Pets

 "A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. A water logged stick will do just fine. A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give him your heart and he'll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?"

Beyond the pet rock Corey gave me for Christmas two years ago (don't ask. Lets just say he broke my heart a little with that gift), we currently don't have any pets. But I do have family pets. Leaving your parents house doesn't mean your parents stop being your family, so I still consider the family pets to be, well...part of my family too. So, here are the furry members of the family:

Meet Tia, our Golden Retriever. From the moment we brought her home, all tiny and scared in the car, she burrowed her way into our hearts. She's a magical dog. People who don't like dogs, or are scared of dogs, leave our house with a little bit of their heart left behind. She's got a wonderful personality, loves new people and is incredibly spoilt. She hates being alone and follows you around the house if it's just you and her. Her chocolate brown eyes will plead with you for just one more pet on the head, and beg you to please let her out of the bath when it's bath time (though she'll stay in there until you let her go). Relatively well trained, but terrible on the lead, she's terrified of loud noises, the train line, the dark and tries to make herself smaller than dogs a quarter her size. Take her for a walk and let her off the lead, and you'll see what utter joy is. She's only truly happy when all of the family are home, and will greet you at the door as if she hasn't seen you in years, even if you just popped down to the shops for 5 minutes. Anyone who says dogs don't smile has never met a Golden Retriever. (Click on the link. You won't regret it!) About 5 years ago she swallowed a peach pip, had to have re-constructive surgery on her stomach and we came close to losing her.

Ah, Brandy. Cute to look at, soft to cuddle...prefers the dog to people. She's got sharp claws and isn't afraid to let you know she's not impressed. When the dog lies down, though, she cuddles up to her neck and starts kneading. It's the only time you hear her purr. A few years ago, when my father and I were at home and everyone else was out, our neighbour brought her home. She'd been in some sort of accident and was covered in blood. One amputated leg later (she had no other internal injuries, thank goodness), she was home and looking pretty miffed about the situation. Later that night, she fell off the wardrobe, trying to climb up there. She's this bundle of attitude, a big reason why she managed to cope without the second front leg (according to the vet). She may not like to be touched, but she'll greet you with the sweetest meow in the mornings, and often rushes with the dog to greet you at the door when you come home.

Finally, Sasha, our part Siamese. She's an old girl now, but the way she still manages to take down squirrels, you'd never know it. She'll find a way onto your lap, even if you've got your knees up and a plate on it. If she wants attention, she'll let you know, either with a loud, whiny meow, or a smack around the face. Even if you're asleep and it's 3 am. Or she'll stand at your head and stare at you. The sight of a pair of eyes, gleaming at you through the darkness, would give even the bravest the creeps. If my brother hasn't fed her, or if the food in her bowl isn't to her liking, she'll tattle on him. She'll go straight to my mother and wake her up, no one else, always my mother. She's quite possibly the most intelligent cat I've ever met. If there's a cat revolution, I'm damned certain she'll be the mastermind behind it. We had a bit of a scare at the beginning of the year (hence the pictures of the shaved neck) where the vet thought her liver may be failing. Sometimes you don't know how much you actually love something until you come close to losing them.

I love pets. I've always had them, and as soon as we have a house, I'll be filling it to the brim with animals of all sorts. They teach you so much when you're a child. You learn how to love and look after something other than you, and you get unconditional love back. They become part of the family. The house feels empty without a pet. Luckily Corey, who didn't grow up with pets of his own, loves animals, too. I think he's resigned himself to a future filled with furry creatures. And possibly chickens...