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Column: Taking pets seriously
Ever thought about taking home that cute, cuddly kitten at the pet shop? Elaine Gu looks at the responsibility that comes with having a pet.
DURING AGORA DAYS this year, I took a class taught by science teacher David Stone called Companion Animal Miscellany.
On the last day, Stone brought in these soft, cuddly puppies from the Champaign County Humane Society. The puppies, with their sad-looking eyes and frisky character, were absolutely irresistible.
That day, I went home thinking: I want a pet.
My parents now dread the idea of me getting a pet. In the past, I've had everything from exotic animals like salamanders, parrots, and chickens to common pets such as guinea pigs, parakeets, dogs, and cats.
Each time I got a new pet, I would always exhibit the exact same pattern of behavior. Initially, I'd be obsessed with my new “toy,” playing with it constantly and not allowing it to rest.
However, after a week or two, I'd lose interest in it, and my parents would always end up taking care of it for me.
Growing up, I was an irresponsible child. When I was about 8 years old, I got a salamander. A few days later, I decided that it was grotesque looking. I soon forgot about its existence, and I found it shriveled up and dead a month later.
Then I got a parrot, but it pooped a lot and refused to talk, so I didn't care for that anymore, either.
Naho Maeda gets to know one of the guest
stars of Companion Animal Miscellany.
(Gargoyle photo) (click to enlarge)
Yes, I sound like an awful, cruel person. But as a little kid, I just didn't understand the responsibility that came with having pets. I thought that they were like toys, which I could just toss aside when I didn't want them anymore.
In third grade, I convinced my parents to get me a kitten. This time, I vowed that I would never get bored with it and would always take care of it.
The kitten was incredibly adorable. I sincerely cared for it and I treated it like a princess. I even taught it to perform tricks and took it for walks outside on a leash.
However, pets, no matter how wonderful they are, can be so annoying at times. My cat would frequently howl at night.
Since it was my job to keep it from disturbing my parents, I would often be up the entire night, trying to comfort it. Over the course of a year, I gradually lost interest in it, and, again, my mom became its main caretaker.
Recalling these memories, I realized that I should hold that thought about wanting a puppy. With my busy schedule and my tendency of getting bored easily, I think that it's probably best that I don't get a pet.
All prospective pet owners should ask themselves: Do I have the time, patience, money, and energy to take care of an animal?
Just like me back when I was little, many people don't realize the commitment that comes with having a pet. It's sad that so many cats and dogs end up at the Humane Society or on the streets because their owners abandoned them.
[Note: An earlier version of this column was published in the Gargoyle staff blog. We occasionally revise blog entries and republish them as columns in order to present them to readers who might not visit the blog regularly.]
RELATED
— Gargoyle coverage: The most adorable class of Agora Days (in “Back to Agora Days, Pt. 4”)
— Official site: Champaign County Humane Society
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