Show I i Thinks owners take from pets Dear Editor This is a letter in response to Marty Utley's letter from last week Mans Man's best friend takes from owner Let me be the first to say that there are people who have pets for u the sake of a status symbol Take for example example example ex ex- ample the recent attraction to th wrinkle dog They cost and are definitely used as a status symbol That does not show a genuine need for a dog Of the 60 percent of American households Mr Utley mentioned Ill I'll be willing willing willing will will- ing to bet that 90 percent of those consider their pet to be bea a part of the family Mr Utley discussed the veterinarian bills associated with animal care Have you ever checked on the cost of pediatric care Mr Utley also menti mentioned ned the stress involved in mutilated mutilated muti muti- furniture animal hair stains in carpet and fleas With the exception of hair and fleas dont don't most children cause the same stresses stresses se ses in addition to diapers temper tantrums etc Are we being conquered by our children A weeks week's worth of food for a child far exceeds the cost of a week for a pet Why dont don't we just stop having children because they cause too much stress and money spent on health care and nourishment My personal experience wi with th pets has been great You can read my column about pet surgery if you want to know how I feel about pets When fellow members of the human race abandon you desert you a faithful friend can give a la lot of love 4 and support just by an admirIng admiring admiring ing look When my parents got divorced 17 years ago my oldest brother received a ablack ablack ablack black German shepherd from froma a friend Im I'm not exaggerating when I say that dog saved my brothers brother's life My mom used to say that he minded better than her own kids That dog protected me when I would stay alone at night That dog died three years ago at the age of 14 My family grieved for weeks just as if a human member of the family had died We never had an animal get his or her life cut short by getting run over by a car All of our pets lived to their potential and with every death w we grieved the same Just before last Christmas my year old cat had to be put to sleep She was blind senile and decrepit Seeing her suffer was like watching an elderly person waste away All the stresses weve we've experienced experienced experienced ex ex- with our pets are more than made up for when they're there for us when we need a TRUE friend Pets are the only percent TRUE friend Now I have a cat who is truly my salvation Im I'm proud to say that he owns me Im I'm honored to be owned by a cat Signed Lisa Keene Horizon Feature Editor |