How many of you have pets?
I have loved animals all my life. As far back as I can remember. I have 3 dogs right now. They are small dogs and two of them are rescue’s. And we adopted a 15 year old cat last year. Its constant cleaning up after them, feeding them, vet care, walking, bathing, clipping claws.
I never have to explain anything to them. They always love me! Unconditional love, that is what they give me. I couldn’t imagine my life with out them. I go for a walk with them every night. I have a dog stroller (yes my dogs are spoiled). Truth be told my one dog is a bit overweight and cant walk very far and the other dog is older and can’t walk far so they ride in the stroller and love it. My other dog runs along by me. I take my phone and listen to music on my earplugs.
Most people walk to remember I walk to forget. For that short time we walk I have no worries or problems. Its just my time. If my dog’s weren’t with me it wouldn’t be as fun.
So any pet lovers out there send me a friend request. The dog in the picture is Teddy. He is 14 years now.
Hi Yooper,I envy you to be able to find solace in such a wonderful mode,wish I had space to do the same.
3 cats and a bird here. One cat is 19yrs old and been with me since she was born as I also had her mother. Other 2 are mother and daughter. I only intended having 2 cats but the younger one become a “cyber cat” to a friend of mine in UK who couldn’t have cats but loved them. The bird was a birthday present after stating “I will have a cockateil one day”….my daughters surprise gift to me. Originally being from the country I have always had animals around me but once moving into the city there were restrictions on what I could have. They are good company though although the cats do have a habit of licking their lips if the come in contact with the bird.
I have no pets..I am on It a pet person and my life would have to change drastically to.have pets.
We have had quite a few pets from Budgies to Hamsters Gunie pigs a Rabbit and quite a few cats, all rescue animals now we only have 3 cats, 1 is rather old and needs lots of special food so its rather expensive.
All of them have had a place in our hearts. They keep you going when you feel as if you don’t want to
I have no pets but growing up I always had a black cat . Then after I was married we had a black poodle the medium size and then we had cats and when our daughter was 7 we got another dog which was part cocker and collie. Had to put him to sleep in 82. Had fish before I sold my house and bought my condo in 2001 . Might get another fish tank as they are fairly easy to take care of. My grandson has 2 beautiful male Ragdoll cats Mittens and Mocha.
Hi, Yooper – I just read your blog – and I absolutely understand how you feel – both in relation to how much time, energy and $$/££ are involved in loving and caring for our pets. You are one wonderful person to take on all that responsibility and care – but I know from past personal experience the love and trust and joy that comes back to you from those you have taken under your wing. I am a pet lover – dogs, cats, I always had when growing up and as an adult – until these past few years. I now live vicariously through friends, neighbours pets and support several animal charities. Pets – especially dogs and cats are so faithful and trusting offer great companionship…and they also contribute to your physical and mental health – especially dogs – as they have to be walked each and usually a couple of times a day – which also provides opportunities to get to know other people along your route. Keep up the good work and keep enjoying your precious ones.
I have 2 rescue cats (one is 15 and the other is 7). The ages are approximate since they were rescues. The vet determined the ages at the time I got them by their body size and teeth. They have been the most wonderful companions and I can’t imagine not having them. Yes they are a responsibility and a cost (the younger one actually just had to have 7 teeth pulled!) but the happiness they bring to me is priceless.
I also have an amphibian which is called a Pac Man frog. He is very cool and his name is Fat Frank! Frank is about 7 years old and can live in captivity upwards of 15 or more years. He has a special heat lamp and vitamin lamp for day and a red heat lamp at night. Frank lives in a small glass aquarium type cage with a screened top. The cage has small stones, fake plants and water in it (but he is not under the water). He gets misted everyday with a spray bottle. Frank can’t be held as he has teeth and will bite so he is just so very awesome to look at. What does he eat you ask? Frogs can exist on crickets but it’s a bother to have to always have fresh ones around. Okay, get ready… he eats mice. I don’t like putting the live ones in there so I buy them frozen, defrost one and dangle it in front of him. He thinks it’s moving so he grabs it. I can imagine what you are thinking… but hey it’s the food chain ..
So that’s who I have with me… wish we could post pictures here!
I have a rescue cat named Spence. Where I live I couldn’t have a dog and with my schedule it is better that I don’t. Growing up I had a German Shepard and a Springer Spaniel. Cat’s are ok and I love Spence dearly but they sure are not a dog!
I am not a pet person… mainly because I am highly allergic to both cats and dogs. A stray cat adopted ‘us’ a few years ago. She suddenly disappeared about 6 months ago. We kept her indoors when the weather was too hot or too cold and I’d somehow tolerate the allergies.
A subject that certainly I find uplifting and I am truly at one with you Yoopercaregiver.Your care and unselfishness deserves all the unconditional love pets give and I sincerely hope this blessed relationships continue through your life.
I was brought up on a small farm of mixed animals, though it was the several cats…… and then the delightful Pembrokeshire corgi dogs we had…………… that I felt most affinity with,sadly the cats were prone to short lives, either getting terribly injured with rabbit traps as they roamed the vicinity or poisons given to eliminate rats.
But the corgis were my life during a rather bleak and lonely child hood living in the heart of the Welsh countryside………..they were so loving,demanding of nothing, but food,a walk and exchanging this wonderful loyalty and unconditional love.Each death was so heart breaking.
Then on marriage, it was just not complete until little Scampi,again a Pembrokeshire corgi, arrived in our family,residing side by side with us as if our child for a full 16 years. He travelled with us to wherever we visited, whether near or far ………..if Scampi did not receive an invite…….. then we all stayed at home!
With my husband working long hours and no children, Scampi was my ever loyal companion,such a stalwart as we both roamed our wonderful countryside and beach combed to our heart`s content.Our summers were spent in a Mobile home at the seaside, so we walked many miles together or as a threesome daily……..The relationship and love was second to none and he truly ruled both our home and lives.
The day his life sadly ended, I myself collapsed and was Hospitalised for many weeks,I was totally bereft and unable to speak his name for at least three months,the pain and loss was unbearable.
My husband had a little coffin made by a carpenter…….. in mahoganny with brass fittings……. and he was laid to rest in the upper corner of the patio he so loved,a welsh slate covering the spot with a huge stone urn sitting there, in which a flowering fuchsia bloomed in profusion…………………….
Because of serious health problems we were unable to think of having another pet and this situation continued for some 12 painful years.
However it was a miniature wire haired dachshund pup whom we named Barnaby…….. rather than his very long pedigree name……that again transformed our lives.We were now living virtually within a stone`s throw of a lovely beach and a wood on the opposite side ………..the ideal setting for those many great long walks us three enjoyed……..my husband was now retired, due to my poor health and was my carer………..so of course the two “men” bonded……. even more than we both did I think!!
However he soon became the life and soul of our home and lives,he was master….. and how we loved his cute, but extremely obstinate ways!Not only did he become the “apple of our eyes”……….very much like Scampi……….he was the centrepiece of our lives and we lived as a unit of three………………He lived again for 16 fantastic years,the final 6 months though, very sadly, he was deaf , blind and spoon fed,however he lacked for nothing, for although my ever declining health oft was a stumbling block…… my husband cared for him tenderly, just as a baby,seeing to his every need.
Eventually of course, came that final much dreaded day,his young lady `Vet was brought to our house and our darling Barnaby was put to sleep…….. there in his own basket in front of his beloved Rayburn Stove.It maybe off putting for some……….. but then after my husband actually made a little hardwood casket, we both laid him to rest within, amongst his favourite blankets and toys………..this casket was left in our conservatory for a few days, with a little lamp and a vase of red roses standing close by on a table……………..we were able to take our time to say those all important goodbyes.He was then finally buried in a floral island within our paddock,again in his very own beloved “stomping ground”………….he was laid facing our home and he is never far from sight or thoughts……………
Very sadly with age and health proving a big issue now for us both, we feel it wrong and unfair to take in another little pet, knowing we would not be here to see him/her through their life span………….it hurts us bitterly daily, as our hearts well and truly bleed for that outstanding companionship,loyalty,pleasure,fun…………….and altogether unconditional love that our pets give us.
However we feel immensely grateful that we had all those wonderful years with 2 of the very best……….and now make do with simply enjoying reliving happy memories,enjoying pictures of those happier days……….. and going all gaga whenever we meet or see other lovely dogs especially!!.
Thank you for allowing me this time reliving happy and precious memories Yooper.I wish you and yours continued happiness.
I have two rescue dogs…..Minnie and Roscoe….Minnie adopted us,I opened the front door one morning almost 4 years ago and she was laying on the front porch..She had some bad places on her…Either she had been in a fight or thrown from a car we think…..I did run an ad online to see if she belonged to anyone but no one answered….Thats why we are pretty sure she was abandoned…..I adopted Roscoe from a neighboring county animal shelter….I had seen a picture of another dog they had that I wanted to see but when I got there it was a hounddog that touched my heart,,,,He had been found wandering the streets and someone picked him up and brought him there….He has become my baby and is so loving…We lost our Scooter dog to cancer over a year ago which was heartbreaking…but I a very happy with my two rescues and feel very fortunate to give them homes….