A lady I know is struggling financially, has to decide what she can participate in each month based on how long the gas lasts in her car, that type of thing. I felt badly for her and wished things were easier for her. One day I was sitting across the table from her at a dinner and she was telling about her cat. The cat was having troubles with its kidneys (that sounds like a vet bill to me) and now the cat has to have special food which costs $40. Wait, what? Before I could say anything, she looked at me and said, "I know what you're going to say..." Oh, do you really?
It may come as no surprise to anyone that I am not a lover of animals. For over two decades of my married life I held fast to not introducing pets to the mix of our household. Besides not being fond of animals, I cannot imagine trying to keep up a house with animals in it and have the place always ready to show potential customers. Pets smell and can wreak havoc on furniture and houses. I know this from being in the business, including having warranty issues after someone's dogs toe nails scratched up their hardwood floor. That would never do!
We got a dog for Timmy for Christmas 2000 with plans to get Justin the cat he wanted. Mickey the beagle was nothing but trouble from the get go, ending up in the pool on Christmas morning. He had to be fished out with the net. I know, Ironic, right? Justin's cat, Boots, was not a problem at all but it was a hassle with the litter box and feeding, etc. Mickey left our house not a moment too soon to live elsewhere but Boots and later Lynx moved with us to the lake house and then to this condo.
I did not spend huge sums of money on these pets, except for buying Mickey ($250, I think) plus the neutering for the three animals. Over the years Mickey moved away, Boots went to live with our friends, the Lawcocks, and Lynx was put down. It did cost me money to have to replace a mattress which was used as a litter box and to have my own bed professionally cleaned for the same reason. Ugh! So glad to not have them any longer.
On the left is Boots plus his two roommates at Lawcocks
I have friends who pay hundreds of dollars to maintain their pets. One couple paid $700 for hip surgery for their dog. Tonight I saw a commercial for pet food with no GMO content, etc., showing it served in crystal bowls. Even some Food Network divas have their own line of pet food. At Winn Dixie where is a refrigerator case just with pet food in it, with FRESH stickers plastered to it. I just don't get it. The pet industry is a huge one, that's for sure.
When the markets fell a few years ago, my dentist told me that her business had fallen off dramatically but people were still taking their pets to be groomed. Go figure. When I have dinner with my friends, I take my to-go box home for me, and they take theirs home for the dogs. I just can't sit still for that! Now, I am done with my expounding on animals.
