Responsible pet care encompasses more than just providing food and shelter. It is a comprehensive process that includes planning for the needs of pets, such as proper nutrition, hygiene, grooming, and regular vet check-ups.
Meet Lu Ngo
Lu Ngo is an inspiring individual who moved from Hanoi, Vietnam, to Melbourne, Australia, in 2018 to pursue her Master’s Degree in Project Management. Since then, Melbourne has become her second home.
Lu is passionate about helping organizations deliver educational projects while prioritizing her team’s well-being. She also runs her podcast, The Glocals, where she shares life lessons from people worldwide.
Lu leads projects at ILMS and LMSL with a global team dedicated to life management. She also hosts podcasts on happiness, well-being, and personal development. Outside work, Lu enjoys reading nonfiction books, supporting international students in Australia, working on passion projects related to career development, gender equality, and well-being, listening to vinyl records, and spending time with her four cats.
About the episode
Lu defines pet care as a process of planning for the needs of pets, similar to human needs. This includes providing proper nutrition, hygiene, grooming, and regular vet check-ups. She says that she has had four pets and is losing one due to a lack of frequent health check-ups, which was a lesson learned. She also reflects on how having a pet as an adult brings more responsibility, leading to better time management and increased responsibility.
According to Lu, pet ownership made her more responsible. It led her to develop a consistent routine, including daily vacuuming, which she hadn’t done before. This newfound responsibility made her feel like an accomplished adult. Lu emphasizes the importance of being diligent and patient when caring for pets.
Lu explains that her cats’ sibling dynamic helped them get along. However, having multiple pets presented challenges such as maintaining space and keeping items out of their reach. Her cats would chew on wires and empty packets of sauce, emphasizing the importance of being vigilant and keeping things out of their reach.
While going out, Simba, her poodle, is not restaurant-friendly and is difficult to train, making it challenging for her family to dine out. Simba gets anxious and lonely when left alone for extended periods, causing accidents in the apartment. Her cats also have severe separation anxiety, making it challenging to leave them with someone else. Even with the best arrangements, leaving pets for an extended period lacks human contact and routine, which negatively affects them.
Caring for a pet has been a learning for her, as she’s discovered the significance of her pet’s needs and how they correlate to her well-being. Pets and animal interaction contribute to human happiness and well-being, even during low mental health periods. Despite their challenging behaviors, the responsibility of caring for them can bring them closer and teach pet owners valuable lessons.
Managing pet care by petting or cuddling before bedtime fosters a connection between the pet and the owner. It allows pets to feel loved and creates a family routine. Additionally, petting animals before bed is a simple yet effective way to strengthen the bond between pets and their owners.
Expressing gratitude towards pets positively impacts both the pet owner and the pet. Lu shares her experience of talking nicely to her dog and how it makes her feel better, even if she’s unsure if the dog understands her. Practicing gratitude and expressing it verbally to pets builds a bond and makes the pet owner feel better.
In conclusion
Pet ownership has a transformative influence on one’s life. Recognizing the alignment between pet and human needs, fostering routine, and embracing heightened responsibility contribute to personal growth. Despite inherent challenges, diligence, patience, and the profound connection formed through simple yet meaningful acts emerge as crucial elements.
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