Today Carino and Pepito met their godmother Sara Owen for the first time. She immediately fell in love with them, and it was obvious the feeling was mutual.
For some reason Carino’s ear stood erect for the first time while asleep on Sara’s lap. This is not supposed to happen for another month—a good omen, no doubt. It reverted soon to its floppiness, of course.
I feel a sense of comfort in knowing that Sara will always be there for them, no matter what the future may bring for me and my family. It has always deeply saddened me when I read that an animal has been surrendered to Animal Services (AKA “the pound”) and likely to be euthanized because an owner, often elderly, has passed away and no one is willing or able to care for the animal. Then a lovely animal, perhaps in his/her later years, finds himself/herself in a cage with a concrete floor—alone, afraid, uncomprehending, and innocent of any wrongdoing. This is just wrong on so many levels. It is incumbent on pet parents, just as it is for human parents, to plan responsibly for those who depend on them.