by Skip Flanagan

Created on: November 02, 2008   Last Updated: February 02, 2010

Leave no pet behind!

Man's best friend has always encountered hardships and found it a difficult task getting proper nourishment during good times -  God forbid a recession. Thank God recessions are not seasonal. If this was the case we all would be in trouble trying to sustain the type of lifestyle most of us are used to living.

Having a pet is really a luxury. Yet for most people when one decides to purchase a home man's four legged friends usually account for the additional space. be that space in the back yard or inside the home. Pets are like adopting a kid. The dog usually goes to the groomer at least every 3 months and to the vet at least every six months. A bag of dog food is a weekly expense, not including any treats that the animal may have become accustomed to.

Yet the good thing about the animal is that he is going to be there as long as the home is there. The wife or husband may leave but the dog always seems to have security. He or she always seemed to have signed a true lifelong contract. For good or for worse. No matter if the master is eating steak or a burger he/she still gets his/her daily requirement of nutrients. Whose house? The dog's house.

No, seriously, tough times usually are when the four legged friend usually gets ignored. In some cases. A bag of food is sometimes hard to come by. Trips to the groomer are now non existent. The diagnosis of his/her wellness will have to wait. Such is life in hard economic times. No one really knows what will really happen, yet to some comfort comes in the form of a new friend. The four legged friend is unaware of the high gas prices. He/she only knows he hasn't been in the car as much lately. He may do a lot more exercising and Aalot more walking than usual. These are things that don't require extra expenses. This time spent is priceless. The love reciprocated is binding.

I believe that caring for one's pet during tough times is simple. It is one of those things that true pet lovers dont look twice at. The need to sustain life. The need to take care of someone that has shown you love and protected you is a no brainer, no matter how hard times get. No matter what, money is never the sole determining factor in one's decision to care for a loved one. In the army they say leave no soldier behind. In life I say leave no friend behind. No four legged friend. Especially someone that shows so much love, comforts you during good and bad times and will protect you even in the midst of danger. I believe he deserves to run around in the back yard and eat out of his bowl! Right?

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