“You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed,” said Antoine de Saint-Exupery. I completely agree with him.

When I was little, my mother had made sure I understood very well that owning a pet meant taking some serious and long-term responsibilities. She had explained to me more than once that when you adopt a kitty or a puppy, you have to take care of them, no matter what happens. They need to be fed, cleaned, trained, interacted with, and treated if they become ill, whether you have time / desire / means to do it or not. Mom made it clear to me that there was no “trial time” when it comes to pet ownership. Pets are not toys; you can’t take one, play with it, and then throw it away when you get bored with it. Mom had made sure I knew about the unpleasant responsibilities, too: “If your kitty throws up on the floor, you will have to clean up the mess, and if your puppy has diarrhea, you will have to wipe his butt.”

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