I’m not a dog person.
I should elaborate – I’m not a cat person, a bird person, a hamster person or a guinea pig person. I don’t do slobber, vet visits or animal waste clean-up. While many dream of a future with a white picket fence, two kids and a dog, I have that same dream…minus the dog.
So when my CatholicMatch boyfriend adopted a scraggly, wiry-haired terrier chihuahua mix last February, I was less than thrilled. Even though George was overjoyed with his new friend who came with the name Smallzy, I worried about future Friday date nights being cut short to let the dog out or weekend camping trips with friends becoming a hassle when someone has to watch the dog.
My fears turned into reality when Smallzy ran out the front door within his first 24 hours of being home, transforming my Saturday afternoon winter ice skating date into a chilly search mission through the neighborhood. It was clearly a great start to our relationship.
But over the past eight months, I’ve begun to discover why these pets that so many people spoil and undeniably love become a part of our families. Smallzy, nicknamed “hound” by George,” is loving, attentive and funny, just when he needs to be.
Dogs can truly be a man’s best friend, and for singles (and married couples!), the unfailing love and admiration from any pet can set even the most dismal day back on course.
Today, we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis Assisi, a saint known for his overflowing love for our four-legged friends. For the first time on this feast day, I’ll be spending it at Mass with my boyfriend and his dog, as Smallzy is blessed by George’s parish priest.
Last year before this feast day, “Faith, Hope and Love” spotlighted many members who have also been blessed by their pets. In fact, a CatholicMatch poll showed that the majority of single Catholics own a pet! These CatholicMatch members have also found joy from their pets, just like I unexpectedly have from an adopted dog named Smallzy.
So now it’s your turn to tell us about your pet or pets – how have they enriched your life?
