All Creatures Great And Small

Mulligan

We have had quite the pet stories in the Zimanek house. The first pet we had was probably our dog Cocoa. A beast of a canine, we're pretty sure that slogan "All dogs go to Heaven" does not include Cocoa the Destructor. Then we had hermit crabs. Low maintenance. They lived off a Cheerio a week. Not even kidding: Hershel and Sandy. Till Sandy ate Hershel. A sad day. Perhaps the Cheerio became bland? And we won't even talk about the Great Molting Catastrophe. Then we added a gerbil named Peanut. We added a second little one named Butter that Peanut attempted to kill, so we returned Butter, now traumatized, back to the store. Then Mulligan the Chow mutt abandoned at our curb who bit Anton, and Solomon the cat which Anton and I were both allergic to and was soon commandeered by our neighbor. We also had a one-eyed goldfish named Wazowski that committed suicide. Leapt to his death through a two-inch whole in the top lid of our aquarium. I think that's everyone. Not the greatest success with pets, but great stories and memories.

Solomon

There has been a lot of talk about pets amongst our children and their future spouses. Rob and Ayla have talked about one day adopting a pug puppy. And Kayla and Anton routinely make trips to Petland to play with puppies in hopes that one day they will take one home for their own. Puppies are certainly fun to play with. Ayla says there should be a company called Rent-a-Puppy that lets you play with a puppy and then return them. I think that is kinda what Anton and Kayla are using Petland for. After all, playful little puppies can certainly make a dark day brighter.

Cocoa

But those puppies and kitties and other baby critters all grow up to become bigger. They require quite a bit of money and responsibility. They need training, food, vaccinations, neutered (for some animals), let out to potty and patience from their owner as they cannot necessarily tell the difference between their chew toys and your furniture, pillows, toilet paper rolls, dirty laundry and door posts. Thankfully, pets become beloved members of the family, so these expenses are looked at as part of the experience.

So before the future Goggins and Zimaneks come home with Fifi, be sure you have considered all the consequences and responsibilities involved. Yes, you will be unconditionally loved (well, maybe not by the cat), but there is that estimated first year cost anywhere between $700 and $2,000 and possibly even higher for training, etc. Pets are fun, truly, but they are also work. Proverbs 12:10 says, "The righteous care for the needs of their animals." So be educated and prepared. Select with your head, not just your heart.

Discussion: Do you want a pet? When do you want a pet? Have you done research on what kind of pet you want? Are you prepared for the financial aspects of pet ownership? Tell a story about a pet you have loved.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your creation and for teaching us through your caring how to love what you've created. Father, we pray if our young couples are to have pets as part of their families, that they will be a blessing to them. In Christ, Amen.