Achoo… I’m Allergic, See?: Learning to Love Pets
Published on November 12, 2024
By Kara V.
“I always knew there was a God, I just didn’t know he lived in the toilet!” This was my response when I caught my mother giving my pet fish a suitable fish burial when I was younger.
Growing up, all I had for pets were fish. My parents didn’t want my brother and me to grieve the loss of a pet the way they had when they were young. Consequently, the desire to have a dog or cat was nonexistent when I got older. When my children asked for a dog, I would state I was allergic and promptly fake sneeze. This continued for years. Then, one day, a switch flipped, and I decided we could get a dog after all. Once the decision was made, we picked up Snicker Poodle Rose (named after the cookie), a beautiful black six-month-old standard poodle, and she became my best friend.
Snicker Poodle didn’t have much time with our family. My parents’ fear came true; we were soon grieving the loss of a pet. When she passed, I was devastated. She was there for me when I was struggling, and suddenly, she was gone. Our house got quiet, my walks stopped, and my heart broke. However, this also happened: she had opened our hearts to the love and joy of four little paws. We discovered our house is not a home without a dog.
Several months after her death, we welcomed Winnie the Poodle, and this year, we welcomed Coco Poodle. As my daughter said, “Our puzzle is now complete.” The house feels chaotic and small with four people and two dogs, but it has become fuller in all the right ways. Winnie and Coco Poodle love us, both on good and bad days; they don’t judge or ask anything from us; they shower us with affection. Until I had a pet, I never understood how impactful pets are in our lives. Whether you are a dog person, a cat person, or a guinea pig person, animals fill us up with joy.
Tail Waggin’ Tutors is a great way to bask in the love and joy of a dog without the commitment of owning one. Trained therapy dogs visit the library with an open heart providing a safe comforting presence for young people to practice reading. They offer no judgment or critique. They just wag their tails with delight. If you are interested in scheduling a time for a Tail Waggin’ Tutor, visit our website and meet the dogs that will make reading that much more enjoyable!
You can't go wrong with these if you are interested in some titles with animals as the main characters.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
This book is written entirely from the dog’s point of view. It follows the dog's life with his owner and expresses how important the family is to the dog.
Turner and Hooch
I can relate to this movie because, like Tom Hank’s character, I did not want a dog until I realized I could not imagine my life without one.
Poodles by Elizabeth Noll
Learn everything there is to know about Poodles before you decide if it’s the right breed for you. I think you can’t go wrong, speaking as someone who has had three in the last seven years.
Guide to Puppies by Ellen Miles
This seems like the right book for a first-time or seasoned puppy owner, by the author of The Puppy Place series . We can always learn new tricks.
Pout Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
We read this book often in my house when the kids were growing up. They loved the repetitive story and the brightly colored pictures. I loved that I could memorize and tell the story any time they got mad.
Cat and Cat Adventures: the Quest for Snacks. By Susie Yi
If you have ever wondered what cats do when you are gone, enjoy this graphic novel and go on an adventure with Squash and Ginny.
Be a Hamster and Guinea Pig Expert by Gemma Barber
This book has everything you need to be a rodent expert! From rats to guinea pigs, you will learn it all.
Good Grief: On Loving Pets Here and Hereafter by E.B. Bartels
I tried to read a book after Snicker Poodle passed, but I couldn’t; the grief was too raw. However, maybe this will help you. Everyone experiences loss differently, and a good book could help you through it.
