Personally, I think the best pet is the one that becomes your best buddy. And that can be any animal. For me, it was the story of how he became mine.
My story begins one day when I went to a specialist junkyard looking for parts for an older Mercedes-Benz R107. Second-hand spares for these can be hard to come by, so sometimes you have to go digging through the yards yourself.
While I was on my hands and knees under one of these cars, I spotted a little Jack Russell chewing on a half eaten rubber ball. He was tucked away, keeping his distance from the yard owner’s two kids, who were being a bit too rough with him.
He noticed me and paused, trying to decide if I was a threat. I’ve always had a soft spot for dogs, so I made it clear I wasn’t there to harm him.
Slowly, cautiously, he came over and let me fuss him. That was all it took.
I carried on pulling the parts I needed, but from that moment on I wasn’t working alone. He stayed close, either sat between my legs while I was on the ground or right in my way as I crouched over stubborn fasteners.
After about an hour, it was time to leave. He wasn’t letting me out of his sight.
When I went to pay, the owner laughed and said I’d made a friend.
He told me the dog had wandered into the yard after being left on the streets, and he didn’t really know what to do with him.
So Ben came home with me that day.
He came to work with me every day for the next nine years. He was always there; through the good days, the frustrating ones, and everything in between.
He passed away almost two years ago now, and he left a huge hole behind. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about him.
So I don’t think there’s a single “best” pet. Just one you’ll never forget.
