FOLLOWING THE RULES                                                                

I have always been a fairly law abiding citizen and try to keep my nose clean.  Although I frequently question what seems, to me, to be rather useless regulations. I usually follow those laid out regulations, even if somewhat reluctantly.

Last September my marriage and my world, as I knew it, fell apart.  I had to make plans for a different future and this included finding a new place to live.

My requirements were simple but I knew I would need to be able take along my dogs so when I found a listing for a place where pets were welcome, I jumped at the chance.  The move meant I would be living in a strata which came with a set of bylaws. These were given to me to read but, in my crazy emotional state at the time, I guess I didn’t read them too thoroughly.

A friend who was already living there told me it was a one dog only rule, so I wrote to the strata management explaining that I had two dogs, but one was very elderly, I wondered if I could keep her till her demise as it was probably going to be just a short time.  The answer was no so, very reluctantly, I found a loving home for the old girl.

It is now six months later and, with the help of family and wonderful friends, I have began a new life.  I once again felt settled and ready to really make the condo my home and I looked for a kitten to make my little family complete.  I adopted her from a rescue place and she soon settled into life with my dog and I.

So happy was I that I wrote about my little family in my column last week.  This was obviously a big mistake as I received a letter this week saying that it had come to the attention of the strata that I now had a cat and a dog and one of them had to go.  Accompanying the letter was a copy of the bylaw that stated a cat or a dog, not both, as I had mistakenly thought.

I can understand why the complex would only allow one dog as dogs need to be walked and cleaned up after, they also like to greet one another in the only way they know how, with a barking session and this can get very annoying, however a cat that lives indoors is of no disturbance to anyone.  I own the unit so if there should be any damage done to furnishings, with the flying fish-hooks that cats have attached to the ends of their paws, it would be up to me to make it right, not a landlord.

One would think that what is kept indoors, makes no noise and is visible to no-one would not be a problem, but by expressing my happiness through my column, I guess someone took offence.

Unfortunately there are always those people who can’t wait to find an infraction, maybe they are just bored and feel they need to keep an eye on what everyone else is doing, as they have so little to do themselves.  

Upon complaining of this to a friend she just happened to know of a neighbour who was looking for a kitten, to replace her old cat, who had passed on.  This was a somewhat happy ending to my sad experience as the cat has a loving home, which is really all that matters. I have broad shoulders and can handle a sad situation.  Like all other disappointments, it will make me sad then make me stronger.

This past few months I have experienced the loss of a husband, the death of a dear cousin and now the loss of my kitten.  Luckily, she had not been with me long enough for me to have formed a really strong relationship, but it is none the less upsetting to know how much pettiness there is around us that thrives on the unhappiness of others.

During this health crisis, we are asking for each other to offer support and kindness, as this is the only way we will get through this event, how much better for each of us if we could put our energies into supporting one another through these dark days instead of trying to put each other down. 

Wishing everyone good health and a positive attitude.