Life With Animals
by Mike Melendez
PVPHS class of '03
We all know that living with animals cannot extend the length of your life…or can it? Living with animals can make your life a lot better, and it can also make your life a lot fuller. People have pets for many reasons: to be more responsible, to learn how to care for others, to make up for a loss, or maybe just because of a simple love for animals or the feeling of being needed by someone or something else.
Most people wanted a pet when they were young. Either you found one walking home, saw a movie with a child who had a pet or all your friends had pets. Cats and dogs are the most popular and common pets in America. The old stereotype is that girls want cats and boys want dogs. That is not true in my case because I have had the same pet cat since I was 4 years old. I think that since I was old enough to have responsibilities it has been mine to take care of my beloved cat, Tiger. Most parents will not let their kids have pets at a young age because of the responsibility issue. Now that I am a teenager, I think children will never learn about responsibility unless you give them the chance. Some may argue that it is wrong to entrust the life of a puppy or kitten to a child—that the child will in some way neglect the pet. I agree to this to a certain point, but I think it’s the child’s responsibility to spend time with his or her pet. As the child progresses in age he or she should acquire more and more responsibilities related to pet care. This helps children who have pets become more responsible, knowing that another life depends on feeding and treating their pets right. This is a benefit for kids because they get to keep their pets and learn responsibility in the process.
As people grow older, their personalities are reflected through their pets. Since cats and dogs are the most popular pets, I will use these two to prove my point. Cats are the more independent of the two. Cats are not as loyal as dogs; cats do not start barking and jump up and down every time you come home as most dogs do. There is no doubt that dogs are very outgoing and friendly. Cats are more independent and confined. You have to earn the respect of a cat—they only trust people they love. Dogs, on the other hand, will love you forever if you do something nice for them. Dogs just love everyone. They do as they’re told and there is nothing wrong with this. I’m not taking sides with either species. I’m just simply stating what I believe.
A big cliché is that older people generally have at least one or two pets at home with them. Whatever you want to think, older people do generally have pets, whether it’s an old man and his hunting dog or an old lady with her kitten and yarn. My guess is that so many years after their kids leave home and have families of their own people just feel the need to take care of something again, to be depended upon.
Who knows why people have pets? I think that maybe hopeless romantics have pets, something they can love until the true love of their own species comes along. Partnership maybe? Yes, that is a good point; single 20-year-old males portrayed in movies and TV shows usually have a dog. However, maybe that is just in the movies and on TV. Or is it? I don’t know the answer to these thoughts and questions.
Nevertheless, I believe that people do live longer and happier thanks to their pets. Pets bring people joy and happiness in a way of getting away from it all and just letting go. Pets bring more glorious things into our lives than we have time to sit here and think about. What I don’t understand is why anyone would want to hurt animals. Whoever these people are I think that they’re very sick-minded individuals, but that’s a whole other subject. These are my opinions. If I didn’t answer anything it’s meant for you to figure out the rest.