Adopting happiness

Pensive Mac
Mac eyeing Jake

If you treat them well, your adopted pets will usually give you back 1000% in smiles and unconditional love. I think that’s what most pet owners know.

“Mac was very happy this morning”, I said one morning to Naomi after I had taken the dog out for a short while.

“Dogs are usually happy no matter what, unless they’ve been abused or something”, she said.

Being a fairly new dog-adopter, I’ve been privileged to experience the nonsensical happiness Mac provides daily. He picks up a toy and entertains himself for a long time, even when we’re both hunkered down with work. Having a playful housemate in Jake the Cat provides Mac with even more entertainment as he stalks, chases and bites (gently) Jake all around the apartment.

Not that the harrassment is all one-sided. Once I was amazed to witness Mac chase Jake, then Jake do a U-turn and chase Mac back until he caught up with him and then leap over the stunned dog.

Mac even had a couple of battle scars from the rowdy encounters, but they’re all healed now. Sometimes they get too boisterous, and we have to separate them for a few hours to get some peace.

Cats on the other hand, are a different kettle of fish altogether. They’re a little more unpredictable, although with Jake, we know how much he craves company and attention, but on his own terms. He’ll meow his head off until we open our bedroom door in the morning just so he can see us for a minute, then he skulks off to another part of the house.

He also takes to provoking Mac into chasing him most days. Running at full flight at the dog and then away, so that he’ll get chased.

I don’t know how to explain seeing and envying a dog’s and a cat’s simple life of play, eat and sleep adds to our happiness quotient. It just does.

And if you do want a little slice of happiness this way, please, do like we did. Adopt, don’t buy. There are plenty of animals who need a loving home, and who’ll bestow upon that home 1000% returns in investment.

Visit the SPCA, and this blog written by an SPCA volunteer, and see for yourself.

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12 responses to “Adopting happiness”

  1. LINK (Adopting Happiness) They’re a little more unpredictable, although with Jake, we know how much he craves company and attention, but on his own terms. He’ll meow his head off until we open our bedroom door in the morning just so he can see us for a minute, then he

  2. commentator Avatar
    commentator

    Oh dear, have you done enough background research on assimilating two different animals before you adopted that dog? I can imagine how traumatised your resident cat must have been all this while with the introduction of a new member. I mean, it’s not as if they were bred as a pair since young. And ‘battle scars’? I hope you’re not treating them like samples in some experimental animal fight cage laboratory!

  3. commentator Avatar
    commentator

    Oh dear, have you done enough background research on assimilating two different animals before you adopted that dog? I can imagine how traumatised your resident cat must have been all this while with the introduction of a new member. I mean, it’s not as if they were bred as a pair since young. And ‘battle scars’? I hope you’re not treating them like samples in some experimental animal fight cage laboratory!

  4. Mr Miyagi Avatar

    Yes, we laboured over a lot of information before we took Mac in on a trial week. We also considered both animals’ individual temperament, breed notwithstanding, and we’re happy that they’re happy with each other. Mac and Jake would thank you for your concern, but all Jake knows is to bite your ankle (gently) while Mac humps your leg (gently too).

  5. Mr Miyagi Avatar

    Yes, we laboured over a lot of information before we took Mac in on a trial week. We also considered both animals’ individual temperament, breed notwithstanding, and we’re happy that they’re happy with each other. Mac and Jake would thank you for your concern, but all Jake knows is to bite your ankle (gently) while Mac humps your leg (gently too).

  6. commentator Avatar
    commentator

    Awww…you’re so sweet. OK, hope the two of them grow up happily.

  7. commentator Avatar
    commentator

    Awww…you’re so sweet. OK, hope the two of them grow up happily.

  8. Jadenster Avatar
    Jadenster

    Your post made me think of my happy bouncy furball back home, delighting my mum during her stay-at-home recuperative period whilst undergoing chemotherapy, his incessant leaps of joy when I walk in through the door utterly weary from a day’s work, his cheerful bark greeting me when I awake from sleep, his quiet comforting presence when I work through the night and turn round for some (furry) company, his mischevious gaze making my family laugh whenever we sit down for dinner…

    The moments are just too many to list.

  9. Jadenster Avatar
    Jadenster

    Your post made me think of my happy bouncy furball back home, delighting my mum during her stay-at-home recuperative period whilst undergoing chemotherapy, his incessant leaps of joy when I walk in through the door utterly weary from a day’s work, his cheerful bark greeting me when I awake from sleep, his quiet comforting presence when I work through the night and turn round for some (furry) company, his mischevious gaze making my family laugh whenever we sit down for dinner…

    The moments are just too many to list.

  10. rn Avatar

    my cats will meow their heads off… and then when I wake up they all look at me expectantly. When I close the door, they meow again. When I walk to the kitchen (tripping over them all the time), their food plates are still full but apparently they are just trying to help me wake up in time for work even though it’s sunday and I have no work.

    I can understand the simple joy you get from your pets. Sometimes I look at my Linus just sitting there next to me contently. She’ll look up at me and “merrr?” a question and give me what I think is a glimmer of questioning smile.. and I am content.

  11. rn Avatar

    my cats will meow their heads off… and then when I wake up they all look at me expectantly. When I close the door, they meow again. When I walk to the kitchen (tripping over them all the time), their food plates are still full but apparently they are just trying to help me wake up in time for work even though it’s sunday and I have no work.

    I can understand the simple joy you get from your pets. Sometimes I look at my Linus just sitting there next to me contently. She’ll look up at me and “merrr?” a question and give me what I think is a glimmer of questioning smile.. and I am content.

  12. […] having read about the stories about antics of their pets from other pet owners, like Mr Miyagi, as well as the adventures of a SPCA Volunteer, I giggled myself silly at the prospect of having my […]

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