Why as an adult did you get your first pet?

by Robert Hudson

Since I was a child I had all sorts of pet animals but as an adult my choices were limited to cats living in an apartment, and over the years I had several. I always wanted a dog- a big dog like a black lab, but I always thought to have a dog like that I needed my own house and yard., which never happened for me. However at one point in my late 40s I learned my apartment allowed dogs under 20 pounds. I hunted around for a smallish dog and found Buster on Craigs list. He was a little over 20 pounds as a puppy and grew into a dog of 40 pounds.

My first pet dog as an adult

I really had no idea what I was doing. It took a year just to housebreak him and training was a struggle. He was socially inept at the dog park….very dominate. I muddled through it and learned as I went along.

A few years ago my living situation got very unstable and uncertain. I was forced to live in some unsavory places and very tight quarters, but I never even considered giving him up. It was not until a fire took my home and for a few days I lived in my car. Only then did I give him to my ex roommate until I got settled in a new place.

I have never regretted my decision to get Buster, particularly in the last few years where we have gotten much closer. He is 15 years old now and hopefully he has a few more years left. I don’t know if I will get another dog after he is gone or not, but I know I will never have another puppy. It was quite an experience.

Lessons learned from my first pet dog

What I have learned is even during rough times, a dog is always there for you. Providing good care regardless of circumstances is possible. He has been a soulmate as silly as that sounds. I feel bad seeing dogs in the shelter that were given up. I wonder how anyone can so casually do it.

What was your first pet as an adult and how did it go? Was it easy or hard?