Buzzzzzzzz.
Christmas Eve 2012, 7:30 AM. My dreams of sugarplums and eggnog were rudely interrupted when I awoke to a mouse slaughter from my electronic “rat zapper”.
Believe me, I love animals and believe in their rights. However, there is one exception to the rule: pests in my apartment. I can’t compromise sanitation for coexistence.
After a few 4 AM wakeup calls, culminating with a stare-down with a mouse in my kitchen, I knew I faced a miserable winter unless I did one thing: adopt a predator to solve this problem.
Although I had been a dog lover for life, I had never owned a cat. But running with shelter dogs at PAWS had me itching for a furry roommate. Dogs would be nearly impossible, as committing to a dog walker was a little tight for my budget. Adopting a cat was seeming more and more viable once I moved into a place of my own, gazing at the felines at PAWS and considering if I could become a pawent.
A little over a year later, I am a changed woman. I still adore dogs, but I never knew how much a little cat, Pounce DeLeon, could pull on my heartstrings. Even at 2 AM, when he yearns for a snuggle.
Whether you’ve taken reigns as a pet parent for years or are contemplating your first furry bud, pet ownership has many benefits including better health, happier moods and increased socialization. I’ll admit it: there’s something about having a companion that enriches your life. Plus, early winter is a perfect time to add an animal to your collection: they make the winter stuck inside entertaining.
People debate adoption vs purchasing through a breeder. Let me make it easy: shelter animals are the way to go.
Readers, what convinced you to adopt a shelter animal?
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