EC Lee's Homeground: Welcome Your New Family Member

I remember the first day I met Nero. After my friend told me to give one of her cats to me, I visited my friend's house to bring her, and she was shivering; suddenly a stranger came to her place and she was just a kitten. My friend carried her on her back and I just watched a cat-not mine yet- staring around fearfully all the way home. After my mom permitted raising Nero and brought her to home, nothing changed. She just stuck in veranda outside and looked around strangers-actually my family members including myself-, observing them not to harm her. It went over 3 months. She never came out when my family was there and we brought her food to veranda. Then I left her at home and went America for travel.

(She was hiding like this)

After coming back home, I was really surprised. Nero was on my mom's thigh and rubbing her cheek on my mom's knees. I asked my mom, what is happened at all. My mom said, when weeks later, Nero sometimes came out to eat, then weeks later again, she came to family more and more, and finally, now she hang around freely and sleep inside, not the cold veranda. That is 9 years ago. 9 years after, now, she always comes to where family is and nag us to play with, give food, and sleep together. She is the energy of my family and the youngest sister that never makes me alone.

(Nero sleeping on my bed)

Raising a companion animal is letting an animal become a family member. It looks simple, but is definitely not. It requires a certain decision, responsibilities as master, and permission of all family members. Therefore, you never buy or adopt one with the thought of "Oh, it's cute" or something. You should keep it in mind that "it" lives near 15 years with you and one life is under your control. So, I want to recommend raising a companion animal to appropriate people;both external and internal conditions should be satisfied.

The biggest positive point of raising a pet is that pet becomes the energy source of whole family. Near dinner time, my parents and I are exhausted and walk slowly to home like zombies with all kind of stresses, but, when we look a cute white hair cat with blue eyes named Nero, we all forget the irritating things and smile. The cuteness makes the blue atmosphere to shinny and bright. When all the family members go out except me, I feel alone. When I came late and everybody sleeping, I feel alone. Then, my cat comes nearby and pesters me to hug her. Afterwards, all the silence and loneliness are gone! We always say that raising Nero was the best choice of our life that one little cat makes 5 people happy all the time. Also, raising a cat, I became more aware of how precious life is, and more responsible. Raising a pet means you should take care of and be responsible to him/her. Growing together and watching pet's death later, one can cherish life even more and the sense of responsibility will be developed.

Of course, raising a pet accompanies some things bothersome. Not little amount of money is needed from food to beauty treatment. Sometime, the neutralization operation is needed, if you don't want to have puppies or kittens, or your pet suffers too much during mating season. My family is the second case. Nero cried all night till her voice got hoarse and all of us couldn't sleep at night, we hardly decided the operation. To add, because of pet's fur, you may have trouble in your bronchial tubes. 3 people including me have rhinitis and sometimes when it becomes serious, we go to hospital. The fur also sticks to clothes, sofa and beds, it's almost daily work to get ride of them.

However, bearing all the bothersome things, it's really worth raising a companion animal. A true family member and friend of your life are really hard to have, therefore truly priceless. All things go with corresponding responsibilities. I think responsibilities needed to raise a pet are really small comparing to the happiness and vitality you get through this. So, I want to ask, how about welcoming your new family member?