PETS, FOR HEALTH & HAPPINESS
Through my 22 years as a veterinarian I have been full time as an equine veterinarian, zoo wildlife veterinarian, and small animal/exotic animal veterinarian. While I cherish all these experiences, I have found there are people who, like myself, have had a pet, or a certain zoo animal, or a horse that meant the world to us. An animal, whether a horse, tiger, monkey, parakeet, ferret, lizard, dog or cat, has made a tremendous difference as a pet to our personal health and well-being.
Daily I have clients who tell me that their pet is all they have, or that their family is gone including their husband or wife and that the pet is all they have been left with to love and care for. They get up in the mornings to the love from their pet, to care for and are comforted by their pet, to be greeted when they get home by their pet. Their pet is truly family, their companion, their best friend: they give them a sense of being needed, bring them happiness, and a feeling of not being totally alone.
I receive more thank you cards and letters from people for whom I've had to put their pet to sleep due to the pet's old age, a terminal illness or injury, than for any other reason. It is difficult but necessary to be able to end a pet's suffering, but what is rewarding is to know I've made a difference in another person's life and health by caring and being there for them, sympathizing with them in their sorrow. I, too, have been in their position and have lost beloved pets, or nearly lost them, and I know the emotional toll it takes on one's heart. But then I remind them of all the wonderful years the pet has given them, all the wonderful moments and memories, and how empty life would have been without them.
Most people eventually realize that having a pet, for whatever length of time, adds so much more to their life. Soon they are back to see me happy and joyful with a new pet. They often say that it was just too lonely without a pet, and that they couldn't be without one. They missed the unconditional love the pet gave them, and needed another pet to love and enrich their life.
SUZANNE T. BILLIAR, D.V.M.
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