My Animals - My Business

It is hard to imagine a life without animals. Well, actually, I can imagine it, but I wouldn't want to live it. Take right now, for example. It is rather cozy here in my den as I sit here and type. My Tova, a Lynx-Point Siamese who would be show quality were it not for a tail a few inches too short, is directly to my left, hovering over the mouse as she blinks at me with her beautiful blue eyes and settles in, making it a little difficult to point and click! Do I move her? No. She is a comfort to me, and a joy. I feel honored that she thinks enough of me to want to be here with me, often rising to groom my face with her rough tongue in an expression of love before settling in again to toast in the glow of the electric heater that hums nearby, keeping my old hypothyroid bones warm in my sweatshirt even though it IS 73 degrees outside, according to the Weather Channel.

Behind me in my large office-type desk chair is Sweetie-Pie, a Toy Rat Terrier. Perched atop the pillows that are stuffed in the seat of the chair to support an aching back, she never, ever is far from my side. Bathroom visits? There's Sweetie, waiting patiently. Kitchen duty? She checks out her dish, dismissively sniffing the contents before sampling the cat's food nearby, then settling in to watch me do whatever, her brown eyes twinkling. She senses when I am about to go outdoors and waits, ever hopeful that she will get to accompany me to wherever I am going. The expression in her eyes when I do venture out without her is enough to make me turn around, bundle her up in her little yellow SpongeBob Squarepants sweater, and just deal with the fact that she is often a hindrance in whatever I have to do. No matter. She wants to be with me and so she shall be.

How do people manage without animals to share their daily routine? Why are some people so afraid of pet hair and a bit of inconvenience that they would never consider sharing their life with a dog or a cat? Why is it so difficult for them to understand what an animal can mean to someone?

These are the kind of people who murmur, "It was just an animal" when something tragic happens, and robs me of one of my fur children. These are the kind of people who look shocked when they see you buying 36 pounds of dry cat food at a time, and feel compelled to ask a total stranger how many cats they have to feed.

And, these are the kind of people who will never understand love. They are unable to love themselves, let alone love another living thing with a pure heart and a joyful soul that transcends all reason.

You don't choose who or what you love, and if I choose to love my animals more than I do most people, that is my affair. The animals bring me pure pleasure and delight. There are not many humans in my life I can say that about. I can count the ones who do on one hand and still have fingers left over. What does that say about me? That I am selective. That I am not free with my love... no, not at all. Certain criteria must be met, and it just happens that animals meet these rules more often than humans.

So, sue me. Let me enjoy my life my way, and if my purchase of pet food bothers you so much, you have the problem. Not me.

Now, if you will excuse me, there are two cats in the window peering in from outside who need my attention. Love is where you find it... hair and all.