My mother turns 65 years young in January, and I’ve been having a heckuva time choosing the perfect birthday present. She’s a simple woman who enjoys simple pleasures; give her a hot cup of coffee and a good book, and she’s as happy as a clam. But there’s only so many times I can bring her bags of coffee or new books as a gift. She’s terrified of technology so that’s out. She doesn’t drink, she already has enough clothes to last her two lifetimes, and she lives in a fully decorated apartment, leaving no space for any new trinkets or artwork.
Then it hit me! Of course! Over the years, she seems to have lost her patience with other people in general. Her friends have either passed away or moved, her family lives far away, and although she lives in a building teaming with seniors who’d be more than happy to share in some conversation with her, she prefers to stick to herself most of the time, reading and drinking coffee. The truth is, humans are social creatures, meant to socialize, and when you spend too much time by yourself, it can have unpleasant effects on your health, as all your thoughts and emotions are focused inwards.
As her son, I’m pretty much the only person she talks to, but when she does, it’s always the same conversation about what medications she’s taking, what doctor’s appointments she’s been to, which ones she has coming up, how many times she thought she lost her medical alert Canada bracelet… And when all you do is sit at home and think about all your sicknesses and illnesses, well guess what? You’re never going to get well! So, this is how I came up with the perfect birthday gift idea for her: a pet! It’s perfect, a little animal to take care of would not only get her mind off her meds, but it would bring more love into her home, both from and towards the animal, it would get her out of the apartment if it needed walks, giving her the gift of fresh air and exercise, and it would motivate her to stay healthy, knowing that a little creature depends on her for it’s happiness and survival. In fact, it has been medically and scientifically proven that seniors with little companions have lower blood pressure, lower heart rates, and lower cholesterol, living longer and healthier lives than seniors without.
The following are some important things to consider when getting a pet for that special senior in your life, or perhaps you are a senior yourself reading this, and you could use this to help you pick out the perfect little animal to enrich your life:
- Get the pet from a local animal shelter or an adoption agency. Animals like cats and dogs from pet stores often come from breeding farms and puppy mills, where their parents live in terrible conditions and are basically forced to produce babies until they die.
- Pets from pet stores are expensive. Not only are they over priced to begin with, but you’ll have to take them to the vet to get all their shots, as well as spayed or neutered. Most animals from shelters and adoption agencies cost a small fee, and have already received all their vaccinations and have already been snipped.
- Think about adopting an older animal. Young animals like puppies and kittens are extremely rambunctious and require much training. They sometimes destroy furniture and leave messy packages on the carpet. Older animals have already been trained, have calmer dispositions, and will be less stressful to manage. Let the kids take the puppies and kittens, older animals are more difficult to find homes for, and are put down more often, so why not make two seniors live longer and happier by pairing them up.
- Try to match the pet with the person. Are they dog people, or more into cats? Would they enjoy the company of a bird, or perhaps a little rabbit? If you get them a dog, are they strong enough to walk some of the bigger breeds, or would a smaller pooch be a better idea? Would they appreciate the tranquility and beauty bubbling forth from an aquarium filed with fish?
After doing a little research myself, and casually asking my mom a few questions, I’ve discovered that a dog, perhaps a little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will be the perfect pet for her. They are of life and love, and will bombard her will affection and appreciation whenever she walks through the front door. The dog will get her out of the apartment, will get her legs and lungs working, and will perhaps help her meet new people along the way. A little dog will cuddle up with her when she sleeps, and most importantly, it will shift her focus off of herself and onto her new cuddly companion.
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