The Comfort of Cherished Pets

When I recently sent out a newsletter with an invitation for readers to tell me about their favorite pets. Most of those who entered my giveaway didn’t share storeis, but some of them did. I enjoyed every one whether I shared the story forward or not.

A good dog or cat or horse or bird story is the best. I’ve already shared a few of those stories. Tonight, I’m wrapping up the pet stories and next post I’ll move on to who knows what. You sweet people who read my words here on a regular or even an occasional basis know that my posts vary widely in subject matter. When I’m sharing stories sent to me, it’s bonus time.

These first two stories made me smile. First, Karen tell us about Elmo. She didn’t say whether she got the name from watching Sesame Street.

My favorite pet was my dog Elmo.  He was part lab, and someone dumped him at my husband’s aunt’s house. He chewed on everything when he was a puppy! The porch swing, the deck, even the laundry hung outside on the line. He lived through 2 generations of Webster boys. He died 11 years ago, and I just can’t replace him.

I know all about those labs that can chew everything and how with a pup, it’s dangerous to hang towels and sheets out on the clothesline. I lost a sheet like that to a pup once. Those pups just can’t pass up the challenge of something flapping in the wind.

Nancy’s story made me smile. It might you too.

My favorite pet was a large Shetland pony named Dusty. That name came from his coloring. I loved him dearly – even when he stepped on my foot and probably broke a toe. I couldn’t tell my mother what happened because I was not supposed to be in the orchard with Dusty while I was barefoot.

I have to wonder if her mother noticed Nancy limping but thought she’d learned her lesson about being barefoot around her horse without having to endure any more punishment.

One of the themes I noticed in the stories I got were how those favorite pets were often comfort animals before the idea of having official comfort animals became an accepted idea. Here is Lynn’s story about how her menagerie of pets are a comfort to her.

Regarding critters, there have been many cats, rabbits and a dog in addition to a lil parakeet. Hubby and I rescued Lucky bird from the wild and gave him a safe and happy home for years. Now I have a parakeet, Tweety; two ducks Daisy & Daffy (Daffy really is daffy); a scrawny cat, Scrawny and the cutest lil hotdog, Harley. 

Since my hubby’s passing they have brought so much happiness into my life and I don’t know what I’d do without them.  It can get a bit noisy with the tweeting, quacking, meowing and barking, but it sure beats the silence of being alone.

I can almost hear all that tweeting, quacking, etc. and I’m smiling.

Pamela shares a story about a pet that came into her life at the right time and at a time when the cat needed her too.

My favorite pet was my cat Destiny (calico); she only had three legs and came to me from the shelter right after my divorce. When I got her, her name was Burgundy but I asked her what she thought her name should be. I told her I’d help her heal from her amputation (leg) and she could help heal my heart then said I guess we were meant to be together. Hence she became my Destiny. She would lick my tears away when I cried and other times make me laugh and smile. I miss her so much. She went into kidney failure within the two or three years of having her but with IV solutions I gave her she lived several more years. Destiny will always remain in my heart!

I love how your cat was such a comfort to you through tears and smiles, Pamela. Thanks for sharing about her and how being together helped to heal you both.

Last, we have a sweet story of a special pet mixed in with a special love story from Katrina about that one very special pet among the many she’s had through the years.

I’ve had a lot of pets in my life! I mean alot!!!! Hundreds! I hate to pick a favorite but there is one that was truly my heart. Our neighbor gave me a kitten when I was 3 years old.

We played together constantly! I’d dress her in doll clothes and push her around in a carriage. I’d chase her through the house and then she would chase me back. She was my best friend. She was my comfort growing up and my confidante.

She passed away the morning of my wedding. My soon to be husband tried to comfort me by saying she knew she could go because he was there for me now. I love all my pets but she was truly the most special part of life.

What a wonderful man to understand how much you loved your kitten, Katrina, and what beautiful words of comfort he offered you.

I’m like Katrina with so many pets through the years and how they all found a special place in my heart. The picture up top is one of those very special ones. Honeysuckle Jody. My husband gave him to me for my birthday. Quite a story around that. I shared much of it in my story “A Gift of Love.” Maybe I can share that here sometime.

Jody was my only registered dog, the first we ever paid money to get, and first inside dog. I’ve had an inside furry buddy ever since. He liked to lay on my feet while I was cooking and washing dishes in the kitchen. He was the sweetest dog and knew how to make a person feel loved.

Did you enjoy the pet stories? Have you ever had or wanted to have a comfort pet?