Jessica came into my life when she was 1 - it was during one of those infamous Denver blizzards. My sister and I had been watching the master of Jessica for awhile, he wasn't treating her quite right, giving her hot dogs to eat, leaving her outside more and more. Then during the midst of one of our blizzards, he tossed her outside for good. Thank God we found her! She has been my little girl ever since. Not a night has gone by for the past 13 years that she has not slept with me, her arms wrapped around mine.

And then there are my two boys.....Frosty is 14 years old now and he's been with me for the past 10 years. He came to me one morning, during a rain storm, and was covered with car oil. You absolutely could not tell that he was an apricot colored Flame-Point Siamese, he was that dirty. He also had a broken fang which needed to be pulled. Well, off to the vet he went where they painstakingly took the oil out of his fur and pulled that fang. Lo and behold, this is what he looked like!!! He is one of the most mellow cats there could be, never gets into trouble and just lives a peaceful life. Well, until he met Chopperoooski that is.....

Chopper is my baby - being all of 4-1/2 years old. I came home late one night, opened my car door, and saw this bundle of fur running down the middle of the street right at me. He was all of 8 weeks old and I hated to see him running around like that. So I took him in, thinking only that the next day I'd have to find a no-kill shelter to take him to. Of course that was not to be. He wormed his way right into my heart.... He and Frosty have become the best of friends. Of course, Jessica is not too thrilled with Chopper but somehow has managed to stay out of his way. Chopper likes nothing more than to play with whatever he can find. His favorite thing to do is to play with milktop rings and drop them in the water dish or slide them under a closet door because he knows darn good and well that I'll fetch them. And sure enough, I do. They sure have me trained well. I really do believe that bringing Chopper into my home has made Jessica and Frosty feel younger.

Animals can do good things for the human mind and soul. Animals can sense when we are sick or depressed and seemingly go out of their way to give you the extra loving they feel you need. Animals should be treated with the same respect and love that we give to our "human" companions. Always remember, you chose them, they did not choose you!!!
...To Jessica, Frosty, Chopper, Miracle, Lillie, Abbie, Peaches and Blossom, I thank you all for being a part of my life - You've made me laugh, you've made me cry, and you've made my life more beautiful with your presence...
Below are the ten commandments for a responsible pet owner. It makes no difference whether you are a cat lover, dog lover, or any other type of pet lover, these commandments speak for themselves. I don't know who wrote these but whomever it was should be commended.

The Ten Commandments For a Responsible Pet Owner

My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any seperation from you will be very painful

Give me time to understand what you want of me

Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well being

Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment. I have only you

Talk to me. even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when it's speaking to me

Be aware that however you treat me I will never forget

Before you hit me remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand. But I choose not to bite you

Before you scold me for being lazy and uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, or I've been in the sun too long or my heart may be getting old and weak

Take care of me when I get old. You too will grow old

Go with me on that difficult journey. Never say "I can't bear to watch" or "Let it happen in my absense". Everything is easier for me if you are there

Let us not forget all of the loving animals in our world who suffer at the hands of humans. Their stories are not of warm loving homes but of cramped dark cages, cold lonely streets and warehouse type lives where cages are stacked on each other being forced to breed over and over again. Their lives being cut short because there isn't enough room or they didn't perform to the human standards set forth. The horrible accounts are endless. Not just for dogs and cats but for all animals from birds to horses. The next time you look at your pet and don't feel like taking them for a walk, cleaning up after them, doing the extra things that you need to do for them, take another good long look and think about all those wasted lives. You will surely see them in a whole new light.

And always, always remember, animals are living creatures who feel with their hearts just like we do. Don't ever think otherwise!!