Do you walk your neighborhood without a pet and wish you had one? A woman, baby boomer, and empty nester, was sharing with me about her silent home and thoughts of getting a pet. She sees her community with dogs, birds, cats, and she walks alone. I bet you can guess her concerns.
FREEDOM and COST
This is my cat Sophie and no I don’t walk her.
I, too, thought of getting a dog. Truth is, Sophie wouldn’t be thrilled.
Second truth, for now, I am not devoted due to my schedule.
Long story short, I suggested this woman offer to walk her neighbor’s dog and get a feel for the relationship with a dog and her being responsible.
She realized she knew nothing about walking a dog and was surprised at the issues, like other dogs barking at her dog and pulling her too fast. She felt vulnerable because she didn’t know what she was doing. Solution, I suggested she ask another neighbor to walk with her and teach her how to walk a dog.
What do you think she decided to do?
Next, she is going to have the dog over for a sleep over. How cute is this journey?
Now, she wants to know what it would be like with fur on the sofas and bed and the sound of a dog in the house lapping up water and crunching kibble.
She wonders if he will dig in her sweet garden. Will she sleep or worry if the dog is ok? Did it munch on her shoes or leather furniture or tassel with her soft pillows on the kitchen bench?
Solution, have an experienced dog lover teach her the best practices of a sleep over with a dog. They had so much fun laughing at what she didn’t know or was uncomfortable with handling like his jumping on her and smelling around and around.
So what do you think she did?
She passed on getting a dog to own and walk in the neighborhood. Freedom won. No shoulds and dog schedules for now. She wasn’t ready to play ball with the dog, walk her half an hour twice a day, or feel guilty if she got home late, let alone the cost of sitters when she wanted to travel or medical bills. It isn’t over. It just isn’t for now.
Getting educated is a good thing. But you knew that…….Pets are so loving, comforting, and adorable.
May your decision come easily to you about being a pet owner,
Natalie
Natalie Caine, M.A. natalie@lifeintransition.org
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