Hey, my first thread - pets/animals

[+ Truereview]

1 cat, 3 small dogs, and the most amazing pet sitter! She stays overnights if I need her to, she takes them to the park, grooms them, and the babies love her. I have stopped feeling guilty when I travel. If she only had a dick, she'd be perfect marriage material (plus I would save a ton of $)

[+ WilliamM]

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.

 

My 16-year old cat was slowly failing from kidney disease in the winter. In February, he occasionally forgot where the water and food were located. He would come over, put his paw on my arm and look me directly in the face. I found the water and food for him. But, I also knew it was time to put him down.

[Kenny]

For a kid in 1954, a $100 was a lot of money

Wow. That's almost $900 today!

[Kenny]

A former roommate had a pet skunk whose anal scent glands had been removed. It was fine during the day when Pepe slept, being nocturnal, but a scratching, wandering annoyance all night. He was essentially indifferent to people, unless they had food. I don't recommend them as pets.

[klifhangar]

Really any animal that hasn't been domesticated for centuries makes a poor pet. The other problem with skunks is that, if you wake them, they'll bite you. Before there were all the restrictions on exotic pets, I remember a pet store selling baby raccoons and prairie dogs. The raccoons are about the worst pet you could have.

[Frequentflier]

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.

 

You are awesome to have cared for and to be caring for these rescues. Your rescues know that about you but now others do too.

[Frequentflier]

Until our current dog we had purebreds and spent a fortune on medical costs. The current amazing dog came from a shelter. We'd worried about putting her in a kennel while traveling until we reminded ourselves she was a rescue whose fates are far worse than as much as one week in a kennel and being pampered. Recently did a two week roadtrip and she came with us - it was great. Many hotels allow dogs, some don't charge extra. Even the extra charges come out to about the cost of a kennel. The weather was good and it's now easy with the Internet to find restaurants with patios that allow dogs. Everywhere we went our dog was popular; most people love a friendly dog. We no longer stress about a dog left in a kennel back home. I suspect it would be tough to travel with a sick dog but those days are hopefully far in the future.

[+ WmClarke]

My 16-year old cat was slowly failing from kidney disease in the winter. In February, he occasionally forgot where the water and food were located. He would come over, put his paw on my arm and look me directly in the face. I found the water and food for him. But, I also knew it was time to put his down.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[+ WilliamM]

I don't recommend them as pets.

 

A very funny understatement

[gregkidman]

I have two white ring-necked (or mourning) doves. They make two chicks every three weeks. At one point, I had 16 baby birds, all from that one pair. Thankfully, I am able to find homes for every chick they make. I hire a lady every two weeks to clean the cage.

Growing up, I had a standard poodle, german shepard, guinea pigs and a Siamese cat.

[rvwnsd]

My 16-year old cat was slowly failing from kidney disease in the winter. In February, he occasionally forgot where the water and food were located. He would come over, put his paw on my arm and look me directly in the face. I found the water and food for him. But, I also knew it was time to put his down.

 

The Beloved Cat was doing OK until his final weekend, when he wasn't able to walk without falling and peed while sleeping (of course, being a cat, he had curled up on a pile of newspapers). His cat was bringing him food (wish I had THAT on video) and walked next to him while he walked to the water dish so he wouldn't fall. Like your cat, it was "time."

 

I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

A former roommate had a pet skunk whose anal scent glands had been removed. It was fine during the day when Pepe slept, being nocturnal, but a scratching, wandering annoyance all night. He was essentially indifferent to people, unless they had food. I don't recommend them as pets.

 

Nor, I am guessing, would you recommend the guy as a roommate.

[Kenny]

Nor, I am guessing, would you recommend the guy as a roommate.

Actually I would. Great guy...especially when he realized that the skunk was a mistake and he found another home for it.

[rvwnsd]

Actually I would. Great guy...especially when he realized that the skunk was a mistake and he found another home for it.

Alright!!

 

I can see the allure of a skunk whose scent glands were removed. They are handsome animals. The babies are just adorable.

[Epigonos]

When I was a child my mother had a miserable little black Chihuahua that loved her and hated everybody else. I absolutely despised that rotten little beast.

 

As an adult I have had only one pet, a champion, black, pure breed American Cocker Spaniel. She was the joy of my life. She NEVER met a human she didn’t love or a dog she didn’t hate. Interestingly she loved my neighbor’s cat and the two would play together for hours. Occasionally I would open the front door and tell her to run away. She would walk to the door, look outside, turn around and look at me as if to say “do you think I’m stupid I’ve spent countless hours training you to do exactly what I want” and she was correct. The day I had to put her down was one of the saddest in my life.

 

In many ways I would like to get another dog but I now travel quite a bit and I would hate to leave it for extended periods of time. Additionally I’m 75 and the dog might out live me and I don’t like the possible consequences of that possibility.

[+ FreshFluff]

Lots of people here like pets. In fact, the pets themselves sometimes wander into the forum. Pilates class meets at 3, so please watch your step.

[klifhangar]

As an avid animal lover, I have had a LOT of animals. There are very few domestic pets that I have not had, at some point. But there are a few that are almost soulmates. My kids and I will always list the "greats" that we had along the way. For me they were: childhood German Shepherd, a Rough Collie, my brindled Great Dane, a gorgeous bay Tennessee Walking Horse that just died 4 years ago and a couple of cats that were just characters - a mix and a Himalayan.

 

I am looking to buy another house and will likely get myself another dog. Not sure what I want this time. I may do another rescue but there are also a few breeds that I really love, some of which I have never had. I'd love another Dane but have also always wanted a Standard Poodle, English Cocker, Doberman, Kerry Blue, Irish Setter... the list goes on.

[klifhangar]

Lots of people here like pets. In fact, the pets themselves sometimes wander into the forum. Pilates class meets at 3, so please watch your step.

 

I had a couple of cats very much like that one. Not a huge cat fan but Persian/Himalayans are so cute and calm.

[geminibear]

 

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 :-(

Poor neglected Rocky

[+ poolboy48220]

I grew up with dogs, my mom and dad have never gone more than a few months without one, but I got my first dog after moving out of the family house (in 1982!) just over a year ago, and can't imagine life without her now.