My name is Valentina. I was adopted when I was very young and I don't remember my biological parents anymore. I have lived with my adoptive mother all my life. And in the last few months, my brother and his family have also been with us: wife and two children. Even at my age, I am still my mother's spoiled brat. She knows more about me than anyone else, and we have a special connection, to the point that she understands me just by looking at my eyes.
My brother was my best friend for many years. Since I was a child he played with me, taught me many interesting things. We spent a lot of time together and even slept in the same bed after watching movies until late. When he got married and left home I suffered a lot, because up to that moment we were like a team, a system, a single machine composed of three parts, and suddenly, overnight, it was just my mother and me.
I repeat: I suffered a lot, for some reason my mind interpreted my brother's departure as permanent as if he had died. I became so depressed and anguished that I lost weight, my hair fell out and I didn't want to get out of bed. Then, I understood that it was a change of life, since my brother came to visit us constantly and I was always happy to see him.
My favorite part of my house is the backyard. My mother has a natural talent with plants: several of them are aromatic spices (those are my favorites). I have learned to distinguish their smells better than anyone else; to the point that when my mother is in the garden I can tell what tea or spice she is going to prepare before she enters the house. My mother has always been amazed at the power of my olfactory sense.
From unsplash
Years later, my brother came back to live in the house. Adjusting to this process was also difficult. I don't like change. And it was a lot of changes in a very short time. I had to start sleeping in my mother's room, to give up my old bedroom to my nephews.
Another very dramatic change was when my youngest nephew suddenly got sick. He was bitten by some kind of animal, and neither the doctors nor the medicines could do anything to make him better. He died on the fourth day, leaving my brother and his family devastated: that little boy was their spoiled child.
Of all the members of this household, my nephew was the most different from me in character and the most like me physically. His personality was outgoing, cheerful, agile, and he adapted to change at once, and on those points I am quite the opposite. He was extremely trusting of all people, I have only learned to trust my family.
Although younger than me in age, my nephew was twice my size (I have always been small although I don't mind, my mommy loves me just the same). Both my nephew and I had the same hair color and the same sense of smell. I understand it's something particular to my species.
Oh, I forgot to tell you, I am not a human. My mother, my brother, and my older nephews are, but I am not. Both my deceased nephew and I are what doctors call "canines" and the rest of the people call dogs. But regardless of the difference in species and breeds, my family treats me as an equal, just another member who gets love, respect, food, and a roof over my head.
And that's the most important thing I want to tell you today: in the last few years I have seen many pets on the street, full of sadness and anxiety. On one occasion I asked one of these canine friends, what was the reason for his state of mind and his answer surprised me, he said: "my family abandoned me weeks ago, they all left my house and left me on the street. They were planning to leave since a long time ago, because of something called Venezuela".
In my house, I have heard that word several times, with a mixture of joy and sadness in my family's eyes. Always "Venezuela" comes mixed with another word "Crisis". If someday I learn to read, I will look them up in the dictionary.
And this is the most important thing I want to express to you, my human friend: your pet is part of your family. We eat and defecate like you, we get sick like you, we feel sadness and anguish like you, and most of all we express affection, love and gratitude like you. But unlike some humans, we dogs would never abandon you, we are famous for being man's best friend.
If you have a member of your household called "pet", I hope my doggy words have helped you to be a better human… thank you for your human attention!
From unsplash
PS: My name is Ambar Valentina and my mother wrote about me in her previous article "What if my dog could talk" (https://read.cash/@rodriguezpct/what-if-my-dog-could-talk-f6e21fbc)
Yes, the suffering of abandoned pets in our country is sad. I don't have a pet. But I think that someone who gets rid of a pet in such a cruel way was not prepared to have it. And even more, doesn't deserve it.