Your family . . . are they "pet people"?

[Boemy]

How "into" animals is your family? Do they love animals or tolerate them or flat out dislike them? Do they go all out for pampering or do they just not get it?

My mom is a total pet person. She grew up with animals. Her family had several consecutive Boston Terriers, all of whom were named Buttons) and they also had several chickens despite living in the city (rescues from Easter baskets) and a collie named Lassie (is Tosca biting her paw? ), two pet squirrels rescued after they fell from a tree, and a cage of white mice.

She does have some strange ideas . . . When she heard that I got two MALE kittens she cast dire prophecies about how they would grow so big and strong that they would vault over my head when I opened the door and escape. (Um, what?) She's always prefered female animals to male ones. Perhaps this is why she keeps calling Remy, my "daintier" male cat (her favorite, the one who's always rubbing up to her) "she" and "her." ^_~ I also caught her playing peekaboo with Remy exactly like you would a baby.

My dad grew up on a farm and had a very pragmatic approach towards animals when I first started begging for a dog. He thought only small dogs were "pet" dogs, that dogs were happiest outside all the time with a dog house, and that people shouldn't have dogs in the city because they would be unhappy "shut in" the yard.

Of course, when I finally got a dog she was a large dog who lived in the house. He's more of a pet person now than he used to be. He ended up being very fond of my dog and he's great with my parents' current cat (who is difficult at the best of time!) who loves to sleep on his stomach.

Here's my dad with one of my cats as a kitten:

 

[squirtsmom]

Oh boy, we had dogs, cats and squirrel monkeys when I grew up. My mother resacued the monkeys from the humane society. And fish, horses, etc. That is why I am animal happy.

 

[Boemy]

Wow, monkeys! :yikes: Do they end up in rescues / shelters a lot?

 

[Buddy'sParents]

My daddy is a sucker for animals. I love him for that, he taught me about love of them.

My mom used to tolerate them and then fell in love when we got our first dog. They have seven dogs now, lol.

My brother- well, they had one cat, then got his cat from my parents when they moved to the foothills and they have a dog that they "co-own". All of their animals are outside and are NOT allowed inside. Breaks my heart.

My only other relative that I claim is my aunt and she shows her samoyeds. She bred her bitch awhile ago and she got some gorgeous pups. She kept on and he is absolutely stunning. So she is into showing and all that jazz.

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

My family likes animals. They like to have them as a pet, but don't really go into depth researching food and what not. Averagey.

Me on the other hand...

LOL

~Tucker

 

[Babyblue5290]

My mother likes Lucas, but not really any other animals.

My father, doesn't even tolerate animals.

My cousins go through dogs like new clothes every year.......oh wait, not even dogs. It's more like puppies every year. They've had a boston terrier puppy, a beagle puppy, a whippet puppy, a shih Tzu puppy, a yorkshire terrier puppy, a rottweiler puppy, a "pit bull" puppy, and now they have 3 puppies all designer dogs they've gotten within weeks of each other. It's horrible. The animals aren't taught anything (not even how to potty on anything other then the ground!) and when the pup does something they don't like, especially potty/poop on the ground, they get really upset with the poor thing. Then after a little while of being covered in fleas and no vet care or training, they mysteriously get "lost." ARG!!!


I think the only semi-good dog owner in my family I know of is my grandmother. Her dog is very well behaved, but she has no clue what's good for her dog as far as food's and excercise.

 

[ToscasMom]

Yes I come from a family of animal lovers all the way back to my grandparents.

 

[ToscasMom]

and a collie named Lassie (is Tosca biting her paw?

This is the last straw for her, Boemy.

 

[blue]

Most of my family is too self centerred and democratic to think of anything other than themselves to be "pet people".

 

[ToscasMom]

Most of my family is too self centerred and democratic

That **** Democracy ruins stuff all the time! Give me a good monarchy any day!

 

[blue]

Ill take a Republic TM, and yes I want fries and a shake with that.

 

[Red_ACD_for_me]

I am from a HUGE family of dog people! Though they are all stupid when it comes to health and nutrition and I try to educate them only for it to fall on deaf ears Lets see...................I have several aunts who have bought dogs at pet stores and one who just bought a 14 week old Welsh Corgi from a BYB for $150 dollars. An aunt who bought a "high drive" GSD from working lines who doesn't get any excercise and not enough mental stimulation. He is a year old and very aggressive she has had alot of trouble with him but still doesn't listen to me when I tell her about the excercise he needs as well as a good trainer. But what do I know, I'm just their neice But yeah, lots of animal lovers in my family and a few who don't understand why we have them......................

 

[Maxy24]

Well...they like 'em but they are very uneducated about them and would be perfectly fine if they were not around in the first place. If they had never gotten Max i would not like animals I'm sure of it.

My dad likes the cats, to him dogs are hassle and having to take one out to go potty or bathing one or playing with one is too much. When I was young he has to do everything (except feed him, my brothers did that), once I started doing stuff Dad had to take him out twice a day, I got the rest. The only reason Dad had to take him out is because I have a fear of the dark, and he wakes up before me. If we had a dog now I'd get over my fear of the dark and I'd wake up at 6 every morning (which I do for school anyway). Anyway, if dad actually had the responsibility of the cats he's probably feel differently about them(he does nothing for the cats, he thinks they are amusing). Dad feels dogs need to be smacked around to learn. I finally freaked out at him about it and he stopped, I just had to handle everything when he misbehaved. Dad was perfectly happy to let me take over animal care.

My mom likes them but also would not want to actually care for him. She also believes dogs deserve a smack but never has done it, she just tells dad to. She, unlike the other members of my family, gives the animals affection.

My oldest brother would never give the animal what it needed although he does like having them around. He would much rather spend a whole night out drinking and having fun with his friends. He also agrees with hitting dogs. He harasses my cats to the point where I almost want to kill him (running around the house constantly spraying them with the water bottle, throwing them at the couch forcefully or at people, forcing them to "fight", he once shaked Neko to get him to meow). he loves them, he is just so untrustworthy and childish I don't see him as good with animals. he sees them more as toys or something.

Next brother likes them, but mostly to watch them. He could never deal with any annoying things they might do, he'd hit them (although he has never shown a desire to hit, he mentions drop kicking but he's kidding, he just tells me to "police my cats" or starts yelling about how stupid they are.) and would not do the work required to care for them, he's too busy I guess.

My final brother seems like he tries but has better things to do and get frustrated WAY to easily. He likes to feed and play with th cats, the dog he just found annoying. But Neko bites when he's hungry, my brother has come VERY close to actually kicking my cat. His temper is to delicate for him to have a pet. He has MANY times been frustrated that I won't allow anyone to hit my cats, he can't fathom it's possible for an animal to learn without being hit (this was for the cat scratching the couch or Neko's biting). He has better things to do and can't be bothered by their needs for the most part. me and him were the people whop fed the dog. Someone would remind him it was his night and to feed the dog, an hour later you would tell him again and he's yell at you because he will do it when he has a second the dog is not going to starve! Meanwhile the dog is crying at me because he is hungry so I just end up feeding him, eventually it became just my job.

So basically I am a weirdo who adores them, and does not hit them simply because dad and Uncle did. My grandparents are the same way about them, they are disposable to them. The only exception is my grandpa who did not know most my life and has grown kind in his old age. He has a dalmatian who he loved, he died of cancer. We have talked and he agrees with me about not hitting, though I'm sure he has hit his dogs in the past. The only thing he does not agree with is the fact that he hates Pit Bulls (along with every other member of my family). Actually there is one member of my family, not blood relative though, who likes Pit Bulls. The funny thing is that she is the only member of my family who has met a Pit Bull. Her dog Phoebe is best friends with the male down the street, they go on walks together. The Pit mix next door is also friends with Phoebe. So my aunt, who did not like pit bulls, now likes them since she has met some. My aunt loves animals but fears those that she does not know. She was bit by a Rottie so new big dogs scare her (Max did for a while) and the cats scared her too for a while. She hits Phoebe since she thinks you are supposed to because of my uncle. She seems so proud when she tells him she hit her today for being "naughty", uncle tells her "good". When she says something bad Phoebe did and then uncle asks is she hit her and she says no he gets upset and starts yelling at her. So he trained her.


I love them, but prefer for the pets to be my responsibility and i don't like discussing pets with them.

 

[Kase]

My immeditate family aren't into animals, they only have them because of me.

 

[britishbandit]

Most of my family live in England, and they are all pet people. But the only family I have close are my parents. My dad is a pet person, and my mum is a specific pet person. While she loves her dog (Westie), she's not so fond of my dogs. She doesn't mine Tysa, but not PJ. She's just scared of big dogs, no idea why really, she's never been attacked or anything, and is one of those people that just because a dog of a certain breed gets a bad rap in the media, she assumes all dogs of that breed are like that.
Which I guess it's her own choice, I've tried to get her to give PJ a chance, but she asks me to crate him or put him outside if she comes over, she really has no interest in trying to get over her fear. And PJ is such a sweetheart, well trained, happy and would never jump up on her, so I really wish she'd make an effort.

What gets on my nerves is she ALWAYS brings her dog here, never asks me and just assumes because Maggie is small, that it won't be a problem. But every time she comes, my dogs are asked to be put outside. Errr, I don't think so! And every time, her dog pisses everywhere, and do you think she gets up to clean it......no, she leaves it for me. We've had numerous arguements about it, and lately she's at least had the courtesy to ASK if it's ok to bring her dog. I know she'd be furious and wouldn't let me in the door if I showed up at her house with PJ and Tysa in tow. But regardless of what breed I own, I'd never show up at anyones house with my dogs, or either one, without first asking if it was ok.

My parents will likely never have more than one pet either, they're such neat freaks and get irritated when the dog makes any kind of mess. They don't know why I "put up" with my pets, with all the shedding...drooling and such. But I personally don't mind cleaning it up, comes with the territory. And I love having my gang. I guess I just care more about my happy lil family of furkids more than having a house that looks like a model home. *shrugs*

 

[mrose_s]

my mums always been a HUGE animal person. She had 27 cats at one time, though most of them were kittens.
She also always had a dog or 2 or 3, hores when she was younger and some goats.
My sister loves animals to. My dad doesn't like animals much. He's never be able to deal if he lived here.

I'm still the most crazy out of them all i think, mum keeps telling me to get off dog forums and go make some friends, and that i need other interests other than animals. but i honestly don't want any other interests

 

[SisMorphine]

Both of my parents grew up on farms. Neither are pet people. Growing up we had two cats, some rabbits and some guinea pigs. The caged animals were only allowed in the basement (it's a finished walkout basement with a livingroom), and my mother would obsessively follow the cats around cleaning up after them.

My mom has seemed to start to warm up to dogs, specifically being in love with Wally and Teeny. My dad also loves Wally, and I think he tolerates Teeny, but like me my dad really loved Mike

The rest of my family, even those with dogs, STILL don't understand my love of dogs, and they do not listen to any advice given regarding their own dogs (when asked), and will often do the exact opposite. ANNOYING! I have learned not even to give advice when asked.

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

growing up, we had a menagerie of animals--which my parents allowed, but didn't necessarily love (guinea pigs, rabbits, 2 dogs, cat). My parents enjoyed animals-but not in the "companion" way. Of my 5 siblings--2 have (a) dog/s, 3 have cats (none have dogs and cats!) and this is all they will allow their children to have. I, on the other hand have ALWAYS had critters in my life--including when I went off to college and illegally housed hamsters, guinea pigs, and parakeets! My children have been allowed to have pets of all sorts--and yes, I am probably the biggest pet lover in the house. My parents/siblings never really understood my connection/need to have animals in my life--oh well. I have always had them, and always will!

 

[RD]

My family is average-ish. My dad tolerates the animals, and he's very fond of his border collies but those are the only pets he actively seeks out. It was his decision to get Dash, I actually discouraged it... How's that for a switch? He isn't wild about my cats, and they aren't wild about him. Oh, and dad likes fish.

My mom is a pet person. She loves the dogs and cats, and is fond of any little critter that comes through the house.

I don't know about my brothers. They have pets but I don't think they're dedicated pet people.

 

[noludoru]

Several uncles who are "horse people" but I have to question how much they ACTUALLY love and value horses as they tried to GIVE me a retired dressage boy when I was 11 and we had almost none of our property cleared (or FENCED!!) and didn't know how to take care of a horse. Maybe I was twelve. I don't remember.

Grandma is terrified of animals. Actually, both were. One grandpa had beagles chained in the yard.

My uncle and aunt who I actually know well.. are definitely pet people. They have a menagerie. Their pets are always well-cared for and happy, although I do have a few complaints about the size of their rabbit cages and what they feed poor Chip. But overall they are animal-crazy and do lots of rescue.

My dad.. like animals at a distance.. certainly likes being cuddles by them and petting them, but he'd never lift a finger to care for them. My mother, while very caring, doesn't understand dogs or cats too well.... it's been a bit of a trial with her, convincing her that the kitties were just blinking at her, not giving her dirty looks.