I don't consider myself an overly sentimental person, or sentimental at all really. There are a few things that do manage to wheedle through what I'm sure most people consider a stone like exterior and pets are one of them. I was never one of those people who cried through movies or books growing up. It's such a girly thing to do. But I wept on reading Call of the Wild and when that dog fell into the river in Far from Home, I went to go find Lyka to give her a hug.
So when I read this today, I got depressed as I usually do when I read about pets being abandoned. When I find out about people who commit what I consider a crime against animal kind, I'm very tempted to find them out and beat them to a pulp. It's unforgivable to get a pet and then not spend time with it, giving it the affection and attention it needs. Pets are not stuffed toys or decorations for the house. They're family. And people who think less than that should be barred from being let near animals. A lot of my friends have commented about how they're surprised that I haven't gotten a puppy yet, even though I'd love to have someone joyously waiting for me to come home. The answer is simply that I'm barely home, except for weekends. And the the guilt of not being able to spend time with my pet would eat me alive. Getting a pet is like having a child. It needs the same amount of commitment. If people aren't willing to put in that time and effort, it's not something they should even contemplate.
