Chris Equale, the human behind viral corgis Hammy and Olivia, opens up about the pandemic-era beginnings of his account and the realities of caring for a multi-pet household.
How did Hammy and Olivia’s story begin?
It took a global pandemic in order for the world to meet my two pets, which is actually really silly to think about. We were sitting on our couch in the same sweatpants for three days in a row, the world had shut down, and I needed to have some kind of creative outlet. It was the first Monday in over 7 years that I was in my home and not working, and my dog, Olivia, was barking at a vacuum cleaner. I thought it would be funny to film what it would be like if she were actually having a conversation with a household enemy. After posting it, I went outside with my fiancé to have some morning coffee on the balcony, and the next thing I knew, the video had a quarter of a million views in 20 minutes. It was at that moment that I realized that at this tumultuous time, we all need a reason to smile, and Hammy and Olivia could provide that joy.
You had to make a really tough decision about Olivia. What did that experience teach you?
Olivia had a moment when she got sick very quickly. We reached out to very close friends who had experienced pet loss before, and the one commonality they all shared was that you’ll know when it’s time to say goodbye. One day, Olivia woke up and didn’t want to get out of bed, was turning away food, and Sarah and I both had that light bulb go off where we knew that day had to be the day. You sign an unwritten contract the day you bring your pet home to give your pet the best life possible. But with that contract, you have to know that when the time comes to make very, very difficult decisions, you have to be able to put your pet and their comfort first and foremost before your own needs.
How do you stay proactive about preventative health for your pets?
Pet wellness goes beyond strictly the physical. It’s mental; it’s emotional. When we lost Olivia, I saw Hammy’s emotional health really take a hit, and bringing Fiona into the home gave him a newfound sense of purpose and happiness. But then, with the physical side of Hammy approaching 10 years old at the end of the year, we have to be very proactive when it comes to his joint health. Your pets are basically your kids, so would you not be taking this kind of proactive, preventative health with a child? I’m also a big advocate for pet insurance. No one wants to feel that finances get in the way of providing the best possible care for their pet.
What’s it like being a multi-pet household, especially with your cat Nori thrown into the mix?
We vacuum a lot, so there’s no question about that. Other than that, our home has so much personality. All of our pets have such individual personalities that complement each other. I always say cats are like having roommates, and dogs are like having children. It’s a very different lifestyle balance when it comes to each of their individual needs, and making sure they stay healthy and happy is a big financial cost as well.
What’s the biggest challenge you face in a multi-pet household?
All three of my pets have chronic illnesses, so that can be very difficult to keep up with. Both Fiona and Hammy have hip dysplasia, Nori has osteochondrodysplasia, so we sometimes joke that we’re living in an infirmary! It’s important to stay proactive when it comes to chronic illnesses and to make sure we provide our pets with the proper care so that the choices we make for them now benefit them for the rest of their lives.
