Just as Arturo and I were getting ready to be empty nesters, something strange happened to me. I walked into an animal shelter “just for fun” and walked out with a kitten! That was during the pandemic.She’s a cuddler. You can’t sit on the couch for long before she comes and sits on your lap. Her name is Fanta.
Three years after I got my cat, Fanta, I was at a local shop with one of my sons.The place doubled as a thrift store and an animal shelter. As we were walking out, they said, “Come back this weekend! We’re getting beagle puppies!” Beagle puppies? Have you ever heard of anything more adorable? So back I came with my daughter to “check out” the beagles. Five days later, I came back to pick up my new beagle, Waffles. 26 lbs is what they said she would weigh max. She is now 62 lbs. She is not just beagle…
Growing up, our kids had pets, but I never saw them as mine. These new ones are different. They follow me everywhere, and despite the responsibilities—feeding, walking, cleaning—they truly enrich our lives. I’ve come to love them. I kid around that they are good for my mental health. But I don’t think that’s a lie. Here are some other benefits to having pets that I have found both personally and with others.
3 Benefits of Having a Pet:
- Emotional Support – Pets provide comfort, companionship, and reduce feelings of loneliness.
- Daily Structure – Caring for a pet adds a healthy routine and responsibility to your day.
- Unexpected Joy – Their quirky personalities and loyalty bring laughter and warmth to everyday life.
The discipline of taking care of a pet was good for our kids. Just make sure they are the ones taking care of them. Our kids had all kinds of pets growing up. From turtles to bunnies, to hamsters and birds, at one time, pets outnumbered our family of eight! I thought I was done with pets. But somehow, having my own has brought out the animal lover in me I didn’t know existed. Now that our kids are grown, I love my job so much, I can see myself just being out of the home all day, everyday. My pets bring structure. Especially my dog, who I have to take for walks. Although it is sometimes a nuisance to schedule that in, Waffles has provided boundaries for me. One more benefit to having a pet.