Pets

[Pontifex Geronimo 13]

Some are cat people, some are dog people. Pets are very expensive to look after, and yet you get a lot in return. My wife has been complaining about the expense of our two cat and said these are the last ones, but I cannot imagine not having a pet.

My daughter and her husband, bought a house recently and a lot of decisions about location and such were around their dog. They have no kids except the dog. She was a whippet, which is a smaller version of a greyhound. They run extremely fast. So fast that last night she ran into a bin on somebody's driveway so hard that she broke her neck and died in a matter of seconds. They will be mourning their baby now for some time to come, and thinking that the benefits may not be worth the anguish at the end.

My mother has an ancient cat, Siamese. Every day I am surprised she is still around. When my father was failing, mom had the cat for support, and I was worried that Mom may lose the cat and dad at the same time. Dad's gone and the cat saw her through and has another two years under her belt.

Pet stories? For or against?

 

[Jaebius]

Some are cat people, some are dog people. Pets are very expensive to look after, and yet you get a lot in return. My wife has been complaining about the expense of our two cat and said these are the last ones, but I cannot imagine not having a pet.

My daughter and her husband, bought a house recently and a lot of decisions about location and such were around their dog. They have no kids except the dog. She was a whippet, which is a smaller version of a greyhound. They run extremely fast. So fast that last night she ran into a bin on somebody's driveway so hard that she broke her neck and died in a matter of seconds. They will be mourning their baby now for some time to come, and thinking that the benefits may not be worth the anguish at the end.

My mother has an ancient cat, Siamese. Every day I am surprised she is still around. When my father was failing, mom had the cat for support, and I was worried that Mom may lose the cat and dad at the same time. Dad's gone and the cat saw her through and has another two years under her belt.

Pet stories? For or against?

We have a handsome long-haired grey cat in our family. Since we don't know his real name (he hasn't told us), we call him Star.

 

[Luce NDs]

PET Scams can look into the secrets of brain't issue ... and lead to catharsis ... if the brain can be cleared of the crap fed to it by men supposedly yout friends ... but not! Such is the scheme of comPETition vs co-operation ... but we can't get it together in the hear and know ... to much of a' void !

One should prepare for a southeaster that can dampen you to the base ... a sweated head?

 

[Carolla]

So sorry to hear about the whippet's tragic death - must have been quite shocking.

My dad is 89 & an introvert. He lives alone for about two years now - and was getting quite depressed. He decided to get a "rescue dog" from a breed specific group. The process was incredible - did they ever check him out!! Financials, home visit ... quite surprising to me. Thankfully he got approved - and last Nov. he got his dog. She has literally rescued him - he's so much better and thoroughly enjoys having her around. She keeps him on track during the day - know when meals are, bedtime etc. She snuggles up; she entertains; she gets him out for a short walk most days. I'm grateful to that crazy little pup.

 

[Mendalla]

Our old cat (born when I was 4, died the year I got my Masters so almost 20) was a constant friend for the time we knew her. Didn't overindulge her or anything the way some people do. She wasn't our baby. More like our overseer.

We had a dog for about a decade, too. Fun to play with but a bit clingy for my taste. I think cats are more to my taste because I'm rather individualist and introverted which tends to describe them, too.

No pets since I left my parents' home. Wife isn't in to having fuzzy creatures sharing her living quarters and I've gone with it.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

We have a rescue cat and a rescue dog here. The dog was rescued from South Central L.A. Stray chihuahuas are a big problem there. My roommate adopted him on a holiday down south. He's part chihuahua and part some kind of terrier. He has 3 1/2 legs but can run pretty fast. He's totally attached to my roommate though. The only time he'll pay attention to me is if she goes out and leaves him here. The cat is featured in my avatar. He really bonded with me. He has so much personality, almost like a dog. I had a dog and a cat as a kid - and that cat was also black and white, with a similar personality, so I bonded right away, too. I've always had a thing for black and white pets because the other three pets we had over the years were black and white. He's only 2 1/2. We had another rescue cat who was of frail health, older, tiny for an adult cat, and she died because of a kidney issue last spring. she had to be put down. She was sweet though, and it was sad to loose her. I am planning on moving and would love to adopt this cat, Reggie, officially (currently still a foster) but I would have to find a place that accepts pets. It'll be hard enough just to find a place for me.

 

[Mendalla]

I should note here that one group that is going to miss the Harpers in Ottawa is the humane society. Animals were fostered at 24 Sussex all through Stephen Harper's decade there and he used the PM website to promote the cause. They have 2 cats of their own and added a rescued chinchilla that they fostered. And Laureen worked with a couple groups to erect a bat shelter on the property.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-transition-24-sussex-cats-bats-1.3294339

It's things like this that make me suspect that I may not want him as PM but I'd possible be quite happy with him as a neighbour. We would quite probably get along as long as we didn't talk politics (well, save for casually picking Trudeau apart over a brewski).

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

I was reading yesterday that it was Laureen Harper who was an active volunteer with the Humane Society and into animal welfare. Not as much, Stephen. She was also quite interested in the outdoors.

Not sure I'd want a bat cage next door, but to each their own. I guess they are helpful critters to keep the bugs down in the yard.

 

[ChemGal]

Pets are pretty limited for me. Growing up we had fish and a hamster. I had a goldfish that lived for many years, I was pretty attached. I missed the hamster when it passed away, my parents even paid for it to have surgery, but I was pretty allergic by the time it died.

As an adult it's been fish, snails and shrimp. I'm less attached to the fish than when I was a kid, although I did enjoy having some that were moreso 'mine' than Chemguys as I picked them out.

My sister has surprisingly had quite a few pets despite her allergies, some that I had to live with. I enjoyed the gecko, but not the crickets required to feed it and I was in charge for a while, I didn't know about fish stores then. Going into the pet store made me pretty sick. Then she had the fish that made numerous trips between Calgary and Edmonton and I'm pretty sure it committed suicide. The thing had been half alive for well over a year and one day my parents started questioning who flushed it in the middle of the night, I was the main suspect. Turns out it somehow managed to get underneath all the rocks - suicide is my opinion. Chemguy took care of it for a week once when we all traveled, he was terrified it wouldn't make it through the week.

Then she had mice, again trips back and forth, I was pretty allergic. She has a bunny and got a 2nd for it to have a friend. They never could actually be kept together though, they would have just fought til one died. Liked the less shy one when it had free range. It was pretty cuddly as long as it wasn't picked up. Eventually it was kept in the cage though and became very possessive, not much fun to change it's water. The 2nd one died recently. I was actually pretty good allergy wise to the animals themselves, but their food was an issue. Timothy hay - a diet requirement showed up very high on allergy testing. They also have a dog, pretty low energy, fairly sweet. Not hypoallergenic friendly sadly but I've been around dogs that are worse for my allergies. She loves men, I'm pretty low on the order of list of people she listens to. I feel better that she will follow Chemguy before my sister though. On days where my allergies aren't great but I still figure I'm good enough to go over there and just not touch her all the sudden she wants some love from me and not just Chemguy.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

I wonder how much those two differed on their politics out of the public eye. Kind of like my parents. Couldn't be more opposite. I wonder.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

Pets are pretty limited for me. Growing up we had fish and a hamster. I had a goldfish that lived for many years, I was pretty attached. I missed the hamster when it passed away, my parents even paid for it to have surgery, but I was pretty allergic by the time it died.

As an adult it's been fish, snails and shrimp. I'm less attached to the fish than when I was a kid, although I did enjoy having some that were moreso 'mine' than Chemguys as I picked them out.

My sister has surprisingly had quite a few pets despite her allergies, some that I had to live with. I enjoyed the gecko, but not the crickets required to feed it and I was in charge for a while, I didn't know about fish stores then. Going into the pet store made me pretty sick. Then she had the fish that made numerous trips between Calgary and Edmonton and I'm pretty sure it committed suicide. The thing had been half alive for well over a year and one day my parents started questioning who flushed it in the middle of the night, I was the main suspect. Turns out it somehow managed to get underneath all the rocks - suicide is my opinion. Chemguy took care of it for a week once when we all traveled, he was terrified it wouldn't make it through the week.

Then she had mice, again trips back and forth, I was pretty allergic. She has a bunny and got a 2nd for it to have a friend. They never could actually be kept together though, they would have just fought til one died. Liked the less shy one when it had free range. It was pretty cuddly as long as it wasn't picked up. Eventually it was kept in the cage though and became very possessive, not much fun to change it's water. The 2nd one died recently. I was actually pretty good allergy wise to the animals themselves, but their food was an issue. Timothy hay - a diet requirement showed up very high on allergy testing. They also have a dog, pretty low energy, fairly sweet. Not hypoallergenic friendly sadly but I've been around dogs that are worse for my allergies. She loves men, I'm pretty low on the order of list of people she listens to. I feel better that she will follow Chemguy before my sister though. On days where my allergies aren't great but I still figure I'm good enough to go over there and just not touch her all the sudden she wants some love from me and not just Chemguy.

i had a hamster, too. Almost forgot. He died when my cousin was looking after him while we were away. He got a cyst or something. He was fluffy. His name was Fuzz, of course. and he had a ball he used to run around the house in (no cat at the time). He freaked my mom out though. She called him "the rat". Even though he had no tail. She wouldn't pick him up, but she would touch his face through the cage. He was cute. I don't like domestic rodents with tails - it's the tails - they're like worms. And I had mice in an old apartment in a heritage house once - tiny field mice, two inches long, with the tail, not domestic. Not so cute when they get into the house uninvited! I deluded myself the first time I saw one zip under the door then hide away in my shoe rack. It was quick as a flash. I was like "Nah, couldn't be!" But it was. Eek!

 

[BetteTheRed]

I've lived with cats most of my life, but I'm also very fond of dogs. I'm currently owned by a 20-year old ragdoll, Eliot, and her 25-pound 4 year old counterpart, Atwood. I also live with a 5 year old rescue hound mix (Lucy, the hound who cost me a zillion dollars with a badly broken leg last winter) and an 8 year old bassett hound, Buster. They tie you down terribly, and they are quite an expense, and I'm moderately allergic to all of them, but hey, they're great company and marvellous entertainment. And good exercise.

 

[paradox3]

No pets here although I have had cats and a hamster in the past.

We have a granddog who is a real sweetie pie.

 

[Pinga]

I have had dogs most of my life and cats for a bit
* Cocker spaniel when I was young (4? to mid 20's) - wonderful dog
* cat when lving on my own in mid 20's, then another one was gifted to me. That one was given away when my future husband came along as the cat started spraying all of my guys things - yuck
* Yellow lab when my husband and I had our first son
* springer spaniel for the last 8 years
* cat, then a replacement cat for my youngest son

I love having a dog in the house with me. cat is not my preference.


We also had fish for a while, a turtle.
no hamsters, gerbils or other such creations in this house.

 

[Seeler]

My first dog was a Springer Spaniel - beautiful dog. He got hit by a freight train while following me to the school bus. My first real exposure to death of someone I loved. I still can't pass a Springer on the street or in the park without asking to play with its silken ears and stroking its wavy coat.

Second love in a dog - my black Labrador Retriever named Pepper. Intelligent, obedient, completely devoted to me. She saw me through some tough times and lived to an old age. Her two greatest joys were accompanying me on cross country ski jaunts through the woods, and in obeying my slightest wish. I still miss her.

We've had other dogs, and presently share in loving our grandchildren's Chloe, but those are the two that stand out for me.

We've also had cats off and on most of my life. Seelerman loves cats. Joanna, a beautiful stray my sister found, shared our childhood. Tinchee got me through my teen years. My daughter's Tawny was the prototype of what a cat should be - we got him when Seelergirl was in Brownies and needed a 'pet keeper badge' - and he stayed with us when she grew up. Nichodemus overlapped Tawny - a foundling and the weirdest cat I ever knew. Do you suppose it is possible for a cat to be autistic? And when Seelergirl came home after her first broken marriage she brought Teena with her. Right now she has a big black 'n white named Squirt (weird name) and we are pet free.

Sometimes we talk about getting a kitten, but it hardly seems fair when we don't know when we might have to downsize, and it is possible that a cat would outlive us. We content ourselves with occasional cat-sitting.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

I like having pets around. They are good company, and like kids, kind of. (See photo in my avatar. Reggie even plays "patty-cake" / high fives, with me. So cute! He tried to bite when he first moved in, but not anymore). They have very unique personalities. Sometimes, I wonder what they're thinking. Probably not much beyond, "Feed me. Walk me. Pet me." Though. And they will get your attention, to those ends.

lol. The other night it was quite amusing - Reg was bored and decided to chase his tail around. He would see it twitch out of the corner of his eye and attempt to pounce on it. Or, he hides behind things and springs out - practices his pouncing - goes back to the same spot and does it again. I have a favourite chair I like to sit in - when he wants to be fed, he goes over and jumps on my chair so i can't sit down in the morning until he gets his food - pretty smart! His food comes before my morning coffee - he's figured out how to ensure it!

 

[Jaebius]

In the past, my family has had several animals living with us. They've included cats, dogs, gerbils, hamsters, fish, doves, rabbits, a guinea pig, mice, a rat, a chicken, ants, silverfish, houseflies, a raccoon, and squirrels.

 

[revsdd]

We had to have our almost 16 year old dog (shih-tzu/poodle mix) put to sleep last June just before moving. He had developed a tumour in his mouth and it was growing quite fast. At his age, surgery wasn't really an option and you could tell that it had reached a size where it was starting to interfere with him swallowing (it was right at the back of his mouth.) It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. Before him I had a shepherd who lived to be 14. They were both great dogs. We've talked about getting another one, but haven't made that jump yet. It's still kind of hard to imagine another dog.

 

[Lastpointe]

As a child we had rabbits, fish, turtles

As an adult we have had a Bouvier since we bought our first house 30 years ago

Our fourth Bouvier, Maggie , is now 7

I like cats but my husband and son are allergic so that was that. Plus i do love the fact that dogs really wntyou around and often cats can be pretty independent

When kids were little each had hamsters, budgies, snakes, and we usedto incubate and hatch ducks. Mallard ducks make lovely pets, we used to get eggs laid on our deck beside the pool. Our son doesnt have. Oet right now, our daughter has a barn kitten she got while working this summer

Right now our dog is withour son at our farm. It is lonely without her

Pets are expensive. Though I think you get alot from them.

 

[revjohn]

Pet stories? For or against?

Definitely a dog person.

Stories? I think the story my wife likes most involved our Lab/Samoyed Cross Samuel. Samuel would lunge on his chain and snap the links. I would repair the links but they would alwyas be a bit rough. One morning Samuel got himself wrapped around a small tree and I went out in my pj's to untangle him. Rose our Lab/Terrier cross who was a year younger than Samuel and enjoyed tormenting him while he was on his chain by running in and out of his reach.

She proceeded to do this while I was disentangling Samuel and it was having the desired effect. He was lunging and finding the chain shorter. I was chastizing him and he finally sat and watched while I went about the work of untangling. I knew that as soon as he felt slack on the chain he was going to go after Rose who was over estimating his reach once he was free of the chain.

Sure enough as soon as the chain was freed Rose was rushing in and Samuel rushed out to get her.

Which was expected.

What was not expected was one of the rough links snagging my pyjama bottoms as Samuel ran after Rose. Nor did I epect a whole flannel pantleg to be part of the pursuit.

If any neighbours noticed they were considerate enough not to mention it.

It took almost a second for me to decide whether to chase the disappearing pant-leg or retreat to the house. I opted for retreating.