Hey, my first thread - pets/animals

[klifhangar]

I'm betting this has been done but have you guys had a pet thread? I think people are hesitant to post pics so maybe just share what you have.

 

Currently, I have a collie, and that's it.

 

Up until 4 years ago (divorce), I had: 3 horses, 6 goats, 2 cows, chickens/ducks. I have always loved dogs and have had and shown Collies, English Mastiffs and Great Danes.

 

Who has what?

[+ glennnn]

Don't currently have a dog, just an outdoor cat who hangs around. I'm doing so much pleasure traveling that a dog would spend too much time in a kennel. I miss the comfort and unconditional love, but leaving him/her so much just wouldn't be fair!

 

I've always had dogs and my fav is any cross with a Labrador, the clown of the dog world.

[+ quoththeraven]

One cat, although I've lived (not alone, thankfully) with as many as six cats (two were inherited; we were able to find a home for one).

 

Growing up, I loved dogs and feared cats. My favorite breed of dog is the beagle, but they're not necessarily the most practical breed to own.

[Mikegaite]

 

I travel 98 percent of the year, so I opted for a pet rock hoping it might survive in my absence, but it covered in fruticose lichen :-(

[+ Lance_Navarro]

http://s33.postimg.org/s5ntq2ynz/image.jpg

Here's our Chihuahua Hercules.

[+ WilliamM]

Growing up, I loved dogs and feared cats.

 

As a child I often had to visit the farm across the street to get eggs and milk. I was very afraid of the two huge German shepherd. It finally happened. I thought one of the dogs was going to attack me and I ran, the worst thing I could do. The dog did bite me at least twice.

 

The owner of the farm was rich and walked over and gave me a $100 to not report what had happened. For a kid in 1954, a $100 was a lot of money

 

So I am a 100% cat person. It's difficult for me to even pretend that I like friends' dogs.

[+ Keith30309]

Do pubic lice count?

We're very attached.

Very.

[+ Keith30309]

JUST KIDDING BRIAN!!!

[Mo Mason]

I've got a Saint Bernard / Pit Bull mix. Big noggin. She's got the scary Cujo eyes and deep growl, and she doesn't like people very much.

 

We're a great match.

[+ jc808]

Interesting. I also have a pit mix and she has yet to find any person, regardless of age, sex, race, facial hair, whatever, that she does not adore. Other dogs, on the other hand, not so much.

[nycguy]

There is no dog better than a mutt - especially a rescued one - the "muttier" the better. They generally have no attitude and only complete loyalty. And they don't get jealous when you're fucking your boyfriend (or boyfriend for the night.)

[+ purplekow]

I have mentioned before, I now have four rescued dogs. These four are a yellow lab (rescued from a puppy mill just prior to his being put down because of congenital hip dysplasia . Two surgeries at 4 months of age cured that) , a black lab mix (a relative joined the service and his dog needed a home) , a shepherd mix (local rescue group was running short of space) and a unadulterated mutt (rescued off death row by an escort who could not keep her and then asked for my help with her). I had seven dogs at one time, all rescues. All sizes and shapes which made it tough to find a place on the bed. These four are a handful and they do limit my ability to travel but they add so much to my day to day life, that a bit of travel limitation is a small price.

[+ Charlie]

In my lifetime I have owned nine dogs and one black Persian cat. The cat was the laziest animal imaginable, but he lived longer than any of the dogs (16 years). Some of the dogs were purebred, even show dog quality, and others were mixed breeds. They ranged in size from 8 lbs to 70lbs, all different coats and colors, males and females; some were rescues, and others were purchased from top breeders. Now I have a small terrier mix (mostly Jack Russell, I suspect), a stray which we found last year at a county shelter. He is probably 3-4 years old, not as smart as our Mini Poodle, not as protective as our Golden Retriever mix, not as saintly as our Australian Terrier, not as beautiful as our show champion Greyhound, but as lovable as any of them. I can't imagine ever living really happily without a dog.

[jgoo]

After many many years of being petless because of travel and other demands on my time, a few years ago I got my first dog...a rescue mutt. It has been one of my greatest experiences. I wish I could have several more but I made a big mistake and spoiled the current one so much that she doesn't tolerate any other dogs to be near me. In the future I plan on have several.

[+ nycman]

I'm a serious dog lover!

 

I would kill to have a army of labs.

 

The most amazing dog ever!

 

Unfortunate my current life isn't very conducive to being a pet owner so I have none.

 

I once stayed on a private resort island in the Caribbean where the owner's 10-15 yellow labs ran free....I was in heaven!

[+ purplekow]

Necker?

[+ WilliamM]

In my lifetime I have owned nine dogs and one black Persian cat. The cat was the laziest animal imaginable, but he lived longer than any of the dogs (16 years)

 

Cats live longer and are more difficult to get to know, especially if you have other pets. But if you only have one cat and no other pets, cats make wonderful pets. Very under rated, especially if you have to be away for periods of time. Cats figure out quickly and adopt to the situation.

[+ purplekow]

Dogs can be left alone for several days, and then of course there is the additional day or two out of the house while the clean up squad is there.

 

I am kidding, I have left my dogs at home alone for minutes at a time without any damage.

[seaboy4hire]

I'm a total cat person. Living in the midwest I have zero desire to walk a dog when it is 30 below zero. Nope not happening! My last two cats were rescues from the kitty shelter. Mr. Orleans (RIP) had thyroid issues and the newest addition The Spanish Gentleman is FIV positive but still healthy. SG I have taught to do tricks. He can beg, sit and walk in circles. How cool is that?!?! He gets a treat when he does his tricks.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[+ purplekow]

How cool is that?!?! He gets a treat when he does his tricks.

 

Hugs,

Greg

 

Sounds like he may be an escort.

[gallahadesquire]

I never had a pet from the time I left home to go to college. Big mistake. And I think my fraternity could have housed one [in Kenmore Square].

 

I took in a cat three years ago, who was otherwise going to be sent to a shelter. BEAUTIFUL long hair orange and white kitty. I used to throw treats for him; he caught about 80% of them.

 

He was outdoor accessible, and accessed one night in November, never to be seen again. Last May I finally decided to go to a shelter and see who was there. I had to foster a grey tabby for a month while his FIV / FLeV were determined, due to his exposure in the shelter. He's negative, and finally decided (this week) to come when I call him.

[bigvalboy]

Miss. Roxy...(AKA "Poo Poo Bear") half Lab half Shepard. It only took her a couple of weeks to train me.

[+ deej]

The shelter said my dog was a "Border Terrier mix". But the only thing that mattered was he sniffed my hand and immediately laid down on my feet with his legs in the air looking for a belly rub. (Not unlike some men I've known, and I took them home too!)

 

DNA says he's Tibetan Terrier (which isn't a terrier at all), Italian Greyhound, Papillon, and the elusive "Mixed Breed". So he's a mutt, but probably from a pretty good neighborhood.

[klifhangar]

I love it that people have rescued dogs. I have done quite a bit of rescue. Because I had farm animals, I can insert and use a stomach tube, give IV's, inoculations etc. The local humane society had me on their list for special cases so I would get a call and pick up brand new kittens or puppies that had to be stomach tubed and fed throughout the night. Exhausting but rewarding.

 

During the economical downturn and the advent of "black dog syndrome" everyone was dumping their dogs and very few people will adopt a black dog. A local shelter went from a no-kill to a kill shelter. Somehow, I was on their email list every week of the dogs facing death row. A friend of mine and I took 21 dogs off death row in a few months, rehabbed them, temperament tested them and placed every single one. Well, she kept 3 but we placed the rest.

[rvwnsd]

At this point, I have no pets. However, I had a very beloved, dog-like cat who was playful and bright up to his final weekend at age 21. His sister passed at age 14. The beloved cat's cat, a feral the veterinarian rescued from an auto parts yard, lived for almost two years after the beloved cat expired. After being his companion, she kept my two adorable kittens in line until she succumbed to thyroid disease. A few month later I realized the kittens triggered my asthma something fierce and re-homed them. They are doing very well and their new mom loves them very much.

 

I do enjoy the freedom of not having pets and would not be able to travel as I have done for the last year, but I do miss having the fuzzy companionship.

 

Cats are quirky animals. Watching them puzzle out how to accomplish a task, like jumping to the top of a door frame from the floor or opening the cabinet door that is ten times their size is amusing, for sure. One of my favorite videos is one I call "The Beloved Cat vs the Yogurt Container." Spoiler alert: Thanks to my opposable thumbs and a pair of scissors, a modification was made to the yogurt container and he was able to lick it clean.