R
REFLE C T I O N S | B y : J o h n a n d K a t h y Va l a s t r o
eflections Island Pets
by: John & Kathy Valastro
REFLECTIONS | By: John and Kathy Valastro
“Our pets love us unconditionally and all they want is to be loved.”
I
’ve been fortunate to write for Waves Magazine this past year and have covered many fun topics. We’ve covered Island friends, music, places to go and fun things to do. Other topics on faith and patience were well received. So, a big “thank you” to all our Waves supporters.
I am usually inspired by those around me when we strike up often meaningless conversations. Well, I was walking my dog and it hit me..... Our Island Pets. So many of us have pets on the island that we depend on for friendship and comfort. Many of our pets are truly family members. We feed them, bathe them, groom them, we buy them toys and clothing. We take our pets to the doctor when they are sick. We take them on vacation, or we make plans for them while we are gone. For our older islanders, a pet can be their reason for living. We have islanders who have no family members left or no family in the area and a pet can become the next best thing. At some point we run out of energy to go out to our local bars and pubs. It’s nice to sit at home, cuddle on the couch and watch our favorite TV shows or read a book and right by our side... our cherished pet. Our pets have personalities. Is your pet hyper or shy; playful or a loner; demanding or aloof; silly or serious; afraid or protective; smart or a little slow. My pet likes people, but not other animals. How about your pet? What kind of personality does he/she have? As we make our way around the island to our
68 | Wa v e s M a g a z i n e | F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 0 I s s u e
favorite establishments or travel up and down the Seawall, we see islanders and their pets in all kinds of situations. I’ve seen the jogger with his chihuahua on his shoulder. Countless people walk their dogs on the Seawall, some are actually dressed in sweaters and bows, the dogs not their owner! I’ve seen dogs in strollers or riding in the bike baskets. We think people like to drive in their convertible or jeeps with the wind in their face, but how many of our fury friends love it just the same? Some establishments have the resident pets that mingle with the patrons and appear to get all the attention. One thing I often ask myself is do I have my pet trained or has my pet trained me? Think about it, our pets let us know when it’s time for their walk or their ready to eat or if they want a treat, and without thinking we comply. I’m afraid my dog, Brandy, has me trained. Think about it next time you respond to your pet’s “command”. Lol! As we get older, we depend on our pets for companionship. As with family and friends, if we’ve been blessed to live a long life, we eventually must say goodbye to our pets. Often, it’s as hard to say goodbye to them as it is to family members because they have been loyal and supportive. They have been there to greet you when you come home and pout when you leave. They sense when you are lonely or sad. They comfort you when you’re sick. Saying goodbye is tough, but remember how much joy they gave us while they were here...priceless. Our pets love us unconditionally and all they want is to be loved.
“A dog is a man’s best friend”. I truly believe that our pets, no matter what yours is, can be your best friend.
John & Kathy Valastro