If you aren't an animal lover - why?

[goofygirl]

cvemom- your cat's adorable!


Another cat lover here, they give me so much happiness, and I can't relate to anyone who hates cats, although I can understand how an allergy or a bad experience with a cat could turn you away from them.

Cats are my family, and are just as important to me as human family. I'll do anything for them.


O.T.:
Rutt and Tuke , like that Kerry dog tag, think I'll go over to Kerrygear and get one!

 

[chyam]

Goofygirl..............I love your tag, I'm there with you! I once got a birthday card from a friend that said "Birthdays are like cats......the more you have the more pitiful you look!"Anyways I must have been pretty pitiful since at that time I had 9...........all of which were plucked from the streets! I only have 4 now and one is almost 20, but there is room for more! I am asthmatic but I have all tile floors and everyone gets a bath once a month so I really don't experience any problems.

 

[powellrj]

One word ALLERGIES. My kids and I are so miserable with runny eyes, sneezing and headaches when we are around cats and dogs its hard to really love them. We have had our share of fish, hermit crabs and hampsters, but its hard to love cats and dogs when they make you feel so lousy.

 

[Rutt and Tuke]

Originally posted by ladydancer

Just for the record, I don't eat meat of any kind. If something was alive at one time, I don't eat it!

I'm curious as to what you eat since plants were alive at one time, too.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I dont' like animals because I'm scared of them. I don't really know why I am, but I am. I just am not big on having dogs or cats jumping at me or drooling on me or anything else. I was raised in an animal free house and that likely has something to do with this fear. I guess maybe it's because to me, animals are unpredictable.

 

[goofygirl]

"Birthdays are like cats......the more you have the more pitiful you look!"

chyam- good for you for saving all those cats' lives! You're a guardian angel for kitties!

 

[WishingOnAStar]

I can't imagine living without at least a dog. I think the longest I've ever gone in my whole life without a dog was 2 months. I just like the feeling of protection. With our dog now, there is no way anyone could harm me or the kids - she would never allow it - and she's only a cocker spaniel. I also like having a dog around when dh is working at night - they always hear things before we do. (Right now, we also have some fish, 2 guinea pigs and are getting ds a corn snake for his birthday - well, he's getting a picture of one for his birthday and the "real thing" when we return from WDW).
Dh's family never had any pets at all - his mom HATES our dog and won't go near our guineas - she never stays too long at our house - and I can't imagine what she'll say when she sees our snake. Oh well! Dh's sister was bit by a dog when she was little and has always been afraid of them. She passed this fear on to her daughter who is terrified of even puppies now.
DH always says that because his parents wouldn't allow any pets, he doesn't want to deprive ours (my family always had a dog, some guinea pigs, hamsters and/or gerbils). The kids are learning some responsibility and they add to the zoo-like atmosphere already provided by our 2 girls and 1 VERY boy!

 

[Shugardrawers]

Personally, I LOVE dogs. Pretty fond of cats too but dogs especially. I say I love my toy poodle Petey like a child but then I've never had a child so I can't say if that's really true. I know some people are afraid of dogs or cats because of bad experiences in the past and I know there are some people who feel animals are dirty and carry diseases. That's what they've been told and that's what they believe. I try not to impose my dog on others who aren't interested. As much as I love him I understand not everyone does (wish people would think that way about their kids but that was a whole other thread!!). Actually, I wish more people would steer clear of him. He's real tiny so he's pretty cute to most people but he's skittish and while not a habitual biter, he once bit a little boy who was trying to pet him. I try to discourage anyone from petting him until he knows them. He's never bitten anyone he knows. Luckily, he gives plenty of warning before nipping. For that reason he rarely goes out in public with me and when he does I hold him and tell people not to touch him.

I don't understand non animal lovers but I have nothing against them. To each their own.

 

[SEAlla]

Count me in as an animal lover!!!

We have 5 cats, 1 dog, 3 birds, a hampster, and assorted fish. It is a lot I know but we have a 4,000 square foot house so I don't think we are breaking any square feet laws if they have them in VA.

If the more pets you have, the more pitiful you are? Then I guess that's me... but I wouldn't have it any other way.


Oh, and BTW, they are all rescues!


Susan

 

[katerkat]

If I wasn't an animal lover I'd go insane! Wedge and Tycho have been the only living creatures waiting for me at home many days. And they take up DH's spot in the bed very nicely when he's deployed.

They were the first ones I told about the baby - and I explained to them the important role of big fur-brothers. And how big fur-brothers don't hang out in the crib.

 

[Jeafl]

I like most dogs well enough, but I never pet them or get too close because of my severe allergies. My younger daughter has very bad allergies to cats and dogs as well so there isn't even a question of ever owning one. Also, my sister's dog (who actually started out as ours before the allergy issues) is 10 years old and STILL has accidents in the house on a regular basis. I also dislike the fact that you have to come home earlier from wherever you are to let them out, and worry about someone taking care of them when you go on vacation.

We have also been not-so-blessed with some pretty bad dogs that live around us. The yellow lab behind us has bitten me and several other people without provocation. The chow next door barks ALL DAY LONG and the golden retriever on the other side heads right to our yard to do his business the minute he is let out. We have talked to the owners a few times but he still does it. I blame the owners more than the dog for that though.

My daughter's friend just got a new wire hair dachsund puppy that is the cutest thing I have ever seen. He looks like a beanie baby and has tons of personality.

I have never really liked cats much though. I guess I just can't handle them walking all over tables and counters like the neighbor's cat does. He even licks butter and other food that is sitting on the counter. He also brings home dead baby bunnies and mice as a gift to her. I have to admit though, that kittens can be completely adorable.

I know another poster mentioned that people who don't like animals aren't compassionate, but I don't agree with that at all. I would never want an animal to be hurt or neglected. However, I am more compassionate when it comes to humans. I volunteer weekly at a battered women's shelter, and believe me, those women and children need more compassion that just about anyone or anything else.

 

[tc]

Animals are just too unpredictable for me. You never know how they're gonna react, jump, drool, bark, pee, smell. I'm sorry, I am just not an animal lover.

I like cleanliness, and, IMO, animals are just not clean enough. Hair, cat boxes, "accidents", are just not worth it to me.

I had a cat in high school, and really loved her. She died in my arms on the way to the vet. She just convulsed and died. It tore me apart. I've never had another pet since.

Too be honest, I had quite a traumatic childhood, and I have a hard time just giving my heart to people. It takes a lot for me to really open up and care for others. The idea of loving an animal, and then having it die, is more than I can take.

I know, I know, you'd say that the rewards out weigh the loss, but, I just can't agree.

Give me a clean, stress-free life and I'm happy.

 

[goofygirl]

Animals are just too unpredictable for me. You never know how they're gonna react, jump, drool, bark, pee, smell. I'm sorry, I am just not an animal lover.

The same can be said for humans, minus the "bark" part!


I agree though that a death of an animal is hard to take. But I found that bringing a new pet into the home helps me cope.

 

[LisaSt]

Because I have kids to clean up after and do not care to follow my pet around to clean up after them. I do not want to pick up dog crap out of my yard and I do not want to have to see or smell or change the cats litter box. Fish are fine as they are quiet and do nothing to make a mess.

 

[lilpritch04]

I love dogs. I've had them my whole life. I'm allergic to some, but my cat allergies are very bad. I also don't understand cats--I don't dislike them, just don't "appreciate" them the same way others do--same goes for birds.
We have an 8 month old puppy now, Q, and she is wonderful. Since we don't have kids yet, she is our baby.
We do take her out in public and around crowds, but she is always leashed and doesn't approach people. I understand that some people are afraid of animals, but my leashed dog is allowed to be out in public.
I am afraid to drive near motorcycles on the road (deathly afraid, I pull over most of the time) but I don't think that they shouldn't be allowed on the roads or anything. I just keep my distance.
That said, as a dog lover, I do not agree with people unleashing their dogs on public property and allowing them to go wherever they want. Not only is it against the law in most places, but is dangerous for the dog--what if they run into someone that doesn't like animals or get hit by a car or stolen, etc, etc.
Anyway, I rambled a bit, but I visit the humane society regulary and spend time with their animals. I just can't get enough.

 

[MAC3]

Not a huge cat fan. I like dogs though. I'd just rather not have any at the moment. Maybe after my DD is off so I can fill the void during empty nest syndrome.

I would like to adopt a greyhound! I think they are awesome animals!

I don't consider myself to be an animal lover though pretty much just dogs. I don't like to hear of people abusing them either. Any animal.

 

[IceQueen777]

I like most animals well enough, but I wouldn't call myself an animal lover. I do consider my pets part of the family, but I could never love them like I love my human family. I would die for my human loved ones, but I can't say that I would do that for any animal.

 

[MScott1851]

Well... growing up in a rural area exposed me to lots of animals. I grew up deathly afraid of the next door neighbor's german shepards, because he was a bootlegger and trained them to be MEAN. I was bitten by one when I was five. I am scared of horses, mules, etc because I have been thrown from one, I don't like chickens because grandmother had a huge rooster that would chase me, the cows were HUGE and even though they were gentle, the bull wasn't.

I did have dogs growing up, but they were always outside dogs and inevitably they would get ran over, so mother put the smack down on any more dogs after the third one died. I did have two cats for almost 11 years, and was so devastated when they died within six months of each other that I didn't want another one right away. Then I went to college and couldn't have one, and now I'm married to a cat hater.

Truly, though, the main reason is that we don't have the time to keep a pet, and are NEVER home. I wouldn't want to neglect an animal.

 

[snoopy]

Originally posted by IceQueen777
I like most animals well enough, but I wouldn't call myself an animal lover. I do consider my pets part of the family, but I could never love them like I love my human family. I would die for my human loved ones, but I can't say that I would do that for any animal.

Ditto.

Love my cats, but they are what they are -- cats.

 

[oogieboogie]

The only animals I like are dogs, but I would never get a dog because I could never pick up their poop. I don't really like cats, I tolerate them but I'm allergic to cats, so the only one I tolerate is our cat and the only reason we got our cat was because DH wanted a cat (he's a cat person)

Other than that, I grew up with a zoo in my house and that's enough to put me out of wanting or liking any kind of animals forever. Among the many animals my family has had over the years of my childhood include a pair of tiger cubs, a black bear, 4 monkeys, 13 dogs, 3 parrots and 2 cockatoos, 500 chickens (my mom had to have her own eggs and poultry meat), 1 goat, 1 baboon, 1 deer, 2 giant monitor lizards, and a huge assortment of stuffed animals around the house (my dad hunts). Ugh!