LILY AND BOLONGO
Maria Guzman
Owning a pet is one of the most rewarding and endearing experiences in life, and
aside from just being a domesticated animal, a pet is a friend with whom a person should
share his/her life. Over many years, I have had the privilege of owning several pets, all
of whom I loved very much. Out of all of them, Lily and Bolongo proved themselves the
most memorable, and although their temperaments were similar, they differed in
personality, suitability, and cost.
Last spring, my doe gave birth to a runt of a kid named Lily, and even though she
lived a brief life, it was more than enough time to become well acquainted with her
intriguing personal8ity. Along with being affectionate, Lily was as extroverted as any
family pet could be.
She happily, yet naively, approached strangers, ranging from
strange humans to stray animals. If there was an opportunity for her to make a new
friend, she tried her best to make it a reality. In addition, her athleticism fused with her
intelligence allowed her to maneuver any obstacle with ease; she often adjusted the
landscape within the corral to her liking in order to hurdle over the fence. On the other
hand, Bolongo, my beloved Chihuahua since elementary school, was reserved and very
lethargic. The mutt did not care much for meeting new people and broadening his social
network. Instead, he was content and preferred the company of his family. Bolongo was
never an athlete due to his arthritis. Unlike Lily, the mutt preferred a relaxing siesta
behind the couch as opposed to an invigorating romp on the ranch or in the orchards.
Since Lily was a goat, she was meant to live in a vast, grassy field. When I
moved to Houston and brought her along with me, she was unhappy with the constricted
urban environment because she was unsuited for Houston. Lily needed an ample amount
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of grass in which to graze and frolic, and a small lot was not anywhere close to being
sufficient or appropriate. This was not the only problem either; the city was a difficult
place to find inexpensive livestock supplies and services close by compared to the
country. In the country, it was common for families to own livestock, and because of
this, there were always farm and ranch supply stores and veterinarians who specialized in
treating livestock within five miles of one’s property. Bolongo, however, had no problem
living in the city. Because of his small stature, he was suited to living comfortably in a
small home and property. Although Bolongo did not have a large field on which to
frolic, at least he was able to walk down the street with me without breaking any city
laws and causing unnecessary commotion. In addition, the city was a great place for pet
supplies and services; there were many options for Bolongo’s needs, unlike the country.
Houston is a melting pot of pet businesses; we never had just one option of veterinarian
or pet supply stores and because of the competition, there were good bargains.
Raising a goat from birth was costly as it was nerve-racking. Lily’s expenses
mostly revolved around her food and health. First, I bought colostrums, which cost eight
dollars. On average, I bought at least two gallons of milk per week, about five dollars’
worth of milk substitute, a dangerous substitution. When Lily transitioned to hard food, I
had the habit of purchasing fresh fruit for her every week, ranging from three to five
dollars. Whenever we could, we bought her bales of “weedy” hay as well, which was
less expensive than regular hay, but more nutritious, which cost about eight dollars. We
bought her hay sparingly, purchasing one bale each month. Nevertheless, Bolongo’s
expenses were more costly due to his age and his lifelong subscriptions to medication.
Because of his cancer, he grew a tumor from is neck and had to have it extracted with
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surgery, and this cost eight hundred dollars! Additionally, his arthritis medication cost
thirty dollars, whereas his vitamins and aspirins cost fifteen dollars each. Bolongo’s
medication was usually bought monthly for three years. Although seemingly minor, a
seven-dollar nail clipping accumulated throughout the years as well as six-dollar dog
food. Bolongo spent a decade with us, making his expenses exceed Lily’s tenfold.
Both Lily and Bolongo were memorable in my eyes and in many others’. They
were not only pets; they were my friends, and I sacrificed my time and effort time and
time again for their well being. Although Lily and Bolongo were both peculiar little
creatures with similar temperaments, they were unique animals with extreme differences
in personality, suitability, and cost. Their differences did not make one superior to the
other. Rather, their differences enhanced their lives and mine as well.
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