I had planned on running tonight, but as circumstances would have it, I was unable to. This might be ok, though. I will either go tomorrow or Sunday...I keep saying I'm going to go to the gym and get a membership...one day I'll make good on that, I promise.
I ended up having to relieve cat-sitting duties from a friend of mine who was taking care of Ms. Awesome's cats whilst she is in Russia. I think the cats just missed being home, and I really don't mind taking care of them :)
Pets are an odd responsibility. Rarely do we think past the cuteness of a pet to what is really needed to responsibly care for a pet. I, myself, fall into this category. I have two cats, as I have mentioned before, luckily they are healthy, pleasant, and to some degree get along with each other. In this habitat, with me, they are just fine. Outside of this apartment, it's hard to say. Last year working conditions forced me to take my cats to my parent's for about 3 months. I am grateful I had that ability. I don't know that opportunities like that will always be available. When they aren't that's when the responsibility of being a pet owner really sets in. There are jobs I cannot take because I can't leave my pets for an extended period of time. When I got my cats, the type of lifestyle I was living didn't have a need for me to travel. That may not be the case in the future and is something we don't always see, how can we see lifestyle changes years in advance. What it does mean is that as a pet owner, we have a responsibility to the animals in our care. They depend on us for far more than food and water. If you have a pet you understand that there is an emotional bond, a comfort your pet has with you, regardless of how much you think your pet likes or dislikes you there is a comfort they are accustomed to on both sides of that spectrum. When we decided to take on the responsibility of a pet, we need to be more aware that our lifestyle will change with the pet and that, like with children, there are certain lifestyles we may not be able to live because of the pets we have. We need to somehow be able to think things like this through as we stare at those adorable eyes, or watch a young puppy barely able to keep its balance. Kittens, puppies, fish, animals of all kinds have a power over us that makes us want to take care of them. This is not a bad thing so long as it does not blind us to their needs as well. Some might go so far as to say owning a pet is a selfish act, I will disagree with that statement so long as the pet owner looks at the relationship with his or her pet as mutual. Pets are there for many reasons and as much as we love them, they love us just as much if not more. Remember that the next time your dog meets you at your door, or your cat purrs as it lays across your keyboard.
I honestly think most people have the best intentions when the decide to take on a pet. Intentions only go so far though, they must be acted on.
The above soapbox rant has nothing to do with the treatment of Ms. Awesome's cats by her, our friend, myself, or anyone...this is merely something I rather stream-of-consciously strung together sitting here as I watched Burr stretch out on the floor and as Widget hopped on my desk for her daily dose of chin rubbing. They are so adorable!!
"He killed me with a sword. How weird is that?"
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