Some animals make excellent mothers, but part of being a good “mom” to dogs or cats is making sure that they never have babies.
My “daughter,” Carly, a rescued mixed-breed dog, is spayed not only so that she won’t contribute to the animal overpopulation problem but also so that she doesn’t have to endure the stress and discomfort of heat periods. Having female dogs and cats spayed also eliminates their risk of uterine cancer and greatly reduces their chances of developing mammary cancer. (And neutering makes males much less likely to roam or fight and helps prevent testicular cancer.)
Carly depends on me to take her for walks, play with her, feed her wholesome food, and keep her safe, healthy, and happy. In return, she provides me with endless joy and unconditional love.
Bill Maher once said, “The reason I love my dog so much is because when I come home, he’s the only one in the world who treats me like I’m the Beatles.”
Carly treats me like I’m the Beatles, a queen, a World Series champion, and a gourmet chef, all rolled into one.
If your “child” is a cat, you might not be outwardly adored in quite the same way, but you’ll be loved nonetheless if you take proper care of him or her. That includes scooping the litterbox on a daily basis, opting not to declaw, and making the great indoors, well … great.
Our animal companions are priceless. So even though it’s Mother’s Day, let’s get them some presents. That’s what moms do, after all!