In which Sam is just right about shit, okay?
I wish to talk to you about 'animal-people'. Specifically, I want to dispel the myth that there are two types of people in the world; pet people and not-pet people. I would instead like to introduce a third category, the "I-like-cute-things-but-actually-I-can't-be-arsed" people.
Not-pet people I have no issues with. You don't like animals? No biggie. As long as you aren't actively kicking puppies or killing kittens we have no beef with each other. Please, continue in your merry pet-free existence.
Fellow animal-lovers I ADORE. It' s a very similar feeling to the whole "OMG YOU THINK KATNISS IS SECRETLY SCULLY'S DAUGHTER TOO?!" thing you get with other fangirls. I love the people who think it's totally normal to travel over 30 miles at 10 o'clock at night to pick up a hamster cage, who spend over £100 a month on vital meds to keep their dog alive, who work in rescues and shelters even though it breaks their hearts because they can't not do it. I come from a large extended family of these people: we have all always had pets, we all wouldn't know what to do without them, and we all take full responsibility for their lives until the bitter end.
It's this third category that bothers/irritates/enrages me. It's the stupid people who buy cute fluffy things for their kids without any research, or any knowledge of how to keep them properly, and then neglect them when the kid inevitably gets bored. (I wasn't allowed to get 'bored' of my pets. I looked after them no matter what, because they were my responsibility, and I needed to learn.) These people at best pass these poor creatures from home to home, never allowing them any stability, and at worse leave them to live miserable, loveless existences. OF COURSE there are situations where pets need to be given up because there is no other solution, but in the majority of cases it's sheer laziness.
I've had a busy couple of weeks with my hammies. I discovered that Byers had a large abscess on her cheek, so begged an hour off work with my boss (see? Animal person) to rush her down to the vets. Fortunately the abscess burst by itself, negating the need for very dangerous sedation, and after a week of syringing twice daily antibiotics into her (oh the fun of that) she appears to have made a full recovery.
So all was happy and well in hammy land, until I got up on the morning of my birthday to discover that Frohike had passed away. She was in her favourite spot, in her favourite sleeping position (head between front paws, back legs splayed out, like a dog), so I can only assume she passed peacefully in her sleep. I feel so guilty, as she hadn't been getting much attention recently due to Byers taking up all my spare time.
And this is where I get mad. Because I get that if you're not an animal fan, you wouldn't understand me being upset. What I don't get is the people who tell me "she was just a hamster", or "they don't live very long, why do you bother? Get a cat." or (and this was a while ago, but is still my favourite) "the vet visit cost you £25? Why didn't you just but a new one?" These are all actual comments I have received, all from people who claim to be animal lovers.
I. don't. get. it. I understand hamsters have short lives, I knew what I was getting into. I realise this day is gonna come around a-plenty for me. But how dare you suggest that this little creature who I gave a home to, who I trained patiently to take food out of my hand and enjoy being handled, who ran around her cage and hung upside down from the ceiling like a tiny acrobat, who would devour broccoli like her life depended on it, shouldn't have meant anything to me? I have every right to open my front door and feel a hole in my heart when a little face doesn't peep out of her bed to see who's coming in. I have every right to cry when I count out 8 pieces of pasta for the evening treat, then realise I only need 7. These critters MEAN something to me. I adore them. I should adore them, because if you are going to take life into your hands, any life at all, you should give it the respect it deserves. I don't care if it's a hamster, or a dog, or a cat or a horse or a lizard or even a fucking spider. It's a life. You promised to care for it. So actually do it. And fuck you anyway, if you don't get that, and you still think you are capable of caring for a pet. You're not.
Frohike:
Not-pet people I have no issues with. You don't like animals? No biggie. As long as you aren't actively kicking puppies or killing kittens we have no beef with each other. Please, continue in your merry pet-free existence.
Fellow animal-lovers I ADORE. It' s a very similar feeling to the whole "OMG YOU THINK KATNISS IS SECRETLY SCULLY'S DAUGHTER TOO?!" thing you get with other fangirls. I love the people who think it's totally normal to travel over 30 miles at 10 o'clock at night to pick up a hamster cage, who spend over £100 a month on vital meds to keep their dog alive, who work in rescues and shelters even though it breaks their hearts because they can't not do it. I come from a large extended family of these people: we have all always had pets, we all wouldn't know what to do without them, and we all take full responsibility for their lives until the bitter end.
It's this third category that bothers/irritates/enrages me. It's the stupid people who buy cute fluffy things for their kids without any research, or any knowledge of how to keep them properly, and then neglect them when the kid inevitably gets bored. (I wasn't allowed to get 'bored' of my pets. I looked after them no matter what, because they were my responsibility, and I needed to learn.) These people at best pass these poor creatures from home to home, never allowing them any stability, and at worse leave them to live miserable, loveless existences. OF COURSE there are situations where pets need to be given up because there is no other solution, but in the majority of cases it's sheer laziness.
I've had a busy couple of weeks with my hammies. I discovered that Byers had a large abscess on her cheek, so begged an hour off work with my boss (see? Animal person) to rush her down to the vets. Fortunately the abscess burst by itself, negating the need for very dangerous sedation, and after a week of syringing twice daily antibiotics into her (oh the fun of that) she appears to have made a full recovery.
So all was happy and well in hammy land, until I got up on the morning of my birthday to discover that Frohike had passed away. She was in her favourite spot, in her favourite sleeping position (head between front paws, back legs splayed out, like a dog), so I can only assume she passed peacefully in her sleep. I feel so guilty, as she hadn't been getting much attention recently due to Byers taking up all my spare time.
And this is where I get mad. Because I get that if you're not an animal fan, you wouldn't understand me being upset. What I don't get is the people who tell me "she was just a hamster", or "they don't live very long, why do you bother? Get a cat." or (and this was a while ago, but is still my favourite) "the vet visit cost you £25? Why didn't you just but a new one?" These are all actual comments I have received, all from people who claim to be animal lovers.
I. don't. get. it. I understand hamsters have short lives, I knew what I was getting into. I realise this day is gonna come around a-plenty for me. But how dare you suggest that this little creature who I gave a home to, who I trained patiently to take food out of my hand and enjoy being handled, who ran around her cage and hung upside down from the ceiling like a tiny acrobat, who would devour broccoli like her life depended on it, shouldn't have meant anything to me? I have every right to open my front door and feel a hole in my heart when a little face doesn't peep out of her bed to see who's coming in. I have every right to cry when I count out 8 pieces of pasta for the evening treat, then realise I only need 7. These critters MEAN something to me. I adore them. I should adore them, because if you are going to take life into your hands, any life at all, you should give it the respect it deserves. I don't care if it's a hamster, or a dog, or a cat or a horse or a lizard or even a fucking spider. It's a life. You promised to care for it. So actually do it. And fuck you anyway, if you don't get that, and you still think you are capable of caring for a pet. You're not.
Frohike:
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