Pets have much to offer
Carolyn with bunny rabbit, Wyoming
I love animals—especially dogs, cats and horses. We even had fish for a while. In middle school, I had a turtle, which we released in the yard once it outgrew its enclosure.
In Wisconsin, I remember the rabbits Dad began to raise for extra income. When I asked to help care for them, Dad warned me not to make pets of them. I was in second grade. Of course, I had pets among the rabbits. What hurt most was learning Dad sold some as food. When someone from the church returned a rabbit dressed to cook, we kids absolutely refused to touch the meat. Mom never served rabbit again.
When Dad took a church in Wyoming, we arrived to find a large dog ensconced at the parsonage. He took right to my little brother. Later, a black and white female cat also showed up at our door. She periodically had a litter of kittens. Once she had them in a warm window well down the road at our neighbors.
It was my job, once the kittens had their eyes open, to fetch them home. As gentle as I tried to be, by the time I managed to corral those kittens my arms were scratched to the elbows. But I got them and situated them in a safe place under a stack of lumber Dad had for different projects.
Later we saw a car hit our momma cat and thought that was the end, but she limped away though her back now had an uplift motion whenever she walked, Others said we needed to put her down, because she wasn’t well. We didn’t and she lived several more years.
We had other dogs as well. In Wyoming, I had a small dog named Topper who, as my companion on my wonderings and friend, I could always talk with. She also had litters and we kept one scraggly-looking pup we named Cutie. Topper and
Cutie were the only pets we took with us when Dad took a country church in Northwest Kansas. We lost Topper early on trying to birth another litter of puppies. But we had Cutie who loved making the rounds of farms in the area, He loved getting rides home. Once everyone knew his home, they just gave him rides and let him out. He snuggled with me once I sick. He always made me feel better.
In Kansas, I went to a country school and, after I got sick, did my high school classes by correspondence. In Kansas, I also got a horse to breed and kept the foal. But I was never able to ride my foal because I contracted Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. My animals comforted me during that time.
Coyotes ate little dogs like him, but Cutie never seemed to have a problem. He didn’t bark. He howled like the coyotes. They probably thought he was an odd version of themselves. Because of his wandering tendencies, we left him with a farm family when Dad took a church in southwest Iowa where I was able to attend high school and graduate.
We had a large golden dog and cats in Iowa along with my growing horse. I loved sitting outside in my wheelchair watching and interacting with our animals. When we moved to Kearney so I could attend college, my brother got a dog. My horse went to Kansas with my sister and brother-in-law and later was sold as a polo pony.
After college, I had massive reconstructive surgery to walk again. I also married. When my husband and I had kids, each of them received a pet of their choice at age seven—once they showed they could take care of their pet—a black lab Midnight for Chris and a black cat with a white nose snip Cutie for Cassie. I loved our pets. When I’d have surgery Cutie would stay out of trouble and by my side.
We don’t have pets right now, but willingly spoil other people’s cats or dogs. Since we travel to see our kids and grandkids, we decided it best not to have to deal with our own pets. However, I am thankful for all the pets we’ve had over the years. Pets make me laugh. They have unique personalities and can frustrate a person. But, they also listen and become close companions/ When we have pets we love and properly care for, we have friends that make us happier and healthier. Pets are a blessing.
Is it time for a pet in your life?
© 2023 Carolyn R Scheidies
Kearney Hub column published 10/31/23