How Some Pet Parents Celebrate Mother's Day

This Mother's Day will be very special because I have 4 more kids to celebrate it with. Don't worry, I don't multiply that fast. Although, some might beg to differ. In the past year, we've added three hamsters and a guinea pig to our family. I suppose this makes me a grandmother already. We better make sure to have carrots, bananas, and romaine lettuce for the fur kids during Mother's Day dinner. I recently asked other pet moms how they were celebrating Mother's Day.

"Horse lovers (in contrast to equestrians) often call themselves horse moms and horse dads. Those of us who have experienced the foaling process may be even more adamant about this. On Mother's Day this year, I'll be traveling home from the Kentucky Derby. However, I will surely stop at the stables for a few nuzzles and to share an apple or two with my four-legged favorites. Of course, my real kids always make Mother's Day special too. Usually, we share a spring trail ride during this May weekend." - Linda, Madison, Wisconsin

"My dogs send me gifts and a card - signed of course in paw prints. I not only get Mother's Day cards, I get birthday cards with their photos too." - Monica, Orlando, FL

"I consider myself a pet parent rather than a pet owner. I am the owner of two dogs, a German Shepherd mix puppy named Dobby, and a Schnauzer named Pippin. I am also the lucky pet parent to "The Five Nemos", who are five goldfish, and "Buzz Lightyear" a reclusive hamster. For the record, my four year old son named all of our pets. Our pets are part of our family and have a special place in my heart. Every Mother's day, our family comes together and has a special dinner, each Mom receives presents. It is a joy to be surrounded by our family, including our pets." - Amanda, Philadelphia, Penn.

"I'm 30 years old, and most friends my age are either parents of babies or pets. My husband and I do want kids, but I am self-employed and he lost his job in January (along with our health insurance), so we need to wait even though we don't want to. Fortunately, we have two amazing dogs'"Odin (a Boxer) and Ockee (American Staffordshire Terrier). They require a lot of patience'"and unlike kids, they can't verbalize what they need after a few years of growing! I think parenting a pet is great practice. I'm happy that my friends and family are able to have kids, but I'm no longer able to hang out with them. They go to playgroups and things of that nature. However, I love hanging out with my friends who are also pet parents. I think I'll spend Mother's Day with my Aunt Mindy. Her kids (my cousins) are adults and she is pet parent to her little dog Sammy." - Tara, Lindenwold, New Jersey

"As a pet parent, I want my pets around me all the time. I worry about them when they're home alone. If I see an interesting dog or cat toy at the store, I get it for them if I think they might like it. I'm concerned when one of my pets isn't feeling well or isn't acting like themselves. In other words, pet parents live for their pets just like a mom lives for her human kids. Past Mother's Day celebrations usually included an afternoon drive down country roads enjoying the spring warmth. We'd find an interesting trail where the dogs could do what dogs love to do '" investigate new smells, sights and sounds. I always enjoy watching their eyes light up with excitement when they see something interesting. Their ears rotate like little radars to pick up exactly where that sound came from and their nose is in the wind sniffing all the scents floating in the breeze." Linda, Fairfield, IA

"I treat my rats like my small fur babies like my children, not pets and have always thought of pets as part of the family not just a pet of the family. I'll probably have some pictures taken with my daughter and our rats this Mother's day. Last Mother's Day I gave my mother a pendant that had a picture of her dog and said Happy Mother's day on the bottom of it." - Mary, Las Vegas, Nevada

"I consider myself a pet parent rather than an owner because everyone knows you don't own cats, they own you. Besides that, I love them just as I do my human children. Shanni and Connor are a part of my family, not "just" an animal. Anytime I talk about them I call them my fur babies. As for celebrating Mother's Day, they get their favorite treat that day. A saucer full of chopped turkey, from Oscar Meyer or Hillshire, not a turkey, turkey, which causes my cats a problem that leaves me gasping for air." - Karen, Stuart, Florida

"I consider myself to be a pet parent because that's what I am. I'm a cocker mom who has been blessed to have Euri, my English cocker spaniel in my life. English cocker spaniels are known as cocker kids for a reason: they're more like children than pets. They are high maintenance and require daily grooming (e.g. brushing, combing, hand-stripping, teeth brushing, eye wiping and ear cleaning) as well as professional grooming every 4-8 weeks. Euri also gets me out of the house since he's very energetic and needs two-four walks per day. With all of his training and doggy activities I've often felt like a soccer mom. My cocker kid enjoys hiking with me and makes an excellent trail guide. He is extremely vocal and complains just like a human when he doesn't get his way. And of course we look alike (we've won two lookalike contests) which people often notice and comment on -- just as if he was my child. Like a child, Euri cannot be left alone for very long. He craves human attention and follows me wherever I go as if we were attached by Velcro. He is not just a pet, he is a member of the family and as such, we include him in as many activities and vacations as possible. I run errands with Euri, we've been on TV together, and funnily enough many people don't recognize me without him because we're a team. We're family and we stick together. In the past, my cocker kid has given me a Mother's Day card and flowers. I'm not sure how our dog plans to celebrate this year; I think that's up to his daddy to plan since he's the one with the money. Hopefully we'll all be able to eat breakfast together, go for a stroll in the park, and have lunch at a dog-friendly restaurant. But to be honest, each day is Mother's Day with Euri because he has given me so much (e.g. he cured my 14-year battle with chronic staph infections). My cocker kid shows me unconditional love, gives me hugs and kisses, and greets me with enthusiasm whenever I come home. How many human kids do that?" -Bobbi, Houston, Texas

"I definitely consider myself a pet parent. I don't believe you can "own" another living breathing thing, especially a pet. My Shih Tzu is part of the family and is treated with the same care and consideration I give my children and grand children. Gizmo is my best friend and is there for me when I am happy or sad. He knows my every mood. He came to live with me during trying circumstances and has been there to support me through many more rough times. As far as Mother's Day goes, I know that even though my grown children will make a visit, they are not able to stay for any length of time. Gizmo will be here and he will keep me from being alone on this and any other holiday. Own him? No, my pet is my baby that will never grow up and leave me!" - Donna, Pocahontas, Illinois

More from Lyn:

Helping Kids Care for Their First Hamster

Should I Let My Child Have a Pet Rat?

Parents, Please Educate Your Kids Before Adopting a Pet