A Note from Janice Brown, Founder
My busy life recently got busier. At the beginning of the summer we welcomed our third daughter, Avery, into our family. I was prepared for the midnight feedings, the endless diaper changes, and the bouts of crying. What I was not ready for was how much work taking care of our animals would become. The fur seems to have multiplied, the hairballs are out of control, the barking is louder, and the cats peeing on the toys is now a nightly ritual. There are times I think it’s just about too much for my husband and me to take. But, of course, in the next breath I realize we just need time to adjust to our new routine, and so do our pets.
I have admitted before that our two dogs and two cats, while showered with love, have felt the impact of our expanding family. Their worlds slowly evolved from being the center of our universe to being a part of our universe. A couple of weeks ago we took our first road trip since Avery’s birth and the dogs definitely noticed a change. Fitting in three car seats meant only half of the back seat for panting and drooling, one suitcase for the whole family, and no rolled down windows to enjoy the wind in their fur.
It made me realize that while we spent a considerable amount of time preparing our two older daughters for the arrival of their new baby sister, since the pets had already been through this, we figured they would do fine. We followed the same protocol as before: bringing the blankets home from the hospital for them to smell, letting the dogs “find” the baby before we brought her in, and allowing all the animals to sniff and lick her head and feet carefully upon her arrival. We took it for granted that things would just fall into place easily, but it’s been a more challenging transition than in the past. It is more apparent than ever that animals are part of the family and, like all human members, adapt to change at their own pace.
For those of us who have kids and pets, there is a dynamic present that is both amazing to watch and at times difficult to handle. It may be a bit hard in the beginning, but I have seen the love that our children and animals share. The early-morning cuddles on the bed, the patience the dogs and cats display while playing vet with the girls, and the greetings and goodnight kisses between them. Recently my four-year-old crowned our cat Obie the “best purrer” and placed one of her tiny princess crowns on his head. It is times like that when I can’t imagine our home without the 16 paws scampering across the floors. And after a family dinner at our friends dog-less house, I especially can’t imagine having to clean up the floor after meals!
This issue focuses on young people and animals. For some guardians, their pets are their only children, and for others they are members of a larger clan. Either way, we need to take time to celebrate the roles animals play in our lives, and appreciate the unconditional love they offer.
Here’s to the end of long, happy summer, the beginning of a brand-new school year, and of course lots of fun school supplies—
