I am reduced to owning one male Guppy and a reclusive male Black Mollie. When I reported that I had started up a ten gallon tank aquarium with a dollars’ worth of “feeder” guppies, I thought to eventually replicate a “community” tank I had years ago in which there were beautiful creatures that did not, as a matter of course, eat each other. That earlier tank was 40 gallons and was a task to keep clean and free of snails and debris. You had to change the water frequently and scrub the algae off in order to have the peace which quiet fish swimming gracefully around the plants lovingly planted for aesthetic purposes would give you. The tasks often were the purpose rather than the reflection looking at the tank provided.
But, I have often wanted a warm, affectionate pet and, despite the cuteness of kittens, would prefer a dog as a companion and object, given and received, of affection. I know that dogs, descended from wolves in ancient, ancient times, provided work and helped flush out food for our ancestors. They also, along the way, became man’s best friends – although the woman of the pairing often took on the tasks of feeding and cleaning up after as she has done for her children and the man of the house for generations.
The sight of the little, perky beagle winning the best of show reinforced my decision that if ever I would own a dog again, it would be one of those little fellows. Carol does not like cats and their dander is the cause of some of her discomfort with them. They like to wind around your legs and jump up on tables and sniff food – so they would be out as a choice of pet. Our family (once in Lake Hopatcong) had a cockatiel for the longest time and allowed it to fly around free in the house. That 18 year old bird still resides with the Bailers in Far Hills. I wistfully thought of the time I had two finches in a cage which were interesting if not loving and resisted handling. They also made a lot of mess that had to be cleaned up.
It seems inevitable that living creatures will make messes that need to be cleaned up after, fed and watered and such. A horse was the main means of transportation up to the beginning of the 20th Century, but despite their utility they did not have that kind of “pet-ness” that house pets have. I have never longed for a horse but I have memories of a family dog that was killed by a car when I was very young.
All in all, the question of having or not having a pet (we will forget the time I industriously raised gerbils and hamsters which were not strictly pets) has been settled by where we live. Pets are not allowed and, strictly speaking, I should not have this aquarium that will need rehabilitation when its present occupants do not appear one day.