I am reminded on the day after Christmas that many children received pets as special gifts. The majority of the animals were dogs, but for some they were cats and for even another, yet smaller group, a pony or horse. Add in the case of a dog, that cut little Great Dane puppy doesn't look the same when he fills up the living room and weighs one hundred and fifty pounds. So, whatever the choice, someone has to be responsible for the animal and all the chores which must be done daily and when the novelty wears off, lack of responsibility soon turns to delinquency in animal care. This leads to neglect and the desire to rid the family of the animal, thus creating a problem for all of us.
Meanwhile, the public spends a fortune on pedigreed dogs for gifts while shelters are overloaded with unwanted dogs, many of which are very gentle, yet afraid and just want a place to live where they can provide the love they have within as gratitude for their new master or mistress. By the way, this isn't an indictment of dog breeders and pet shops, just a statement of support for animals in distress who can provide so much joy if given the love they need.
My wife, Charyl, probably loves animals as much as anyone there is in the world. I lovingly call her a modern day "Doctor Dolittle" as I have watched her over the years turn a lost and disheartened rescue animal into a loving member of the family. They have included dogs, cats, a Shetland pony, a goat and even two lively tropical parrots. The aminals treat her like the human stepmother that she is for them and I just do whatever chores associated with them that she asks. It is a joy, however, to watch them go from afraid, to uncertain, and then to loving and adoring her. That's the backdrop against which her latest addition to the family arrived, the cute little cat in the picture.
Charlie Bear is a small Siamese cat she surprised me with when she came home from work one day about three months ago. He was given that name because with his coloring, when he sits and looks at us, he resembles a little bear. Her workplace in a large complex in the heart of the city has a large number of feral cats and where there are feral cats there are always kittens. A facility custodial man, a huge fellow with a heart just as large, found little Charlie, no more than six weeks old, about to get run over in the street. Since he had learned while working that "Doctor Dolittle" loved animals, he brought the poor scared kitten to her, not knowing where else to take him. She, of course, immediately fell in love with him and you can guess where he ended up.
From a very frightened and shy kitten, he has over the months with us turned into a precocious, cute and yes, very loving family member. He has put on weight, has been medically given a clean bill of health and was neutered and given his shots. Since he will always be on the small side, he will be a house cat and he knows he has the run of the place already. But there's something else.
I think that little Charlie Bear, like so many of the wonderful animals we have given a home to over the years, had a Guardian Angel who led him here. It's like anywhere that Charyl lives has a neon sign in the sky overhead directing them to us. All I know is that once they arrive, they are the luckiest animals on earth. And for the two of us? Well, they provide love, fun and laughter and yes, a little bit of work, but the good far outweighs the bad. So, here's to Charlie Bear, one little cat who happened to be at the right place at the right time and I think he's well aware of it and very thankful. "Doctor Dolittle" once again saved the day.
Meanwhile, the public spends a fortune on pedigreed dogs for gifts while shelters are overloaded with unwanted dogs, many of which are very gentle, yet afraid and just want a place to live where they can provide the love they have within as gratitude for their new master or mistress. By the way, this isn't an indictment of dog breeders and pet shops, just a statement of support for animals in distress who can provide so much joy if given the love they need.
My wife, Charyl, probably loves animals as much as anyone there is in the world. I lovingly call her a modern day "Doctor Dolittle" as I have watched her over the years turn a lost and disheartened rescue animal into a loving member of the family. They have included dogs, cats, a Shetland pony, a goat and even two lively tropical parrots. The aminals treat her like the human stepmother that she is for them and I just do whatever chores associated with them that she asks. It is a joy, however, to watch them go from afraid, to uncertain, and then to loving and adoring her. That's the backdrop against which her latest addition to the family arrived, the cute little cat in the picture.
Charlie Bear is a small Siamese cat she surprised me with when she came home from work one day about three months ago. He was given that name because with his coloring, when he sits and looks at us, he resembles a little bear. Her workplace in a large complex in the heart of the city has a large number of feral cats and where there are feral cats there are always kittens. A facility custodial man, a huge fellow with a heart just as large, found little Charlie, no more than six weeks old, about to get run over in the street. Since he had learned while working that "Doctor Dolittle" loved animals, he brought the poor scared kitten to her, not knowing where else to take him. She, of course, immediately fell in love with him and you can guess where he ended up.
From a very frightened and shy kitten, he has over the months with us turned into a precocious, cute and yes, very loving family member. He has put on weight, has been medically given a clean bill of health and was neutered and given his shots. Since he will always be on the small side, he will be a house cat and he knows he has the run of the place already. But there's something else.
I think that little Charlie Bear, like so many of the wonderful animals we have given a home to over the years, had a Guardian Angel who led him here. It's like anywhere that Charyl lives has a neon sign in the sky overhead directing them to us. All I know is that once they arrive, they are the luckiest animals on earth. And for the two of us? Well, they provide love, fun and laughter and yes, a little bit of work, but the good far outweighs the bad. So, here's to Charlie Bear, one little cat who happened to be at the right place at the right time and I think he's well aware of it and very thankful. "Doctor Dolittle" once again saved the day.
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