I just want some validation from fellow pet-lovers

[Coventina]

Pets are awesome. All pets, in all shapes, sizes and species.

I feel that to be in touch with the animal kingdom through a companion animal makes you a better human.

After all, we are animals also.

Why do so many humans want to pretend that animals don't exist or are not important?

It really makes me sad.

[ernstbass]

1. I totally agree with you

A world wothout pets is not one I would want to live in. Animals are very spritiual creatures IMO.

[SiouxJ]

3. Absolutely!

I would not want to live in a world with only people and no animals. Animals keep me sane. It's people that drive me nuts.

[Shoeempress]

2. Agreed. Love of animals indicates empathy for living creatures,

especially helpless ones. Can't imagine living without my pets.

[Patiod]

4. At 3:30 am, I can imagine living in a world without pets

who suddenly leap up and bite/claw the foot that's hanging off the bed, in order to wake me up and get me to open the wet cat food .

Oh, yes, I can certainly imagine that world....

[roguevalley]

5. my dogs made me better, my cats and dogs. They make me love

others and life in a different way than before. They are my buddies, my kids, my little goombahs. They are the best things around. I pity people who can't be around animals. they make you better.

[superconnected]

6. When my kitten got stuck in a tree a month ago

I ran into a guy with 6 cats that was saving the strays in my complex. He took an interest in my kitten because it was stuck and told me he was going up go rescue it but I talked him out of it since it was too dangerous and I had already called a pro tree climber.

Over the last few months I kept noticing strays I was feeding disappearing. My apt complex usually puts out traps for them every few months and sends them to the pound.

But this year there were no notices of traps yet. I kept wondering why they were so over due.

Yesterday I found out from a woman whose husband is in maintenance that a guy a few apts down has 20 cats, all he saved, in our complex. The maintenance guy is keeping it secret. I got told because I have 5 cats - 3 kittens, their mom who was a stray in my parking lot and my 18 yo cat.

My point is, it's easy to start losing faith in the human race and to start believing you are the only one doing anything. But there are a lot of good people. You'd be surprised how many people are out to save the animals.

One last thing, I don't care how nice they seem; how clean; how successful; and how warm and friendly they are, when someone tells me they really don't like animals - cats/dogs/anything, I no longer trust them.

[regnaD kciN]

7. TWENTY cats...?

Wow. When I lived in that same complex fifteen years ago, the largest number of cats we were sheltering was thirteen...two of our own, three we took in to keep from being rounded up (one of whom we wound up adopting, the other two of whom went to a no-kill shelter in Oregon), and the eight kittens of one of the latter (all of whom found homes).

I was sure thirteen would be the all-time cat record for that place. That guy has a lot of compassion (not to mention courage). Kudos to the maintenance guy for keeping his secret, too!

[BrklynLiberal]

8. I agree 100% superc, and if my dog does not like someone, I feel that

I should watch out for them. I trust his instincts about people better than I trust my own.


One last thing, I don't care how nice they seem; how clean; how successful; and how warm and friendly they are, when someone tells me they really don't like animals - cats/dogs/anything, I no longer trust them.

[regnaD kciN]

9. I have also long noticed...

...that people who are open about hating cats generally have a need to control others. After all, if they can't stand a pet because of its independent attitude, how do you think they'll react when humans around them show the same trait?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. Not liking animals is a serious character flaw.

If somebody tells me they hate dogs/cats/other animals, they're off my list. I can see preferring one kind of pet to another, but if I find out you *hate* animals -- buh-bye.

[Mutley]

11. You are right.

I can't imagine not having my beautiful puppy dogs. Even if they did wake me up at 6am today.

[Digit]

12. I have neighbors like that

Their son, a rising Junior in HS, has never had a pet. No, nobody is allergic to animals. They just don't want one to muss up their home. I feel sorry for this kid.
Oh, and he is SO overprotected.

[regnaD kciN]

13. Which fits right into my scenario...

"Overprotective" = "controlling."