It’s not just a pet

Posted on by Steve Longenecker

This is in response to the commentary in the Jan. 23 “Animal Magnetism: The Pet Issue.” What a great idea! Thank you, Mountain Xpress!

Animals—wild or not-so-wild—are a passion with me. I wish I knew even half as much as people think is the case, but I enjoy helping when I can.

I must admit, while reading Amy Rowling’s article “A Family Farewell,” I had to stop several times—not only to wipe my eyes, but to nuzzle the 9-year-old Lab mix who shares my home with me. Amy’s love and concern for Bandit came through beautifully. I hope the vets from Best Friends Mobile Veterinary Clinic have seen what she said about them. If I didn’t already have a very caring female vet over in Brevard, I’d be tempted to use these folks.

For many in this area, lives are made richer because of the critters in their care. Some of them know, without a doubt, that the very best dog/cat/ferret/parrot etc. in the world lives with them. You may have No. 2 in your house, but they have No. 1! If you happen to be a person who has difficulty understanding this relationship, please refrain from pooh-poohing a love you find irrational.

And—never, never, never let this phrase come out of your mouth within the hearing range of one of these people: It’s just a dog!” or “It’s just a cat!”

— Steve Longenecker
Asheville

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2 thoughts on “It’s not just a pet”

  1. Mark Hutchin

    George: What have you written, Mr. Barrie?

    J.M. Barrie: Well, currently I make my living entertaining princes and their courts with my trained bear, Porthos [motions to his Newfoundland
    dog]

    Peter: This is absurd. It’s just a dog.

    J.M. Barrie: Just a dog? Porthos dreams of being a bear, and you want to shatter those dreams by saying he’s just a dog? Just…what a horrible candle-snuffing word. That’s like saying, “He can’t climb that mountain, he’s just a man”, or “That’s not a diamond, it’s just a rock.” Just.

    Excerpt taken from Finding Neverland, 2004: A film about the playwrite JM Barrie and the writing of Peter Pan, about imagination and the limitations imposed by the word ‘just.’

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