The Joy of Pets and the Pain of My Past

Growing up, I had zero experience with pets because over there in rural areas, people cared more about farming and food,nothing like pets those days,until my uni days when I found myself in the city. I started seeing my world in another dimension, seeing some of my classmates with pets back then.

Fast forward to when I got married and relocated to Lagos City, Nigeria. Pets became so rampant, and I began to see people keep animals like puppies, dogs, cats, birds, and other animals in their homes. I also see that some people usually travel with their pet and even pay for a full seat for their pet. It was so upsetting and surprising at first, but I had to just blend with the happenings around me.

From what I have seen with my friends who keep pets to date, it's an interesting experience, especially when you have an animal that makes you feel comfortable and happy whenever you are around it, and especially with my friend who didn't have a child after many years in marriage. Those pets kept her company and gave her temporary joy while playing with them until she finally had her twin babies last year, although she still keeps the pets to date.

Personally, my kids admire pets, maybe due to their experience with cartons and other neighbors taking a walk with their pets in our street. It treats them to how they relate to these pets and how the pets understand everything they are saying. Sometimes, too, it baffles me to see that animals understand humans. 😀 I have received lots of disturbances from my boys to buy them puppies at home as their pets to always play with, but I have my reservations.

I better admire people from after playing with their pets than bring it home; it reminds me of an ugly experience that happened many years ago while I was still in my father's house. This is why whenever my kids talk about pets, I think about it and reverse the thoughts immediately.

One day, a white dog entered through my father's compound through our major gate and bit our last born on his lips. A boy of 10 years old, a smart, brilliant, and intelligent boy, full of life and with a great future. All effort to make this boy alive proved abortive. We rushed him to the hospital immediately, where he was receiving the right injections, but on the third day, the boy died! It was strange and a devastating experience for my family.

This made me hate any kind of animal around me, and till tomorrow, I am not sure I am going to keep one as a pet. No matter how interesting my kids find pets, it's something I have been dealing with with my emotions since many years ago to date, and I can't help it for now , honestly.

Having said that, I believe pets can bring joy and companionship to a family, and it's possible my kids can even learn patience and take responsibility by helping to care for the pets with other possible lessons around them, but the truth is that I will continue to admire pets from a distance, but I wouldn't completely rule out having one in the future. Who knows? I might have a shift in my mind someday 😉

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