How My Pets Inspire Me

Hoss, our wonderful Boxer boy, gives me a kiss at The Hawaiian Humane Society Pet Walk October 2, 2011. (Photo by Chuck Little)

Most of the blogs I’ve written up to this point provide pet information, or advocate for ways we can better protect pets. But for this one, I want to share with you what drives me to help educate and provide this service – my love for my dogs.

We have Boxers in our family. They bring endless happiness into our lives. They’re goofy clowns that LOVE to please their owners. In fact, I often joke that they’re “velcro dogs,” following us everywhere around the house, even lying on the bathroom mat, watching our every move.

Having a pet means we’re never alone. When I’m home, I know that there are big, furry friends to spend the day with. When I’m lazy and just want to chill out on the couch, they jump up on me and snuggle by my side. When I’m feeling motivated and ready for a run (which sadly, isn’t often), they jump and whine, begging me to take them along.

It’s this devotion and unconditional emotional support they provide us with each and every day that inspires me to do not only what I can to be a better pet owner, but try to help other pets not lucky enough to have a family home. I think by working together, finding common ground with people we may not agree with on everything, we’ll someday find solutions to our complex animal welfare challenges.

And through this resource, I meet outstanding pet owners. So many of you do so much for animals, spending your time volunteering at shelters, rescuing animals, and sharing information. It’s been fun to watch this project take off, and I’m grateful for your support.

And, each day that I have this blog and the Facebook page, I learn more about responsible pet ownership. There’s a lot to learn, like proper cat care, grooming or just how imperative good boarding services are for traveling military families, to name some examples.

I never claim to be an expert, nor do I have solutions to everyone’s questions (why you see so many “Questions of the Day” on Facebook). I’m not perfect. I make mistakes, but do the best I can and I am passionate about being a pet owner. Hopefully, as we share our personal experiences in this public forum, we grow together in knowledge and understanding.

I do think animals change our lives in positive ways. Now, I hope you’ll share too. How has your pet inspired you? We’d love to hear from you.