Speaking My Mind: What is your pet worth?

Our dog, Teddy is priceless because he is a unique animal, and because through a lot of nurturing and love, he has grown to trust us, and to return that love. From owning several dogs now, I believe each dog is a unique creature. They may not have awareness or intellect, but it is clear to me that they have distinct likes, dislikes, and attitudes. We cretainly never want to break the bond that’s developed between us. You simply cannot replace a cherished pet with another one. — John & Marilyn Stemen PRICELESS I don’t know if this is the place to reply as we never had a pet. What we had was a family member who was born with four legs and looked different than our other children. We adopted her from the pound at the age of approx. 4 mos. On our way home, she sat in my wife’s lap in the car as if she had always been with us. For the next 9 yrs., 9 mos., and 4 days, she was with us always. She never gave us cause for concern and in many ways she was the best in the family. We never had to take her back any place to apologize for her behaviour. She traveled with us to every New England state and as far west as Chicago. In Canada she traveled as far north as Elliott Lake in Ontario and to Kingston, Ontario, in the east. She has even been accepted as a guest at hotels and motels which normally did not accept pets. She has been to family funerals and weddings and was always the center of attention. She was and will always be “PRICELESS” in our thoughts and in our memories. Her name was “ROOKIE” and she was never, in any sense, ever a rookie. She was a queen from day one. — Bill and Thelma Goss Exactly $238.75!!!! That is the amount I paid to a vet to save the life of a poor, abandoned cat who crawled up on my porch last week. She was weak, dehydrated, and wounded. My 13-year-old male cat went crazy at the slider and when I went to see what was the matter, there she lay — all 4 pounds of skin and bone with a gaping 1/2 inch hole in her side. She is a love!!!! Healing nicely, sleeping on my bed (of course!!) and great company for my “old Man” cat. Stella Blue is our 11-year old cat (mix, but definitely part Korat). We got Stella from a woman who traps feral kittens, has them checked by a vet and given their shots, and then puts them up for adoption. She was four months old when we adopted her. Feral cats can be particularly challenging pets as some never really are able to trust us humans. This is true with Stella. It is especially difficult when they need to see the vet. We have to change our game plan (discussing it out of earshot) for getting her in the carrier every year. She remembers everything! It is frustrating and I usually end up in tears by the time we get her in the cage. However, as eccentric as she is, Stella is the best pet I’ve ever had. She is part watchdog (cat!), she is very playful and remembers tricks, and she is a total lap cat who, I know, is as grateful for having adopted us as we are of adopting her! My pets are worth their weight in gold. They bring joy to my life, keep me active, and are always there when I need a friend. My pets, two coonhounds, Kaysee and Duffy, are my babies. As a widow, they fill my days with love, kisses, and so much affection. I found them both at the local pet shelter and they mean more to me than all the tea in China. They love my children, my grandchildren, and my friends. However, I know if anyone was to hurt me, they’d both be there to protect me. They are wonderful watchdogs so I feel perfectly safe all the time. How can you not appreciate all the love you can see in their eyes!! My perfect companions!! Having a pet at home to greet you after a long day at work and a long commute to home is the best way I can think of to unwind! Our one-year-old Shetland sheepdog, Chloe, is a kook and a smarty and brings such joy to our lives. It is “never a dull moment” since we’ve been lucky enough to have Chloe in our lives. Having lost our 17-year-old Shetland sheepdog, Lady, last summer, Chloe is just the one to have helped our aching hearts mend. Chloe means the world to us! My pets are worth the world to me. I have multiple cats and each one is a different personality. One of them waits for me each day at the stairs and when I walk in the door, he’s right there. They all come out of their room, (a now extra room that was once my son’s bedroom before he moved out) and stand in the hallway as I walk by toward the kitchen. At this point they know that the next thing is dinner. So off they trot into the kitchen and hang around while I check out what mail came and take off my coat. Then it’s to the cabinet to bring out their nighttime meal. But it’s this connection that makes coming home each night from work a welcoming feeling. They may not be able to speak to me in my language, but their actions speak louder than any human words could. And the best part is, it’s all unconditional. What better love could anyone receive? Maybe it’s my love of being wanted by them. If that’s so, then we as humans are truly their slaves. But it sure feels good! And, I wouldn’t have it any other way! I have three cats and have been the proud “parent” of many cats and dogs. My pets are companions and furred family members. They give love and friendship that has no price tag. In life, a gift such as that is truly priceless. All I can say is, before I agreed to marry my husband, I told him, “Love me, love my cat!” We have now been married almost 33 years and at present, are the obedient servants to 6 of those wonderful, furry felines! Ah, true love!!!!! My pets (I have many) mean the world to me. They are company, love, solace, and joy in my life. I love them as family. I take care of them, even if it means going above and beyond. I have animals who are on daily medication. I have had corrective surgery performed, at tremendous expense, not just once but in several cases. Two of my dogs are of the Pit Bull variety and I will fight breed-specific legislation to my dying day. I see it as a form of racism. It is like saying that all members of a specific race should be executed because of the acts of a few. My animals are my life. We have two Siberian Huskies, and they are the world to us. They are a part of our family, our entertainment, our stress relief, our exercise, the ice breakers at any gathering. They make us think happy thoughts when we’re at work. They keep us going on the weekends, and it warms our hearts at night to see them all curled up on the corners of their couch. We would be lost with out them! They are our life! My black cat, Midnight, is a blessing in disguise. Every morning she is at my face trying to kiss me and if I roll over she then starts to chew my hair. This is her saying to me get up and start your day with my “purr-breakfast”! And if that fails, the other two cats sometimes join her and trying to revel me UP. I truly appreciate my animals, knowing how much they love me, as I do them. My cat is worth a lot to me. He is my first cat for a 45-year-old guy. I saw him at a shelter on the internet and fell in love with him. His name is Cappy. When I first met him he bit me at the shelter, but I still took him home. After a few days, we became the best of friends. That was back in 2005. He is with me all over the house and won’t leave my side even when I am working on the couch with my laptop. Worth of him, there is no price you can put on this little guy. He gives both me and my wife unconditional love and we show that love back to him by playing with him and taking care of him. There are times I think what will happen when he gets old and he is no longer with us, but, I don’t want to think that far down the road. You can not give me any amount of money to get rid of this little guy. My wife and I love him. He is a member of the family. He is also a talker, so he meows to me a lot and I meow back. That’s what my pet is worth to me. I am privileged to have a furry companion named Pugsley. He is a sassy orange Maine Coon about three years of age. Many pet owners anthropomorphize their animals, and I must admit, I am guilty of this behavior too. While I recognize Pugsley is a cat, I would be lost without him; his mannerisms, his vocalizations, his moods, all these things contribute to his “humanity” and he is far more family than pet. As readers of Yankee Magazine, we were asked what our pet was worth. I say, I can no more put a value on Pugsley than I can on my sister, or my parents, or my lover. When compatible creatures live together, a bond is built that no dollar value can sever. It is without a doubt that I would pay anything and go to any length to preserve his life as I would my own. Here’s to all the Pugsleys. What’s my pet worth to me? Everything. Plain and simple. There isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do or give to that dog. She’s happy to see me no matter what I look like or how grumpy I am. Nothing can make you forget your problems as fast as a dog wanting to play catch with her favorite toy. I know some people think I’m crazy for loving my dog as much as I do, but I think they are even crazier than I am for not opening up their hearts to an animal and allowing themselves to be loved unconditionally. My life is definitely a case of “love me, love my dog”.