Akron Life April 2023

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

[ Publisher | Colin Baker | cbaker@bakermediagroup.com ]

Off Duty

It’s a process adapting to life without a pet.

meow until you give in and spend some quality time with them. But occasional smell, we wouldn’t trade our furry friends for the world. I do have to say I am enjoying the break for now. Here are some positives of being without a pet. For starters, going on vacation is a breeze — no more worrying about finding a kennel or pet sitter you trust, or trying to convince your furry friend that they’re going to have a great time without you. And let’s not forget despite all the hair, mess and

This is the first time in my entire adult life that I haven’t had a pet. Last year our Brussels Griffon doggy we loved so much died of cancer. We babied that dog so much that I believe she really thought she was royalty. I had more pictures of her on my phone than of my kids. We did everything we could after we found out she had cancer, but in the end, we had to put her down. She was miserable, and no one wanted to see her suffer. My counter in our pantry is starting to col lect quite a few containers of ashes. My wife always wants our pets to be cremated, and we are starting to have quite a collection. I’m not sure what to do with all these ashes. I highly doubt these containers get passed down from generation to generation. I’m sure the right thing to do is spread the ashes somewhere. Unfortunately for our dog, she was inside most of her life, so her favorite places are not good spots to spread ashes. It took me a while to get over waking up and having the feeling that I need to feed and walk her. I miss being woken up by scratch ing on the side of the bed or a bark, telling me I have slept too late. What I miss most is how she stood at the top of the stairs when I got home from work, the door cracked, and her tail wagging, so excited I was home. That always brought so much joy to my day. Having a pet is a big responsibility. It’s like having a furry, four-legged child that never grows up. And just like kids, pets have a knack for making you feel guilty when you’re not around. They scratch, bark and

you start watching, you can’t stop. And before you know it, you’re fantasizing about the pitter-patter of little paws on your hardwood floors. And why wouldn’t you want a pet? According to research, pets help kids develop empathy and compassion, which are two of the most important values in my opinion. Plus, who doesn’t love coming home to a furry friend that’s excited to see you? But just for now, I am enjoying my time off.

about the freedom from pet hair. You don’t have to have seemingly endless lint-rolling sessions to remove said dog hair from your clothes, and there are no more awkward moments when you realize you’re covered in dog hair in public. I thought I would like a long break from pets because raising a toddler is hard enough. But even with all these benefits, I can’t resist the siren calls of cute dog videos on Instagram. It’s like a drug. Once

[ Publisher Colin Baker is a retired racing driver and gearhead. ] Comments? Email them to Kelly Petryszyn [kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com].

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APRIL 2023 | akronlife.com