What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming A Pet Owner

I’m a nerd.

Big time.

When I’m interested in something, I research the heck out of it. I surf from site to site learning about what care the pet will need. I join forums and Facebook groups so I can learn from those who know. I read and read and read. By the time the pet joins my household I know what is needed to care for them forward and backward.

So when asked about what I wish I knew before becoming a pet owner, I’m hard pressed to come up with an answer.

But then I start thinking about the pets I used to have in my life. Whitney, my first dog. Taye, my cat who moved across country with me. Mona, the bunny I found running through the neighborhood. And so many more.

And I realized what I wish I knew before becoming a pet owner.

I wish I knew how hard it is to say good-bye.

I thought I would be prepared. I had been a veterinary assistant for a few years. Had been there when other owners had to make the difficult decision. Had held their pets as they took their last breath. Had comforted the owners. I thought I knew what it would be like.

But I didn’t.

I didn’t know the grief I would feel. I didn’t know how my heart would ache. I didn’t know the emptiness I would feel without them in my day.

But the thing is…

…knowing this wouldn’t change anything. I’d still have pets in my life. I can’t imagine a life without them in it.

My pets complete my life.

This post is dedicated to all the pets who have shared my life especially those I have said goodbye to this past year- piggy with an attitude Brava, Sweet Rocabird, my heart dog, Ricochet, and funny Caseybird.