Pets are an important part of family life. Not only can they provide their owners with unlimited affection and unconditional love - But when people are faced with adversity the affection from a pet takes on a new meaning. And it is a fact among the elderly a larger percentage of pet owners than non pet owners have relatively healthier lifestyles with the interaction and fondness for companion animals

Sir Thomas

Good morning Sir Thomas
You’re looking exceptionally bright
Lazing in the sun by day
Go from room to room at night

You are elegantly handsome
And so immaculately groomed
There’s no need for adornment
Or be expensively perfumed

Serving you breakfast at 9 am
Pull back blinds to let in fresh air
You rag -doll cat with your azure eyes
See you’re already purring there

Widening his bright blue eyes
In an a relaxed cool hard stare
Takes in the creme de la creme
There is nothing surprising there

Settling down his eyes all aglow
Like an organ he starts to whirr
Till gradually Sir Thomas becomes
One deep and rumbling purr.

He rubs himself against my leg
When at last from the table above;
A saucer is set down for him –
How he wallows in such love.

Hunching over the saucer’s rim,
His whiskers white as white can be
His tail lies flat and a brown tipped paw
Is tucked under each curve of knee.

His body folds in a relaxing heap –
In the depth of the wide arm-chair;
There he lies in a dreaming sleep
Of eating fish an excellent fare

The time we‘ve left together now
Will be treasured like the past
Sir Thomas will always be there
To give his love till the very last

Beryl McMullen