No White House pet

Trivial Pursuits
2017-10-27
Guest post by Suzann Darnall

I know there is so much going on that I could write about, but I am opting to write about something fairly trivial ‘cause it is something that actually keeps popping up in social media and other news sources about President Trump and his family. And, it truly is something trivial. Like these news outlets don’t have far more important concerns they could be covering. But, hey, they just keep proving every single day how very trivial they are, right?

As for me, I am allowed to be trivial. I am a stay-home wife who has a small quilting business, a lot of animals, and enjoys writing. I usually cover politics or societal concerns, but occasionally I wander into humor, family, or whatever else might stir my fancy.

I am not a professional who should be covering the news with an eye to informing the public, I am simply the internet equivalent of a wandering minstrel that people can invite into their world momentarily to read what I have to say on a particular subject on a particular day. It is my hope they will gain a new insight, get a laugh, simply enjoy my word play, or maybe even learn something.

But, enough meandering about my role versus real journalists, let’s get back to the truly trivial I am supposed to be covering this go-round. Pets. Specifically the time honored tradition of White House pets. Everyone gasp in amazement now, ‘cause the Trump family does not have a dog or a cat. However will America cope?

Now, I am an animal lover. Have been my entire life. With rare exceptions (due to military moves) I have had animals my whole life. I’ve owned horses, dogs, cats, a guinea pig, hamsters, a gerbil, and fish. Lots and lots of animals across my nearly 6 decades of my own personal pet parade. But, if I have learned anything across those many decades, it is that animals are not for everyone. And, I have also learned that I would prefer people who don’t really love animals not ever get animals.

Not having pets or not being an animal lover does not make someone a bad person. Some of us are animal people, some of us are not. It is a personal preference. Like preferring anything else. We do not consider people good or bad based on color preferences or food preferences, why do we label them based on animal choices? Cat, dog, none? What difference does it make?

Having worked in Great Dane rescue and having adopted a few cats from shelters, I can tell you that I very much prefer a person NOT get an animal than get one and then dispose of it!!! I live in a college town area and there are animals regularly dumped every time a semester ends, just like adoptions go up every time a semester begins. Pets should never be a temporary commitment or a social statement. They should always be a member of the family.

So, I admire the Trumps for not getting a pet, if that is what they prefer. Having a dog or cat in the White House does not make someone a great president. Doing the job correctly makes someone a great president. And, President Trump apparently doesn’t need a pet to do his job. So, far I think he is doing just fine without a furry friend. But, then again, I am not the “real” media, thus perhaps there is a pet-n-presidency link I am missing!!! I don’t think so, though!

Sayonara,
Suzann
http://www.suziezoo.com
http://www.woolymammoth.org