Adopting a pet is not always easy, but it changes your life in unimaginable ways.
By Noel Ceriani
“I remember biking around my house and seeing this tiny kitten following me around and hiding behind bushes whenever I got too close. Every time I rode around, I would notice her sweet meows and she would follow me, which I found to be very adorable,” said Hind Al Matrooshi, a journalism student at the American University of Sharjah.
“After some time, she became comfortable with me and I fed her. I continued feeding her everyday and I just couldn’t resist, so I decided to take her to the vet and the rest was history.”
When adopting a pet, adoption shelters are the usual place to go. But sometimes, taking in a street animal is better as those animals don’t have a place to stay.
For Al Matrooshi, taking in her cat “was easy because she was a stray kitten so there weren’t many complications when adopting her,” she added.
“I chose to adopt a cat because it is better than shopping for one. It gives a home to a kitten that’s already born rather than having it end up on the streets,” said Hala Nasar, another AUS journalism student.
However, for others owning and raising a pet was never planned but after the opportunity presented itself; saying no was not an option.
Nasar adopted Olive from her cousin who wanted to give up the cat because he had no time to take care of it. She offered the kitten a home. Now, she says her decision was the right one and she wouldn’t want any other cat.
Taking care of a furry friend is not just for fun but also for our wellbeing. It can be both fun and therapeutic. Animals help their owners by providing them with company and by helping them grow as a person. They can also aid those battling mental health issues.
“It’s amazing how a dog can change your mood in a few seconds if you’re having a bad day and I have a lot of fun playing with him,” said Sabrina Pereira, a dog owner.
“He was my first responsibility as owner, so I had to mature to be able to educate him.”
Victoria Ceriani says having her cat Leia around makes her feel very happy and calm. Being accompanied by Leia helps calm down her anxiety and nerves, especially when she pets her.
“Owning a cat definitely changed my life for the best. If I ever became too exhausted or sad I would lay on my bed and I knew I could count on my cats to make me feel better by cuddling with me,” Al Matrooshi adds.
Nasar said that “I learned that pet therapy is a real thing and Olive makes me feel better.”
Nowadays, people spend a lot of time on the Internet or their jobs, so exercise and relaxation are rare activities in some people’s routines. But the moment they adopted a pet, everything changed.
“I feel like it changed me that I have something to look forward to and someone to take care of. I love spending time with Biscuit and he’s good company and taking care of him is a nice part of the process,” says Amira Ihardane, an AUS student.
