The simple equation of wife plus husband plus pet equals three separate situations: either the wife or the husband doesn't like pets in general, or the particular pet of the other, or both like the pet one brought to the marriage or acquired after the wedding. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Pets can be a source of pride and affection OR, they can be an unrelenting source of friction. Carol Ann loves cats. Jason despises them. After several years of marriage, Carol Ann decided she had to have a cat, so she got one, a fairly large indoor cat. Jason avoids the cat, thinks it's useless and messy. Why does Carol Ann keep the cat?
Bob loves dogs. He grew up with a dog. His parents and brothers have dogs. He had a big Great Dane before he and Louisa were married. She knew about Bob's dog but decided the dog was such a part of Bob that she wouldn't object. Louisa has the most care of the dog but she dearly loves Bob and doesn't seem to mind. She privately admitted, though, that when the Great Dane dies, she would campaign for "no pets" in their life.
There are all kinds of pets, small such as tropical fish, small birds and even small dogs. There are the huge pets such as large dogs and horses. There are expensive pets and there are mutts. One thing is for certain: they all require food and care, make messes, and cost money to either buy and/or when they need to get care at the vet's office.
I've seen poor folks with pets who only feed them, perhaps take them to clinics for their required vaccinations, but never take them to a vet for care if they're sick. Many people would consider that irresponsible: if you can't afford to take care of a pet properly, perhaps you shouldn't have one.
Then there's the matter of who will take care of the pet if you have to go out-of-town. A small pet may be easy to get someone to care for, but some pets are extremely difficult to find a pet-sitter for, whether it be friend, family, or kennel-type care. Taking pets on travels is not only quite expensive, it is usually hard on the pet.
When my youngest daughter #8, Jeannie, got married, she took her cat, Lucy (now in kitty heaven), with her. My other children asked me, "Oh, Mom, do you want us to get you something to replace Lucy?" Oh, my gosh!! I tolerated the messy, smelly, unfriendly, fur-shedding cat with expensive vet bills due to the cat having allergies, ONLY because Jeannie loved her. I told them, "I do not want anything that breathes or messes, not so much as a fish!" End of pet offers!
One time I sort of teased my children. After a couple of delightful pet-free years, I got a small cat. Really, I did. I told them I did. They didn't believe it. Then I showed them the cat: it was curled up in its little hard bed, approximately 1 1/2 inches long, in my dollhouse! We all thought it was quite funny! Besides being tired of vacuuming up bunches of fur, I love to travel and don't want to have to pawn off my pet every time I leave.
There's also the matter of people being allergic to pets. Alex and Karen had several pet-free years, then together decided they would get two cats, one for each of them. Karen was allergic to cats so she went to the dermatologist for weekly shots to be able to tolerate them. After several years of treatment, Karen no longer need the shots. Both Alex and Karen still love their cats.
If you're contemplating marrying someone who has a pet or you have one, you would be wise to discuss what's going to happen after you marry. You DO want to be compatible on this - and every - issue! Would you give up your pet or ask your intended spouse to give up his or her pet? Be honest!
Lord, You Yourself gave our first ancestors all the animals and plants, way back in the beginning, as is written in the Bible's first pages. If we have care of these living creatures, help us care properly!
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