Ask any perfectionist how they feel about pets and as they get past the gag reflex, they’ll muster something along the lines of, “Cute – just not at my house!” The stench, the mess, the extra planning. Although foresight and organization are two of many emblems of honor for a perfectionist, taking care of pets adds a different layer – control. Not knowing how to control an animal’s behavior and avoid pitfalls is like dealing the perfectionist with a losing hand of cards day in and day out. 

Communication with an animal

This is a skill to be learned and perfectionists tend to berate themselves if skills aren’t learned quickly and perfectly, procrastinate when they feel insecure about them, or avoid them altogether. Owning a pet requires learning the art of communication, repetition, patience, and lots of paper towels (or reusable rags for the extra earth-conscious). Despite having animal whispering skills, mishaps take place, because well, you’re dealing with an animal who sees your kid’s homework as an excellent pastime and your most expensive heels as a toothpick. 

Connections with pets

I would add that there is a deeper layer to the aversion to pets. And that is one of connection. The unrequited and unconditional love a pet shows to its owner can be baffling. If someone were uncomfortable with the gushiness of feelings and vulnerability, having a pet only means a cacophony of barks, time constraints, dirty floors, a stinky house, hairy clothes, and lastly, a companion. The negatives would definitely outweigh the positives. 

Looking back, it was only after I sat with the crisis intervention dogs when I volunteered to prepare meals for families and first responders for #SurfsideStrong, was when I cried. It wasn’t that I didn’t have strong feelings about the tragedy, I didn’t let myself release them in the same way as I did when I was petting the dogs. Animals have this way about them that cut through the tough layers of armor with one lunge. If you spend the majority of your time over-analyzing situations, avoiding your feelings, micromanaging your and others’ schedules, and making sure everything is set in place and in order, having a pet will definitely throw you off and perhaps, if you let it, back in to connect to yourself.