6th December 2013 | by MFC Team
My family of fur babies
My name is Joyce. I always assumed that I’d get married and have kids one day, but that hasn’t happened for me. I’m 49 years old, single and I don’t have kids. It’s not that I didn’t want children – but having kids without a partner was not an option that I was open to considering. But that’s okay. I think things have turned out this way for a reason. I have a very good life and my nurturing and companionship needs are being met by my two dogs Milo and Scout, and my cat Finley. I fondly refer to them as my fur babies! I’ve also rescued and fostered other animals over the years before they were placed with adoptive families. My pets have made my life so much richer and more meaningful. Their love and devotion is unconditional. There’s nothing better than waking up and seeing Milo and Scout at the end of my bed, wagging their tails and waiting patiently for me to take them for their morning run. Finley’s usually is somewhere nearby too, but her brothers tend to demand most of my attention in those early hours of the morning. She’s pretty independent anyways, and typical of felines, she acts like she doesn’t need as much of my attention as the dogs do.
The best part is when I get home at the end of a tough day at work – and they’re waiting at the door – so excited to see me. No matter how bad my day has been, these guys lighten the load. They make me laugh and they make me feel loved. Some people say that I’m selfish because I’ve not had kids and raise animals instead. But my fur babies aren’t a consolation prize. Like kids, they rely on me and give me a sense of purpose. I’ve enjoyed watching them grow and develop since they were only a few months old. They each have their own personality. Milo is the big brother who is always looking out for his little brother Scout and sister Finley. Scout is extra curious and gets into a lot of mischief. Like many cats, Finley doesn’t let anyone get too close to her. But if she’s in the right mood, she loves to have the fur on her head stroked and brushed. People get frustrated with me when I say that I am “mama” to my animals, and when I treat them like my children. They say you can’t compare the animal-human bond with the bonds humans feel for each other. That might be true. I guess I’ll never know. But what I do know is that the love that I feel for my fur babies, and the love and affection that I feel in return from them, is more than enough for me.
Leave a Reply