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—
