BUT I TRAVEL? OR I CANNOT GO THROUGH LOSING ANOTHER PET……..

I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE VALID REASONS  NOT TO HAVE A PET. BELIEVE ME, BOB AND I SOUL SEARCHED THESE SAME QUESTIONS. BUT IN THE END, HERE’S WHY WE HAVE OUR BELOVED JAKE.

I cannot begin to tell you how many times daily that we just laugh at our Jake even when he is not even trying to be cute, he just is. For example, he will snuggle up in our bed pillows and watch every move we make. You know the saying, it is the little joys that give meaning to our days.

BUT TRAVELING?

This can be a dilemma if there were not lots of ways to keep traveling while being a pet owner like using Rover.com, one of the emerging pet sitting services. Friends and family can be an option. While we are currently traveling, our dear neighbors are watching our Jake. There are tons of boarding services. My sister uses DogStop in Boardman, Ohio which is truly a pet boutique with video cams to monitor pets, beautiful glass rooms versus metal cages, and a common play area plus outside blocks of time as well. 

We have traveled dozens of times with Jake often staying at pet friendly hotels. The demanding number of pet owning boomers along with the 50+ demographics have majorly impacted the hotel industry in answering the demand for more hotels and Air B&B’s to accommodate our pets. Jake will travel with us to the beach in NC this fall and then to Florida next February staying at pet friendly Air B&B’s.

I CANNOT GO THROUGH LOSING ANOTHER PET

Oh boy, this is a heart wrenching experience that is never forgotten. I know, having been through this three times. Nevertheless, even though our hearts never forget that beloved pet of the past, our heart can be restored by the love of another  wonderful pet. Truly, our life is so much richer with Jake as part of our family at this fourth quarter life stage.

WHY JAKE FOR OUR NOW AGE ?

As I already stated, I hear everyone’s resistance to having a pet at a “certain age”.  However, for BobBob and myself, here are our reasons for again, yes even at our age, our little buddy is a part of our Aging Gracefully lives.

A CONNECTING MAGNET

Loneliness is one of the pitfalls of aging!  Relocating to another state, or a change of life stages, or new neighborhoods can create a  challenge to connect  with others. As I walk Jake though, other pet walkers are a vehicle to easily begin talking about our pets, yes, but not limited to pet talk. I have met some lovely neighbors that I would have never connected with if it were not for Jake. Additionally, I have learned information of what is happening in our area since dog walkers normally are very observant folks.

MOTIVATES EXERCISE

Research tells us that pet owners actually are healthier. Debate this one if you will but these statistics can be easily validated. Walking is one of the best exercises and our pets definitely motivate us to get out there and walk.  For me, I daily crave the outdoors. Being inside all day is not in my DNA so off Jake and I go in almost all types of weather.

FOR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

This is a biggie for Aging Gracefully. On my bad days, that we all have, with Jake follow me around or to cuddle up with me is such a huge warm fuzzy to lift my spirits. It is harder for me to stay down with my little buddy loving on me in his own darling way. 

And who cannot relate to the devastating effects of lockdowns and cancellations from the past  year and half? Well I certainly can! Jake was often my rescuer because he needed me to be engaged with him and to focus on his daily needs versus focusing on myself.. This took me out of my own doom and gloom. Reaching out to others in addition to our pet’s care, is always the key to lifting our own spirits. However, somedays this is just too hard to do but Jake never gets shoved to maybe another day I will…

“KINDA’ FILLS THE VOID OF MISSING FAMILY

Please understand the wording, kinda fills the void. I miss my family every single day but having my Jake truly does help me in untold ways. After all, he is most definitely my furry baby. 

LASTLY, FOR SECURITY

Even though Jake is only 19 pounds, we call him our doorbell who alerts us when anyone is close by our home. He is not a yapper but knows when something or someone is near which gives an amazing amount of security to us. Especially if I am in my loft or Bob is in his lower level man cave, we know that our furry buddy is on security duty.

So to you non-pet owners, no one can tell anyone what works for another person. This post is simply for explaining why, yes, at our age, we are feeling blessed to be pet owners. And a BYW, my family along with BobBob believe that Jake is the last pet for us. But don’t tell them that I plan to have a furry buddy at any age!

Living and Loving Life Together,

Mitzi

P.S.  And again, Please Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Pinterest, and like my Facebook page