Against my better judgment, I have finally succumbed to the national obsession with pictures of cute animals. I only admitted it to myself after asking the owner of some type of pug dog with a sticky-out tongue (the dog, not the owner) if I could take a picture of it “for my daughter”. It is now my phone screen wallpaper.
The reason I managed to resist for so long is because I have no desire to own pets and spent 18 years telling my poor, pet-deprived daughter that this was due to Mr P having allergies, rather than my lack of interest.
As I have also resisted the lure of social meeja, I was able to maintain an air of polite disinterest whenever someone asked if I’d seen the latest video of a creature doing something adorable.
My antipathy to pets has grown over the years. Despite having grown up with many pets, I just don’t really want them around, which is a very unpopular sentiment these days, especially since most pet owners seem to have joined the craze for constantly filming and photographing them.
It may be an age thing but lately my immunity to these pictures seems to be wearing off – hence my approaching a strange man and requesting a picture of his dog. There have also been some recent unfortunate purchases of adorable puppies and kittens by friends, with the resultant pictures being emailed directly to me.
Puppies breaking stuff then looking at the camera with puppy dog eyes? Fluffy kittens peeping out from household items? I would have to be made of stone not to be affected.
Let me be clear: I have not caved to the extent that I would consider getting a pet but I have started taking an interest in other people’s. Especially pugs, which I know is a trend that is not just for Christmas and that debate rages on whether these breeds are healthy.
But a pug wearing a jaunty bandana? Resistance is futile – and maybe a cute puppy would ensure the Student will visit more often…