Why do I have pets?

Why do we, as humans, have pets? Sometimes I wonder why I changed my mammal out policy to allow three furry critters into my house. Especially on those days when I am roused several times in the middle of the night by my dog, Popoki, to be let out of my bedroom. And, on the following day, when I find dog vomit and dog poop in various places in my house.

My mammal out policy was exactly as it sounded. No new mammals (human or otherwise) was allowed to take residence in my house - mammals were supposed to leave my house. This worked fairly well with my two daughters moving to Durango to finish College and to work. They no longer returned home on a permanent basis, having found a place to rent year round in Durango. They were the first two mammals to leave my house, leaving a dog and two cats to move out. The dog was my youngest daughter's dog to take once she returned from Palestine in the summer of 2007, and the cats (oldest daughter's pets) were to go to Durango once they found a place where they were allowed to have animals.

Unfortunately, the dog came down with Lymphoma while daughter number two was in Palestine and had to be euthanized. It was quick, the progression of this disease, and so another mammal was out of my house. This left two cats, who soon left my house on Labor Day of 2007. My mammal out policy had worked! They were all gone and I was alone. But, wait, I was alone and very lonely. I decided it may be a good idea to get a small dog as a companion, and as a way to maybe attract a man.

My future son-in-law worked at the Durango Animal shelter, and when I went to visit in September of 2007, he had Popoki picked out for me. It was love at first sight. I adopted her an brought her home. House training went fairly smoothly. I was set. No more mammals into my house.

Then, there came the day where there was a post on the classified ads at work giving away a brother and sister pair of orange tabby kittens, free, to a good home. I don't know if I qualified as a good home, but figured it was worth a try. I figured these kittens would already be gone - they were already fixed and declawed and they were free. Alas, I was the first to ask for them and they became mine. Cody and Katy now joined my household, too.

Well, since my daughters and my future son-in-law were just in town, with their two dogs, Atticus & Finch, I think it upset the routine for Popoki. She has been sick, throwing up and pooping everywhere. I think it must be the excitement and the let down since they have left. Sigh. What was I thinking in deviating from my mammal out policy? I must be nuts, and now I must continue to cleaning spots on my carpet.

Update: My poor dog had giardia. She had the giardia shot in November 2007, but according to my animal Doctor (Dr. Haas, Pet Palace Vet), the shot only works about 50% of the time, and some dogs are just susceptible. Sigh. He gave me some magic medicine that instantly dried up the diarrhea, and by the next day Popoki was back to normal.