. They are sure to be conversation starters. Total strangers that would pass you by if you were walking alone will stop and engage someone who is walking a dog. Single men and women find them to be good “wing men” because of the enduring need by others to greet a dog.

When I interviewed Nola, her response to “what she wanted for Christmas” was simply to be with her little dog. She says it’s the center of her life.

Cats make up 37% of pets owned by those who answered the survey. Their aloofness sometimes comes across as arrogant and independent, but they still depend on us to care for them. They reward us with a playful spirit. Their antics can entertain for hours. Your hands sliding along their bodies are a sensual expression of your love for them.  

As I interviewed Wendy, her two house cats roamed under the table, swishing and swiping our legs. Cats are a great choice for her family. Wendy and her husband travel frequently for short periods, and the independent spirit and easy care nature of cats makes it simple to leave them. They love their cats enough to keep another one in their family owned business location. A chubby little male named Dave patrols the rambling building, and is a greeter for those coming into the store.

Diana recently moved from her own duplex to a high-rise senior building. One of her greatest joys before she moved was feeding the local stray cats. Now in her high-up residence, she misses that opportunity.

Tina and her husband have never had children, but are parents to a little dog, Zorro. However, Zorro’s not an only “child” in their marriage. Tina’s husband has a soft spot for stray cats and they serve as adoptive parents by bringing them into their home.

Five percent of our survey respondents had the best of both worlds, owning at least one dog and one cat. Birds and horses each took about 3% of “other” pets. Reptiles ownership was 1%. A few survey participants were lucky enough to have the farm life with multiples of horses, dogs, cats, etc.

Whatever the pet you own, the benefits are many. Our pets are our companions, confidants, comfort, motivation, and inspiration. For us who are empty nesters, they are surrogate children, giving us purpose. For those singles among us, they can be our family. Studies show that stroking your pet reduces your blood pressure (and your pet’s too.). Another study specifically indicates that survival rates following a heart attack are significantly higher for pet owners. 

Want to start a conversation? Tell a story about your pet and all listeners around you with pets will chime in too. Do you have a pet story to share? How did you and your pet meet? Do you have an unusual pet? You can share your pet stories and pictures with us here on this blog in the comment section below.

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 Through compassion, you will find that all human beings are just like you. - Dalai Lama