An illustration shows viewpoints staffer Sara Stuart holding up her dog Ace. Stuart has had many pets throughout her life and with each one, they’ve taught her a valuable lesson of responsibility and grief. “I’ve had many different pets: one dog, five cats, one lizard, two mice, many fish and multiple chickens. Owning pets comes with the learning curve of responsibility, as an animal’s life is practically in your hands.” Stuart wrote. Illustration by Sylvia Robinson.
Viewpoints Staffer Sara Stuart explains how having and losing pets helped her gain responsibility and learn to cope with grief.
Throughout my life, I’ve had many different pets: one dog, five cats, one lizard, two mice, many fish and multiple chickens. Owning pets comes with the learning curve of responsibility, as an animal’s life is practically in my hands.
When my brother, Jack, wanted a pet bearded dragon in 2016, he had to promise to our parents that he would take great care of it. He even wrote an essay on how to take care of a bearded dragon. My parents eventually bought him one because they thought they could trust him with its care.
The experiences of grief over departed pets helped guide me to healthy coping mechanisms, such as humor and relying on my friends and family.
For me, my cats taught me the responsibility that the lizard taught Jack. From changing litter, to making sure they had clean water, to brushing out matted fur and making sure they had enough food, their care became an enjoyable daily routine.
However, as time goes on, pets get old and owners face the inevitable. From cats to dogs to fish, experiencing a pet’s death never falls short of devastating. No matter how their passing came about, I always struggled to get over it.
When I was nine, my first cat died. I was completely miserable. Nonetheless, his death taught me how to deal with that extreme sadness. The experiences of grief over departed pets helped guide me to healthy coping mechanisms, such as humor and relying on my friends and family.
The 11 different pets that I’ve had throughout my life all became a big part of the person I am now. I’ve learned responsibility, how to manage grief and the importance of companionship. I’m grateful for all they’ve taught me.
