The Comfort of Pets

This year, my husband and I became “empty nesters” when both of our daughters left home for school. Our family pets, Poppy the Tibetan terrier and Artie the tabby cat, are our constant companions and solace as we adjust to a household without children. Poppy cuddles at my feet while I work at my desk. In the evening, Artie purrs on the cushion behind my head on the living room sofa.

Pets always served as important sources of comfort for my children during times of transition. Two rabbits, Salt and Zebra, helped our older daughter with a difficult move in third grade from Seattle to San Francisco. Sophie Susan the cat snuggled with our younger daughter at the end of a long preschool day. When we moved to Idaho, these family members traveled with us and became mountain town pets. Once Salt, Zebra, and Sophie Susan passed away, Poppy and Artie joined our household and comforted our girls while they faced the challenges of living in a rural Idaho town.

David Sakura, a member of our Speakers Bureau, recently spoke with a group of middle school students in Idaho. He shared that he left his dog when he and his family were forcibly removed from their home in Washington State. My heart breaks to think about how vital animals are to people during times of stress and how, during that period of extreme upheaval and uncertainty, incarcerees (children in particular) were separated from their beloved pets. In this month’s book column, we highlight the young adult novel, Dash, which features a girl who left her dog behind when she and her family were incarcerated at Minidoka.

Our daughters returned home for the holidays from California and Connecticut, and everyone – children, parents, and pets alike –  are happy to be reunited and to celebrate this time together. Wishing our Minidoka community and their beloved pets a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year!

Robyn Achilles

Executive Director, Friends of Minidoka