Did you know that under the law pets are seen as replaceable property? That’s right, the law essentially treats losing a pet the same way as losing a table. In honor of Chloe the Mini Frenchie, Loni Edwards’ beloved dog who passed away due to medical error, PetInsider will be featuring a story every Wednesday about pets being family, not property. Please join us by reading the stories and signing the pledge we created with the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) to push for change.
My Louie is so much more than property. He is my son. He is a reason to wake up in the morning and a reason to be happy. My whole life I had dogs and cats, but none of them were quite like to Louie.
Two years ago, I suffered a miscarriage and felt so broken. I felt angry and sad and lost. A year later my 15-year-old cat lost his battle with diabetes and once again, I questioned everything and felt so hurt and sad I couldn’t function.
Then came Louie–a thought with no name. A puppy to maybe have. Then, for my anniversary, I met him along with his siblings. I let them all smell me and said I’d let one of the bunch pick me. Louie came to me a few times and I picked him up and he promptly fell asleep in my lap. He actually had no name for a week because I was afraid to love him. When he came home with me, I was so worried, “What if I can’t handle a new puppy?” I thought. He was such a tiny thing, what was I getting myself into?
It felt like having a real baby. He cried at night. We took turns staying up with him. I cried at times thinking, “What did I do?” I bought him puppy stairs, and he climbed up one night and came to sleep with me.
Night time was no longer scary. He just wanted to be held and I think I needed it more then he did. He takes away a sadness no words could ever relieve. He makes cloudy days sunny.
Louie is so much more than a pet. He’s my baby. I feed him. I clothe him. I talk to him. I take him to parks and activities. I have insurance for him, and I’d claim him on my taxes if I could. He holds a place in my heart that I could never explain. My coworkers refer to him as my son and so do my family and friends. I dare anyone to tell me he isn’t. Chloe’s petition is so important to me. Louie is not replaceable property. He is so much more.
Please join us in pushing for much needed change by signing and sharing the pledge (https://aldf.org/animalsnotproperty). Follow along every Wednesday for a new story, and sign up for our newsletter to receive it in your inbox.
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