Animal Ambassadors: Pets I Have Lost

Posted by: Allison Helps Cats on: November 2, 2015

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All of my pets whom I have lost are missed and loved. I look forward to seeing them at Rainbow Bridge.

First, there were our Samoyed. According to the American Kennel Club, this is an ancient working breed developed by the Samoyede people of Siberia. They used the dogs for herding reindeer, hunting and hauling sledges as well as guard work. The breed was cherished by these people, because they depended on the dogs for their survival.

Then, there were our Lhasa Apso. According to the American Kennel Club, this breed originated hundreds of years ago in the isolated reaches of the Himalayan Mountains. It functioned primarily as a household sentinel, guarding homes of Tibetan nobility and Buddhist monasteries, particularly in or near the sacred city of Lhasa. What appealed most to me about the Lhasa history is the breed is considered good luck while, at the time, being nearly impossible to buy.

Finally, there was my Papillon. According to the American Kennel Club, this breed was known in the 16th and 17th centuries as Dwarf Spaniels and were often depicted on the laps of French and Spanish noblewomen. An erect-eared type, fringed as to resemble the wings of a butterfly (Papillon means “butterfly” in French), developed over time.

To read more about the aforementioned dogs from my childhood, check out my post: Dogs of my Childhood. I also wrote a post exclusively about my Papillon, whose full name is Chuckles and Smiles. You can read about him at: My Butterfly Dog.

As an adult, I also owned three guinea pigs. You can read about them and how they changed my life by checking out this post: How Guinea Pigs Got Me Into Writing

After guinea pigs came Lucy, who turned me into a cat-lover. You can read about her by checking out this post: The Cat Who Turned Me Into a Cat Lover

I wrote the above posts for Lincoln Animal Ambassadors, a volunteer organization committed to improving the lives of animals and alleviating cruelty in the local community where I live. Some of their offerings include a low-cost spay/neuter program, temporary assistance pet food bank, and education about being responsible pet guardians. The latter is where I mostly help.

What pets have been part of your life? How have they impacted you? Post your own stories in the comments!

This post is part of the Small Victories line-up. Check out others by clicking on the below graphic.

Tags: Allison's Book Bag, Animal Ambassadors, reviews of books for young people, Small Victories Meme