With Archie & Lydia having problems lately I’ve thought about how great it is that I don’t have a regular 8 to 5 job working for someone else. Instead, I’m able to work out of my home office and be close to my dogs and cat. I’ve always enjoyed the fact that I don’t have to leave them for nine, ten, or more hours a day but now, when both of my dogs are having health problems it makes me realize even more just how fortunate I am.
I was curious to what lengths other people have gone to be able to stay with their pets when they are ill so I asked my contacts on LinkedIn and Twitter. I asked if they had ever canceled a social engagement, or taken off work to care for a sick pet. People who answered cited at least one time they’d opted for their pets over other obligations. Everybody who answered absolutely loves their pets takes the responsibility of caring for them seriously. They opted to care for their pets over work, vacations, school, and social engagements…and not one of them regretted it. The most important thing was spending time with their pets when they needed them most, which for some, was the end of their pets life. I realize it was sort of a “well DUH!” question to ask of pet lovers, but I really wanted to hear from others what measures they’ve taken to make sure they were there with their pets when they needed them.
Before I worked for myself, one of my criteria of a ‘good job’ was being close enough to home that I could make it home sometime during the day to let my dog out. That took different forms – either finding a job close to home, or finding a home close to where I worked. So, when I did the informal survey I was happy to find out I wasn’t alone in the way I feel about my pets. They are, after all, my family.
So anyway, back to my current recovering angel, Lydia…
We didn’t get much sleep last night but she’s made up for it today, and is doing much better. Right now, she’s lying comfortably next to me on the floor, and I’m hoping she’ll sleep through the night, so I can too. We’ll see.
On another note…
Check out or contest page. I’ve been a bit preoccupied with Lydia for the past few days and haven’t drawn the winners for our contest. I’ll do that tomorrow, but if you want to enter tonight yet, go for it!
Technorati Tags: pets, taking care of sick pets
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve passed on several jobs where I would have to travel and a couple that required commuting. But no regrets. Hope Lydia recovers quickly, it is such a helpless feeling to have a pet not well.
Thanks, Jan! I do feel a bit helpless right now, but am doing what I can to try to make her recuperation as easy as possible. I hope your recuperation is going well also!
My pets love me unconditionally. They are overjoyed to be near me. My dog was very ill one day, so I took him to school with me to be able to care for him during the day. In fact, I haven’t had a long vacation since getting my indoor pets. We plan short trips to get back home to them. I find myself becoming the pet sitter for everyone else this year as well. Simply spoken, my dogs are my world.
Ha!
Due to that (expletive expression) Pet Food Scandal from last year I can honestly say that the song ‘the year of the cat’ has a totally new meaning for me.
One of them almost died – twice. We spent weeks in a cat hospital, with me visiting him three times a day. I fed him with a tube for weeks, and I cancelled almost every social or volunteering engagement if my better half couldn’t have an eye on the cats while I was gone. My garden looks like a jungle, and the house reminds one fatally of a Viking raid… (sigh)
I am very lucky to live in a time where computers allow to work from home, and that my job is computer-related.
I am also very lucky to have found a cat hospital where *everybody* went way and above the call of duty to get my Imperial Highness back on his paws.
You know what?
When he comes waltzing into the room now and *demands* love, attention or to be let out on the porch…
it all was worth it, by a mile
and it was my responsibility anyhow.