The 19th of May 2019 was my last day of college, and at the time, I didn’t realise it. There was a short period when all my friends and I thought it was an excuse to have a three-to-four-week holiday, how we were embarrassingly so wrong…
I like to keep busy, and like many people in the UK, the lockdown meant that keeping your mind active was difficult. I was constantly tired, waking up every day with the same plans and advancing with no intentions. I would wake up, walk my dog Alfie (admittedly in joggers), come back and get ready for my 8-hour shift at the local supermarket. I would often eat my dinner during my shift, and everyone knows it’s not practical and healthy for you to scoff your dinner down in the space of 30 minutes. This was my life for at least nine months.
Alfie undoubtedly kept me sane; walking him wasn’t a hardship. Not only was he an excuse to ‘clean the cobwebs,’ but in return for his daily walks, I was always his first choice to sleep on. Gradually, he never wanted to leave me, pining every time I went to work even if there was someone home. Working away from home was something not many people had the choice of; I was thankful but also bothered by it. Eight hours of mindless activity was filled with a constant thought of wanting to be in Alfie’s company, and I looked forward to seeing him when I walked through the front door. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for other types of pets like cats, for example, which I have had in the past and have never bothered to make an effort to appreciate my presence.
I know that some people were/are forced to stay at home when working when they would instead like to leave so have a work cycle, but thinking about it optimistically, pets are now having a great time with their owners, as they are spending more time at home with them because of the pandemic. The only downside is when we return to inevitable normality, however far away it may be, pets will struggle to be left alone again. I was lucky enough to work away from home and have someone to keep Alfie company, so it massively frustrates me learning the stories of individuals who have adopted dogs to fix their boredom, only for the lockdown to ease and neglect them because they have returned to work.
Having a pet is very strange; they don’t talk, and they live in your house without a single penny to give, but part of their likeability is their simplicity. There is nothing to hide. I strongly suggest getting a pet but understand that pets (more specifically dogs) require attention. Before considering, think about the long-term and consider the dog’s needs instead of your own.
