Today is Pet Owner’s Independence Day. There is not a lot of information about what this day is supposed to be about. What I could find said it was a day for pet owner’s to take off from work and send Fluffy and Fido in their place instead.
Huh?
Okay, the concept is to have a day off acting like your pet: lying around all day, napping, etc. A day of rest. That part sounds good, but what’s the point of having a designated day for something that’s completely ludicrous? What pet could realistically get to their person’s work on their own?
Well, mine could I guess since I work from home. Murphy, Kitty, and Tabby “come to work” with me everyday as it is. Murph lays on the floor of my office looking out the window. Before Tabby came along, Mr. Meow would sprawl out on the desk or keyboard so I couldn’t type and demand to be petted. Now Tabby takes that over.
Yet, they don’t always stay in the office with me. They get bored (or want to be more comfortable) so they migrate out to the couches. But I join them out there for lunch, and sometimes I indulge in a little catnap of my own afterwards. On days when I’m blocked (from a writer’s standpoint, that is), I have been known to spend several hours out there with them mindlessly channel surfing in hopes thinking of nothing will spark something.
Besides, I made the choice to have pets, so the concept of “independence” troubles me. Pets do require time and work, but I wouldn’t want to be rid of them to show my independence. I very much depend on them to remind me that life has a lighter side and that unconditional love truly exists.
Which clinches it for me how I will celebrate today. I won’t. I think it’s a silly day.
Taking your pet to work sounds much more reasonable. Pet Sitters International instituted such a day. From what I can tell, it falls around June 22, 23, or 24. (I found several listings of Take Your Dog to Work Day celebrations from the past several years and all referenced a different date. This year it looks like it might fall on June 22.)
However, even that day won’t be much to celebrate for my crew since every day is a go to work with mom day!