Pets

Most people do not doubt that pets are great companions and that they are good for everybody (young and old people). To many adults, especially those who live alone, animals are like family members. They fulfil your need for affection and attention like only animals can do. To children, in addition to being their companions all day, animals also serve to help them learn day-to-day things. Animals show the circle of life in an accelerated way compared to human beings (birth, youth, adulthood, old age and dying). They also show children other things related to life such as having an accident, getting ill and knowing how to take care of themselves. As these phases are more accelerated in animals than in human beings the children learn about them through the animals. Moreover, animals help the children to develop their sense of responsibility, since they need to be taken care of constantly. In a study performed by Robert Bierer it was concluded that children, aged ten to twelve who had animals had more empathy towards others and higher self-esteem. Pets also help children to reduce their anxiety, tediousness and fear and to develop a better capacity to integrate and to be more focused in school.

According to a study carried out in Paris, France, seventy-six percent of the people interviewed believed that the presence of a pet favoured the communication between family members. A group of sixty children was observed and sixty-three percent of them owned a pet such as: dog, cat, bird, fish or turtle. The results of the inquiry confirm the importance of these animals to the development of affection in children and adolescents. The fact that the animal is permanently available for sociability with its’ young owners appears in the study to be a key-factor for the relationship between family members and this also shows that the presence of pets in homes is of great importance.

I had my first pet on my first birthday in April 1959. My parents offered me a puppy which was then one year old just like me.

I practically grew up with Argos - he turned out to be my best friend during my childhood and teen years. It took me time to get over his death 12 years later. Then came Arodaphnousa the cat and Chérie the poodle. A kitten and a puppy. They used to share their food in the same dish - Chérie would leave the fish for Arodaphnousa and Arodaphnousa would eat all the meat PLUS the fish but would leave all the bones to Chérie. They also used to sleep together. Unfortunately, I lost all their beautiful photos in 1974 during the Turkish invasion. Somebody must have found them , though, in occupied Famagusta. I also lost both my pets during that time.

As a student in Geneva, Switzerland, I had a Swiss friend who wanted to find a home for her 2 year-old dog - the offspring of a german pointer and a labrador! I only had a room then with a bathroom and a kitchenette but I fell in love with Pupuce and brought her home. We had her for 5 years and when Alkis and I got married and decided to leave Switzerland, we wanted to take her with us. However, we learnt that in Greece and Cyprus imported dogs had to spend 6 months in quarantine, then. I couldn't do that to Pupuce. She'd have died! And she was only 6 years old in 1983! So, however hard it was, we decided to give her to a friend of ours whose parents were blind. With some training, Pupuce became their guide dog.  Here she is with Alkis in my room in Geneva.

Next came Chap the naughty boy. I thought poodles behaved themselves!

And then in the 90s Michel the cat. Alkis and I had him for 3 years. Then one day, Alkis challenged him badly with his favourite toys - mouse and ball. As a result, Michel scratched him badly and we gave him away. But he was the cutest cat I've ever had!

He also loved my plants and flowers!

Finally my mother's labrador, Blanche. She was such a great dog - smart, intelligent, loving. My mother often brought her to Larnaca for a visit and , unlike Chap, she'd behave herself! She passed away a couple of years ago at the age of 18!

 

Since we gave Michel away, I haven't had a pet as both Alkis and I live in a flat and work long hours. So any pet would be very unhappy with us now!

Comments

[Alexia M]

I loved all your pets but I think Argos is THE star! Look at him! He practically posed for the photo! lol ! And what a wonderful photo of him. Well.. I have a fish called Nero which means water in Greek! LOL ! And a cat - my sweet Rourou!

[Christina]

Right now I have a dog - a dalmatian called Artemis. She is my best friend! I think that pets make our lives more beautiful. They are faithfull friends and all they are asking us to do is take care of them and love them! I never liked cats but I must tell you that I fell in love with your Michel. And those beautifull eyes of his!

[Walid]

Habebti.
Hello. Very good subject to know about.
Since I was young we had pets at home.Just as a good reason they use to make a special way or design for the Cat window going in and out the house,we never had dogs living indoor.
To cut it short he who love pets and treat them good , will raise a good family.
Plenty pets are more faithful than HUMANS.At least they worn you of the danger and will never be the danger.
To me I love Labrador and the most intelligent do which is the poodle.I use to have both plus some hunting dogs .God Bless.
With Love Walid.

[Constantinos]

After my divorce, I had to leave my two dogs as well. The children practically grew up with them and developed a very special relationship and secondly I couldn't possibly take the dogs away from their home. They'd feel miserable in a flat. Yet, I always miss them very much and whenever the children bring them over I feel like hugging beloved members of the family that I haven't seen for a long time. I also feel it's very important to have pets at home. For everyone but especially for children who learn to assume responsibilities and become more sociable. They also learn to love, respect and protect animals. As for your pets, Anastasia with the lovely names, they are all adorable! Thanks for sharing.

[Lakis Ioannou]

You say something very wise my friend. he who raise pets and treat them good will raise a good family. Very true!

[Lakis Ioannou]

I spent all my childhood in a village and was surrounded by lots of animals: 5 hens, 2 goats, a rabbit, a dog and a donkey that used to do all the hard work at the time. From an early age, I learned a lot about animals and how much they can offer to humans. Now I have 2 hunting dogs and a cat. All three of them get along very well.

[Andy]

A real puppy for a present on your first birthday? I bet you were thrilled. Argos has definitely won my heart. Such a precious photo!

[Laura]

They're all lovely but I think Michel is the loveliest of them all! I can't imagine life without my two cats - Willie and Ronda - or without Sam - a collie.

[Stefania]

This is the 6th member of my family following Grizoulis our cat. Her name's Ellie, she is 18 months old and we love her very much.
="http://s626.photobucket.com/albums/tt345/stefania_09/?action=view&current=Ellie.jpg" target="_blank">

[Stefania]

And this is Grizoulis. His name means little grey one in Greek. He's been a member of my family for about 3 years now. He doesn't like Ellie very much! I believe that pets can alter the way we think. They can make us more humane, more loving. more affectionate.

[Haruko]

Oh Anastasia, your pets are all soooo beautiful!! But the one I like most is Michel the cat. I have a cat and a hamster and they are both part of my family. When we leave on holidays, we take them with us or leave them with our neighbors who take good care of them.

[Sophia]

Although I love all the pics of your pets, Anastasia, Argos has attracted my attention! He is such a cutie and I can understand how close you got. I have never lived without pets. As a child I had a parrot, a cat, a turtle and a rabbit. And later in my life I wanted my children to have pets. So we have now a spaniel and a pekinese, 2 cats and a turtle. After leaving Lemesos because I was tired of commuting , I did not give up the pets. My father, or my sister take care of them and we are very often there to see them and hug them.

[Sophia]

Stefania mou, Ellie is a great beauty! Impossible not to fall in love with her! I love her expressive eyes!

[Emma]

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
Mark Twain
US humorist, novelist, short story author, & wit (1835 - 1910)

[Tina]

I don't think I could ever live without at least one furry or feathery friend in my life.

I already knew a little about Blanche and your cat Michel(the photos of her are lovely), but enjoyed reading about your other pets.

Interesting, too, the names--I always like finding out the different names given to people's pets.

My first ever pet was a tabby cat named Minou(but I barely remember her, then my cat Calico(who lived to be 18 years olfd and was my confidant during my childhood)--other cats we had were Domino, Spiro, Mozart, Sherlock, Jezebel and Max.
Then, when I was on my own, I was given a rather odd looking, unwanted(he had already been in two homes before) big bat-eared black and white "tuxedo" cat that I named Woody.
He was the sweetest, most loving and sensitive cat I ever had and I still miss him(have dreams about him sometimes and and even imagine I still see him jumping up onto the still moving hood of my car as I drove into the drive--his special and crazy way of greeting me). He "disappeared" a few summers ago-sadly we think a coyote got him.

Then..I finally brought a dog into my life at age 41--my half Italian Greyhound/half Brittany Spaniel, my sweetheart Jewel. Whose birthday it happens to be today--she is six years old already. And that makes me realise how short our time with these special friends is.

[Walid]

Habebti.
Hello asking your permition to thank my friend Lakis on your page.I am really thankful to both of you for the understanding.
To me it is a pity I can't raise pets any more cause of my health problems.I can't take good care of them.
Please check this bread ,the last Hunting Dog I had was from this bread. http://www.weimaranerhunters.com/
With Love Walid

[Lakis Ioannou]

Why do I have the impression that Grizoulis is looking at Ellie in this photo???

[Lakis Ioannou]

Thanks for posting the link. I was very impressed by the photos and info on the master-dog (great breed!) guided adventure hunts. My dogs are quite well trained but they need some more training to bring me the bird in my hands. They usually show me the place and I pick up the bird.

[Faith]

Anastasia, I live in my animals' home WITH them. They pretty much rule the household and especially now, the world rotates around them. I have 4 cats and 2 dogs. The dogs are both 15 yrs old and not very healthy anymore. When my mother died, Barbara got me Teddy a Lhasa Apso who was about to be put down. He had kennel cough very badly but he was so cuddly, I could not let it happen. Turns out he has Barbara's temperment. About 3 months after getting Teddy, we realized he needed a playmate so we got a very feisty Maltese/Poodle I named Angela Lucia (after my mother Lucy). Both are very ill-behaved dogs because Barbara and I did not agree on how to train them. BAD for all of us concerned, dogs included. Both of them are very ill now. Angel has congestive heart failure and Teddy is senile, blind and deaf but still active.
The four cats we have are also old. One is 19 yrs old and I think she will be passing soon. I have a persian cat (with a lion cut shave)who is 18 yrs. old. She was "dumped" by someone and we found her. She has 3 teeth, no claws and is stone deaf. All she does is eat and sleep, except at night when she walks onto your chest and screams loudly for you to pet her. Her name is Granny. The two "babies" are 9 yrs old. They are gray striped manx cats who are brother and sister, though when we named them, we were under the impression they were both male. I named them Cal and Kirby for my favorite baseball players, Cal Ripken Jr and Kirby Puckett. Cal is the sweetest cat in the world and Kirby is very aloof and snotty. I love my animals very much but I must say with all of them close in age, the thought of losing them one right after another is not appealing to me. BUT I have said a firm, NO MORE PETS until retirement because we are both too busy to give proper attention to them.
This was a great article and the comments were equally interesting. Thanks and filakia, my friend.

[Faith]

Nice seeing you here, Lakis. You have been missed!!!

[Lakis Ioannou]

I miss you too, Faith, and I'm really glad to meet you here. I'm on Blogger now.

[Anastasia]

I'll never forget Argos! We grew up together, I remember talking to him about everything and, of course, taking good care of him. A fish called Nero? Lovely name!

[Anastasia]

Walid, I really adored my mother's labrador, Blanche. She was so intelligent despite the fact that she was ...overweight! Chap was a very naughty poodle. But I loved him so much even though I'd usually tell him off! He was clever but not very disciplined!

[Anastasia]

I understand how hard it was for you, Constantine mou, to leave your dogs. But you did the right thing for them and for the children.

[Anastasia]

I can't remember my first reaction to Argos as I was only one year old...but my mum says I was both amazed and excited!But I do remember him being my best friend in the ensuing years.

[Anastasia]

Well, Laura, Michel was the most beautiful cat I've ever had...a bit too playful I think.

[Anastasia]

I remember the first day you introduced me to Ellie! She was such an adorable little puppy! And now she is an adorable young lady!Thanks for sharing the photo.

[Anastasia]

Hmm... Grizoulis looks rather unhappy here ....

[Anastasia]

You are very lucky to have neighbours who willingly take care of your pets when you are away. When on holiday, I'd either take my pets to my mother's or to a pet hotel!

[Anastasia]

Wow! a spaniel, a pekinese, 2 cats and a turtle! Sophaki mou,it's very reassuring to know that your family is there for them when you are away.

[Anastasia]

Thanks for sharing this great quote, Emma! A starving dog always licks the hand that feeds him...unlike many humans.

[Anastasia]

Tina, just like you I've always been interested in pets' names. And I really love your cats' names! Mozart! How original! As for Jewel, I know she is a black beauty! Belated happy birthday to her!

[Anastasia]

You've put tears in my etes , Faith. Most people would most willingly get rid of ill pets. But you keep them and you take care of them as if they were beloved members of your family. I guess it's not always easy... Hats off, Faith! And may many other people follow your example.

[Anastasia]

Oh !! I've always wanted to have a dalmatian, Christina. You are right, pets only ask for love and care and they can be so very rewarding!Hmmm...I still miss Michel!

[Anastasia]

What a wonderful experience this must have been , Laki mou!

[Faith]

funny that I see this post today, the day after my Angel died. It was very difficult taking care of her at the end because she would not eat or take her medicines and she was not going to the bathroom. What is extremely sad now is wathing her "brother" mope around and wander from one end of the room to the other, wondering what happened to Angel. He too is very ill (senile) and I know it will not be long for him either. My roommate will really miss him as they are similar personalities. Also her one cat had to be put down a couple months ago. We still have 3 cats but one is extremely old and does nothing but sleep but the other 2 are about 7 yrs old. I love animals, but when these are gone, I want an animal free home. I end up caring for all of them because my roommate is gone so muchdoing volleyball games. Filakia, my friend.

[Anastasia]

Animals have feelings. I guess it'll take long for Angel's brother to get used to this loss. Caring for animals makes us more human, Faith.