Concerning Pets

Great Britain #3856 "Peter Rabbit" (issued 7-28-2016)

Australia #171 "Koala Bear" (issued 10-10-1942)

She cancelled her online date to take me to Hakone Gardens on Fourth of July— He asks her, wonders whether I'm her pet. My friend Rudy calls me Peter Rabbit, but Poet-Laureate Kay Ryan tells me— "You're not a rabbit—You're Peter the Rock." With asthma, allergic to cats and dogs, we had no pets at home except a goldfish and my sister's parakeet named "Birdie". U.S. issued a booklet of twenty pets— but my favorite is Britain's "Peter Rabbit" and a "Koala Bear" stamp from Australia. There are 74 million pet cats and 70 million pet dogs in America, with China second in pets ownership. Scientific studies have shown dogs & cats prolong human lives by thirty percent— help seniors relax & reduce their stress. A farm in upstate New York offers cow cuddling therapy sessions via brushing, petting or heartfelt chats with the bovines. Tom T. Hall sings my favorite country-western: "Ain't but three things in life worth a solitary dime, But old dogs and children and watermelon wine. Old dogs care about you even when you make mistakes, God bless children while they're still too young to hate." No wonder dogs and children are good for our health.                   Peter Y. Chou                   Mountain View, 7-15-2019