Why do you love your pets?

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What do they add to your life? How many times day do you want to strangle them?

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

Answers

Beth: I have a black lab/mix dog named Wally... he looks almost exactly like Doc... has the little patch of white on his chest. I adopted him from the pound as a playmate for another dog who recently passed away. Wally is my best friend, my protector, he sleeps with me every night and chases away the boogers that loom around my bed, he loves me unconditionally, and I love him unconditionally, too. He barks too much, and spazzes in the car, but I love him more than anything in the world! Happy Birthday Doc!

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000
My dog Dolly is a hyperspastic maniac. She is my first dog. She jumps around like a wild banshee and likes to try and stand on her head on the couch. I think she is secretly plotting to join Cirque du Soleil. I love her because never before in my life has any living creature become more excited simply because I walk into a room. I also love her because I've never seen another dog that looks like her, and I probably never will. She's a rat terrier / greyhound mix. She's just bizarre. Her only flaw is her tendency to freak out and growl if you startle her when she is sleeping. (I choose to ignore any fundamental mental problems this might indicate. She loves me unconditionally, so I figure I owe her the same.)

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

I think there's just something about dogs. I like cats and all but Sue(my dog) lets me know her day is made just because I came home. She'll sleep at my feet when I'm watching television to make sure Ican't leave the room without her knowing.

She's hyperactive and alwasy needs to know whats going on at times she drives me demented but I'd be lost without her. You really can't beat the cute tricks they'll do to get your attention. Especially when you've been teaching them somwthing new for weeks, they keep acting like they don't know what you're on about and then one day when they really, really want something bingo! off their on bat.

In some ways I still miss the puppy phase though.



-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000
Damn, I meant to include this in the entry: things Doc can do.

He can:

Please note that I said he can do those things. He knows what those words mean. He's pretty good with all of them when he's alone with us, or on walks when there are no other dogs around. He's absolutely awful if there are other people around. He gets super excited and he won't calm down.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000
I love my cat because she always makes me laugh right before I fall asleep. I'm convinced she thinks she's a person. Most every night climbs inbetween my boyfriend and I and lies on her back, legs in the air, with her head on one of our pillows. Once comfortable, she starts to purr and tries to squish her way closer and closer to your body. She can also tell time, very very accurately, which makes me really think she knows a lot more than she lets on.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000
I like my cat because she's so adorably stupid. really, really dumb cat. She can tell time, and gets very worried if Barry or I aren't home on time. When she sees us coming down the street, she does a little happy-cat dance all over the windowsill -- and usually falls off. She likes to sit on the counter and talk to me while I do the dishes. She follows me all around the house. She's awfully cute.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000
Has anyone ever integrated nonbird pets into a bird-dominated household? Allegedly cats are often okay *around the species they know* if they're raised with the bird *from kittenhood,* and I would also think maybe okay *if* the cat was never taught to hunt. Some cats don't need to be taught, though. Because I love my cockatiel to tatters, metaphorically, and I don't want a dog to reduce him to tatters, literally, but I want a dog.

Why do I love Blake? Because he smells so good, of dust and feathers. Because he easily distinguishes between clothes worn to stay home and pet Buddy's head in and clothes worn to Leave the House and puffs up like one of those Australian lizards with the big neck ruffle and attacks you for daring to leave. Because he talks to the squirrels outside his window. Because his new thing when he's not getting sufficient attention is, instead of his former talking to his own foot, to bow: to stretch out his shoulders (very broad) and turn his head to the side and peer out from under his eyelashes at you-- being so *very* pretty that *of course* you must pet his head. Because his eyelashes are so delicate. Because he will insert himself through the narrowest aperture of fingers in order to get into your palm for full-body hugs. Because of his yawns. Because he once made a little growl to imitate the sound of a human stretch groan, but now will start the growl just when he sees your arms lifting stretchward but before you utter a sound. Because he is such a glutton for head- petting.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

I got my first dog when I was seven years old. She was my best friend until the age of 23 at which point we had to put her to sleep because her quality of life was non-existent. That was the hardest thing I've gone through and my first real experience with death. No prior experience to draw upon and it took over a year before I could really talk about her and not cry. I must admit, though, I still get misty looking at her picture on my bedside table..

My current dog is the new joy in my life (besides my boyfriend, of course). We got him when he was four weeks old--my boyfriend was leaving work and there was a huge box of puppies sitting in front of a store adjacent to his (no people around, mind you, just a box of puppies in 105 degree July in LOUISIANA, the assholes) and he picked our pup out of the litter for two reasons, one of which we now regret: (1) he was the smallest and (2) he was the only puppy trying to jump out of the box...(guess which one we regret, but happily)

His name is Oscar and he is a Basset Hound/Catahoula Kur (Louisiana Leopard Dog, to some of you) mix so he is a very wierd looking dog. I've read everywhere that these two dogs are wonderful hunting dogs but Oscar seems interested in hunting nothing but socks. Maybe the influence of such hunting genes cancelled each other out.

I love my dog because when I come home (we have to keep him in the backyard while at work otherwise no one will have socks) he is waiting at the gate for me to let him out then he runs to the top of the stairs and literally shakes with joy that I'm home. I love that he picked up "Play Dead" last night in thirty minutes flat. I love it when he gets sleepy and always comes to sit by me because I'm the only one who knows how to scratch him just right to make him fall asleep. He adds a certain something to my life but it is hard to tell what it is. I want to throttle him at least thirty times a day but double that for the times I want to hug him and tell him that even if he eats every sock in the entire world and lets the birds eat his food every day he is still the BEST dog in the world....I love him because he is such a wierd mix that he came out as an incredibly cute puppy and an incredibly handsome dog. I love his Circus Dog trick (he'll stand on his hind legs and just walk around like a human as long as he can--we didn't teach him this, he just started doing it and we called it "Circus Dog" and now he will do it on command)...

I love that everyday from four p.m. until the clock hits five all I can think about is getting home so we can play some ball and go for a long walk. He will sit outside with me while I garden and keep me abreast of goings-on in the neighborhood I might not be aware of (such as people walking by, a bird, or a tree). We are each other's best friends...(for the rough playing, he gets booted to the boyfriend)

he is a very good dog, indeed.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

Ok so this (http://www.xeney.com/0004/14.html) is my favoritest xeney entry ever and this is my favoritest forum topic ever.

I have a cat that I've grown to love. He was born a stray and stayed that way for eight months but I took him in during December of 1998 because I didn't want him to freeze to death. He never really liked people or being indoors but he's gotten used to me. I like the fact that he is shy and kinda antisocial but really just wants to be loved. Just like me. He pretends to be mad at me or look at me like I'm stupid when I'm singing, but then he comes over and purrs and asks for some petting. Then he gets some petting and purrs some more then walks away cuz he is not sure what to do. Then the cycle repeats ten minutes later.

I like the fact that he was jelous of my ex so he pooped on her pillow when she came over.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

...well, I no longer have Taylor in my little life, but reading today's entry made me think of all the good times, bad times, ugly times, and ignored rules...it gave me a good chuckle...

So instead of answering any questions I'll just say: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOC!...one of these days we will meet and shake paws...

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

I'll have you know, Dave, that I wrote today's entry as much for you as I did for Doc. (He can't read, and he's not allowed to use the computer since he chewed through the network cable last night.)

It's funny, as maddening as this dog is, I don't think I could ever be without a dog again. They're addicting.

Oh, yeah, I left one thing out: he can also "bow" (go down on his front paws), but that was a puppy trick -- we don't have him do it anymore, because it looks like it's bad for his joints. Plus, he tends to fall down on the hardwood floors. Snicker.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

My dog's name is Cecil he's a rat terrier and very adorable he loves to sleep and I love him for that. If he had his way we would not take our morning walk until well past noon, but unfortunately for him we go at 7:00. I tried taking him running at 6:00 in the morning but he hid from me every time I picked up his leash, and made me carry him down the stairs then he would only run if we were on our way back and he could see home. He is terribly stubborn and I love him for that too. He is also very sweet and likes to cuddle. He like Doc knows many commands but sometimes he chooses not to hear them. I still love him anyway.

My cat is Simon I love him most of all (just don't tell Cecil that) he is very heavy but thinks he is still the size of a kitten he sleeps on my belly every night whether I like it or not and if I try to push him off he gently reminds me with his claws who is in charge. He also takes very good care of me and everyone in our house by making sure we are all clean he takes special care with my face and eyelids, because apparently they are very dirty. He chooses to do this at around 2 am every morning and if I try to stop him, well see above.

I have had to come to terms with the fact that I am not in charge of my household and that things are not going to go my way all the time because of my terrible beasties but I love them both very much.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

Oh, my Dolly dog! The light of my life! The pain in my neck!

She's looks a lot like Doc, but smaller, "only" 60 pounds. She's 10 months old. She's not nearly as well trained, either -- she still jumps on people. I'm going to take us to obedience class so I can be trained properly. :-) I have to change my clothes before I let her in from the yard, because she gets dirty paw/mud prints all over me. We're working on the Off! command these days...

She's my jewel. I tell her every day that she's the most spectacular dog in the world. She's still trying to get my 6 year old cat, Noel, to play with her, and has begun to wear her down. I love to see her gallop through my railroad flat - kitchen to living room and back. (I hope it's not frightening the neighbors.) She's loves to go for walks, but hates the car. I still try to take her to the woods for excursions, even though, 3 out of 4 times, she pukes in the car. I hope she grows out of that!

I want to strangle her at least once a day, but the rest of the time, I just want to hug her and kiss her ears. I adore my cat, too. Noel likes to lie on my back while I'm trying to sleep, and gets under the covers with me if it's cold. She's very talkative, meowing at me whenever she wants my attention or the food dish is getting low.

A couple of my non-animal owning relatives have suggested that I get rid of the dog, she's a lot of trouble, she eats a lot, blah, blah. They don't know this: she loves me a lot more than they do. And a dog's love is unconditional.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

I love them because they keep me humble. I remember who I am when I am around them. I pour out my unconditional love to them as I can with no other. They are my babies. They do judge me though. When I do something stupid they practically shake their heads in disgust with my stupidity. I have 3 beautiful cats. Oliver, Riley, and Sassy, who is really the opposite of Sassy. They also wake me up very early in the morning, because i am not at all like Beth who gets up with the not even sun. They stand over me like a team of doctors at 5:00 a.m. and want very much to be fed. This makes me not so much a better person, but at least a not so great person who gets up earlier.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000
Have cat, Catfish, no dog. Want to know: Is that you in the pictures?

Curious yellow,

Heather

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

Uh, no, that would be my boyfriend; the woman holding Doc as a tiny puppy is my mother. The arms in the other tiny puppy picture are mine.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000
Why do I love my herd o' kitties? Let me count the ways: I love that Cricket will shoulder roll when I walk in the door. It's her way of saying "HI!" I love that Polly (Il Pagliacci)will arch up to meet my had coming down to pet the top of her oh so fuzzy head. She also has these wild ear hairs that come out about three inches and make her look like she has antennae. I love B.T. (Boris The) for his size (18 lbs) and long term devotion. He once sat by my side for three days when I was down with the flu. If he ever left to eat, I never knew it. Natasha, I love for her cranky-old lady demeanor that's really an act. She does this weird ballerina thing in which she rubs up against walls/people/furniture, and hikes out the hind leg closest to said stuff so she looks like she's pulling this strange ballet move. Papacito, I love for his little meow in a big cat body. Miss Fiona, aka the Otter/Ferret, I love for her antics. She rolls and lolls and curls and plays. She's the only cat who can hop up on my shoulder without drawing blood in the process.

Not a day goes by where they don't make me laugh or drive me batty, but I wouldn't change having them in any way. (Okay, if someone else INSISTED on dumping the litter boxes...) I didn't plan on having six cats, but jeez, they're just so much more to love!

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

I love my cats because they've been infinitely (is that a word) patient with the arrival of the new baby. My poor Jezz... I know I've made her neurotic, I'm causing lots and lots of psychological trauma that will never be able to be reversed.

No longer is she allowed even IN the bedroom, whenever she meows I SHUSH her... for the first couple of weeks that we were home from the hospital, I wouldn't even go near her... and when I finally did, it was to shush her for meowing too loud. She took to sleeping behind the MICROWAVE for pete's sake, and now she lives in the bathroom. She was sleeping ON TOP OF the litter box (Yes, even when it's dirty), but now she sleeps on the rug in the middle of the floor, and if the mood hits, she'll paw open the cupboard under the sink and hop in there.

I love her for being neurotic and for still loving me when I take a few precious moments to go into the bathroom and cuddle with her.

As for Aliera? I love the fact that all she does is sleep on top of the cupboards in the kitchen. She comes down to eat, drink and potty then goes right back up. She looks down on us from her perch and meows, occasionally, but she's pretty low-maintenance for the most part.

As for Sebastian? (Or as Bella renamed him: Sebastard.) He was banned to the outside long, long ago. I love that he hasn't run into traffic and gotten killed causing me a lifetime of guilt. I love that he still tries to run into the house after all these months, and I love that he will come when I call him to feed him on the patio. When we move, I may just have to take him with me.

I love that cats are pretty low-maintenance pets... with the new baby it's been nice. Maybe once things calm down a bit (I keep SAYING that! Will they ever?) I'll be able to fawn over them as much as I used to.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000
we have two dogs, both of whom were supposed to be around 50-60 pounds a piece. I'm beginning to think that everyone is told that number when they get puppies. It's a lie to keep us from screaming in horror. Anyway, my brother and I bought Jake 10 years ago after our house was robbed. We thought a barking dog would protect us. The first night he whined in his crate and my brother couldn't take it and told me I had to do something about it...the puppy went to bed with me and he became my dog. He is part husky/shepherd/doberman...we think. He weighs 90 pounds and he is my best friend. He came to Alaska with me from FLorida, sleeps on the floor next to me and would, without a doubt, go to hell and back to save me. This dog rocks! Six years ago I noticed Jake limping and took him to the vet. He was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and the vet suggested I get asecond dog to keep Jake active. So....I bought Tucker, a purebred black lab from some folks who were shipping puppies out on the airline I worked for. He was the mellowest of the litter...which I now know is just a big lie. When he was about a year old we would put him outside on a long chain tied to a 45 pound weight. This was to keep him from running a way. One day we saw him running down the street playing with some kids with the weight bouncing behind him. Yes, we created a weightlifter for a dog. Our lab is now 95 pounds of muscle and hyper as hell. He sleeps on the floor next to my husband and watches for him by the window for hours. He is the happiest dog I have ever known and since we got him Jake has not had a problem with his hips. The "cure" worked. I have always had dogs and feel that the love they give you is what makes them so irreplaceable. Beyond that though, these guys are my friends. I can't imagine life without them. In every difficult moment in my life, I always had a dog to love me. That makes a big difference and the people who don't love animals, well, they don't know what they're missing. I feel sorry for them.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000
Happy Birthday Doc!!! Ginger just had her first birthday too, about 3 weeks ago. I can't believe Doc weighs 85 Pounds! I'm not sure what Ginger weighs but she'll taller and longer than Mack and he's 75 pounds. She's still thin around the middle so I know she's going to fill out and be HUGE. Why do I love them? For a million reasons, but mostly because they love me no matter what. No matter what mood I come home in they're happy to see me. They can't contain their excitement just because I came home. They're built in entertainment, the three of them. All the time one of them is doing something cute or funny. I'm always yelling for Dave, "Look at Ginger" or "Look how cute Brandy is!" And if for some reason I'm sad and crying it never fails that one of them will come sit next to me and lean into me and give me kisses. Especially Mack, he's in tune with my emotions. Sure they make me mad and I put them in a time out in the kitchen but the good outweighs the bad by a long shot. They're so much fun to be with most of the time. We had all those rules about the furniture and the bed too, and mostly we still stick to it -- because we have over 200 pounds worth of dogs in our house and if one gets up the others want to get up. They can come onto the furniture if we invite them, but they cannot do it on their own free will. It does work most of the time, because they know we're in charge (most of the time). I don't think I could ever live without a dog. And I'd prefer to always have two. Three is not for the faint of heart, and neither is getting a puppy. But I wouldn't change it one bit. Colleen of Alone in a Crowd My three kids : Brandy
Ginger
Mack

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000
I just realized I missed Dork's 7th birthday, on April 5. I better pick up some steak for him soon.

I love Dork because he's the first dog that was my very own. I picked him off a webpage, because he had such sweet eyes, and I drove 8 hours (not counting the 18-hour stopover when my car broke down on the way up) each way to Kansas to get him. I love him because I got to watch him turn from a very-little-personality working dog into the beastly clown he is today.

I've cried over him bunches. The first time he figured out how to play with a toy, the first time he showed me how fast he could run, the first time he slept on his back with his legs in the air - happy tears. Sad tears when he got hurt so badly in a fight and I had to wait all night for the emergency vet to call and tell me they'd put him back together, and the weeks afterwards when he was in too much pain to lie down and would just stand, shaking, with his chin resting on the bed. Just plain tears when he stuck a claw in my eye, and all those times he's slapped me in the chest, face, or stomach with his poky paws.

He's not the brightest dog. He doesn't know how to sit, or heel, and for all the other dogs I've trained, he and I have our own doggy language. He knows these commands:

-HEY! Stop that!
-Hush!
-Quit hogging the bed!
-Lie down be good
-Get it!
-Run! Run faster! Yay!
-Gimme kisses
-Git up on your couch (he has his own couch)
-Hang on!

He also responds to my hand signals, which are undescribable. It's like dog encryption.

He sings with me, and headbutts me in the ass if I'm not going to the door fast enough, and follows me everywhere. I'm the only person who doesn't trigger his sleep-space aggression (a greyhound trait, for the person with the gh-mix), or freak him out when I get in his face.

And every night, before bed, he jumps up for his good-night ear rub, and sniffs my hair and sneezes in my face. Not exactly soothing, but definitely unforgettable.

He's my best buddy.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

God, I'm an idiot, because I forgot Doc's cutest trick of all. He kisses on command. (He'll lick whatever's in front of him when you say it, and if there's nothing handy, he'll give you an air kiss.)

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000
It's six years now since we lost our Fluffy and since then we've never got another. Basically Mum and I want a dog, Dad doesn't. We outnumber him, but he can't be bothered fixing the fence so that we can get one. No fixed and fully functional fence, no dog. I miss Fluffy immensely, and we had to look after someone else's dog for a few hours recently, which only drove home just how much this place lacks a canine resident. While I'm here, please let me echo Mr Grenier's sentiments about the quality of the entry, and please wish Doc a happy birthday from me as well

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000
Allie Gator is my rock.

She's gone through everything with me, through thick and thin.

Basically, we've rescued each other. Saved each other's spirit.

I'm goofy about her.

And she knows 4 words. Cookie, outside, kisses and love. The last two words mean the same to her.

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2000

This would be an opportune time to point out the outdated Dog Lover Journals 'burb.

If anyone writes in and requests to be added to the burb, I swear I will update it tomorrow.

Send your name, journal name, url, and your dog's name and breed (and a picture if you have one!) to stasi@sweetpeas.org and I'll add you.

My dog's best quality is keeping my weight in line: Every time he farts, I vomit. OH, and he barks at the vomit, which is entertaining.

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2000

I forgot to mention the url to the burb, it's http://www.sweetpeas.org/d ogburb.htm if you want to see what I'm talking about.

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2000
My boyfriend and I had a Great Dane that got Lyme Disease. We had to have him put to sleep last year, and Sean *swore* that he would never have another dog.

About 9 months after Barkley died, I started perusing Dane web sites. I found a Mantle (black and white) Dane near us. Called Sean at work. "There's a Dane for sale in Longview." sez I. "Laur, I don't want another dog. I really, really don't." sez he.

I had the web site up, with pics of the puppy, waiting on the computer when he got home. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to go look at him." Sean said. So we called, we went, and now we have Zubie.

He's a great dog. He's in obedience school, and he's like totally the worst dog there! He does all the stuff at home perfectly, but we get to school, and all he does is sniff all the other dogs asses. He's a spoiled rotten baby. I had to laugh when I read your journal entry about Doc, because we said all the same stuff about Zubs, and of course, nothing stuck. He sleeps in bed with us, he digs in my garden, and he loves underwear. We put a dog door in for him, and if we forget to close the bathroom door before work, he gets into the laundry basket. When we get home, our underwear are strewn all over the yard from hell to breakfast. "What's he got in his mouth?" I need to have that put on a t-shirt, I think.

We also have a Siamese kitten named Stanley. (Stanley is a girl. She's named after the Stanley Cup. Good thing I had her fixed, or she'd have gender issues.) Stan wasn't too thrilled when we bought the big dog home. Of course, Zubie (who btw, is named after Sergei Zubov, my favorite hockey player. Yes, I like hockey.) was thrilled to meet the kitty. After we'd had him for a couple weeks, he terrified me by damn near killing the cat. He had her head in his mouth, very gently, not biting, but was slinging her all over the place! Thought he was gonna snap her neck. So, Sean gets home from work, and we decide to go drop $100 at our local Pet Smart. Pack the damn dog up, take him to the "toy store" with us...Do you like this one, Zubs? No? OK, how 'bout this one? Yeah, cool. Get in line, and there's a cat lady behind us. She says something like, "Wow, he's way bigger than a cat!" Yeah, duh, he's a dog. A BIG dog. She goes into this big long thing about how she doesn't like dogs, but she LOVES cats. Meanwhile, Zubie is trying to stick his nose in her crotch. The cashier starts ringing up all the dog toys. Says to Zubie, "Wow, your mom and dad must really love you to get you all this stuff." I say "Nah, he just tried to kill the cat today, and we figured if he had a buncha toys, he'd leave her head out of his mouth." Cat lady was LIVID, hehe...

Happy Birthday to Doc!

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2000

No one has written about cats. Is there some private dog club going on here, or can I mention another plus of my nonmammalian pet? Blake kisses too. He doesn't lick, like Doc, but he'll touch his beak to yours (your mouth, if you *must* be technical) and do this quick little exhale that sounds like a kiss. He can't do the big smackeroo noise that better talking parrots can, but he means the same thing. I just uncovered him. I had been up and puttering and talking to my mother for an hour, but he had slept through all that--he was still up on one foot and fluffed for sleepy warmth. How can I love anything so much that's smaller than the rattiest of ratdogs? I have no idea.

Oh, and how many times a day do I want to strangle him? Well, there's when he falls in love with my feet and gets protective of them, and when he'd *really* rather be with the other person and deliberately poops whatever smidgen he can squeeze out on you, just to let you know you're not his first choice, and when he shrieks because someone's left him alone in a room for half a minute to fill a glass of water. He's demanding, hormonal, and has separation anxiety. Otherwise he's wonderful.

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2000

I love my pets because they're far less demanding than my children.

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2000
Maybe it's 'cause I'd wanted a black Great Dane named Jake since I was 12, and at the ripe old age of 39, after much planning and house- buying and fence-building I finally got him. But that's not all of it. Research taught me that Great Danes are often a problem because of their size. Jake's never been a problem. He is careful around the house, hates to knock things over...never chewed up so much as one shoe as a puppy. Was extremely easy to housebreak.

And then maybe it's because he doesn't care that I'm in a wheelchair and we rarely get to go anywhere together anymore. If I take a nap, he climbs up on his loveseat and takes a nap, too. If I'm at the computer, he's sleeping on the floor behind me. I think I secretly even love that he's way over-protective of me...if my 9-year-old son leans over to give me kiss goodnight, Jake growls and sometimes even tries to get between us, in spite of the fact that every single time it happens we tell him NO, that he's a bad dog, etc.

Everybody else in the household can come and go at all hours and Jake pays little attention. If I even look like I'm getting ready to go out, tho, he clings to me like white on rice, as if to say, "you ain't goin' nowhere without me, nosirree!" I hate the way his ears and eyes droop when I tell him he has to "stay".

Yup, he's my best friend, my rock, I adore him beyond reason. He's saved my sanity more than once.

Ick, this has gotten mushy :-) He's also a clown, loves stuffed animals (until he unstuffs 'em), is scared silly of thunder and lightning and fireworks, and we always know when there's a bear in the neighborhood because Jake refuses to go outside. Oh yeah, one more thing, he has great bladder control.

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2000

I love my cat Mharnu. He's the best cat in the world. I can pick him up and lie down on my back with him, and he will stick his head right under my chin and completely relax into my arms. I love him so much that I've just spent around $800 on vet care for him, and I will be feeding him for the next six weeks through a tube directly into his stomach. He's only seven, and he has hepatitis, which the vet thinks he can survive with proper care. I love him because, even when he was recovering from his biopsy and feeling miserable, he came to the front of his cage and head-butted me in the face when I started to cry during a visit. I love him because he obviously really loves me, unlike my other cats who just hang out with me when they need something. He's a good cat. Even if he does pee on the carpet occasionally.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2000
Excuse for not jumping right in here....I was at a dog show all weekend! :-)

I'm a vet (most of you know that already right?) and I love all animals. But I *really* love dogs and I *really really* love Rottweilers. They are loving, intelligent, courageous, loyal, humourous, active dogs with the biggest hearts I have ever come across in a canine.

Dogs give you unconditional love and acceptance, things that are often not easy to find in human relationships. Do I want to strangle them sometimes? Sure, but less often then I have wanted to strangle my BFs! (Current BF excepted of course. )

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2000

As a very wise man once said to me: "I don't need romance. I have goldfish."

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2000
"I did those tests you told me about, the rolling them over on their backs and all that, and the little one did the best."

Beth, What tests are these? They sound interesting. Please share!! Thanks...

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2000

Well, I like the cat well enough, I guess. She's nice and all, but she's just not a dog. Sasha is my best friend, my confidante, my sounding board, my exercise machine, and (best of all!) my crumb-catcher. Of course, I have to vacuum dog hair more than I ever vacuumed crumbs, but so what?

Sasha is about 65 pounds of Lab/Rottie-we-think mix. She's the sweetest, most gentle dog I have personally ever know. Well, since the collie/shepherd mix we used to ride like a horse when we were little. She knows tons of commans, and even pays attention to them sometimes. Of course, we're probably the only people in the civilized world that felt the need to TEACH their dog to jump on people. And she'll still only do it when told.

But how I can I not love anyone who does the spinning-leaping-jumping-kissing-rolling-leaping-spinning dance of joy when I walk in the door, even if I've only been gone 10 minutes?

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2000

I love my cat because of this.

Actually, that's not my cat, but it sure does look like her and I sure do wish she could do that. :)

Lately I've been loving my cat just a teensy bit less than usual because she's been throwing up everywhere (due to excessive shedding, excessive grooming and a hairball that won't die). She's gotten my bed, the floor where I step when I get out of bed, the arm of my couch and other places I'm sure I haven't found yet. Ick. What a lovely feeling stepping in that all the time. The medicine better stop it. I'd like to go back to loving her like normal again.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2000

I love them because they're just so darn cute, and sweet and loving. I love them because when I'm having a bad day them come and curl up in my lap and lick away my tears, or just purr as hard as their little bodies can purr to cheer me up. I love them because they "talk" to me when I feel lonely. I love them because they come looking for me, when they need _me_.

I want to strangle them when they knock things down, spill things or otherwise make some kind of mess.

I want to strangle them when they claw at the door at 4am.

But otherwise I love them very very much.

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2000

My little Kurt has kept me from living a wild gypsy life. He is faithful and loves unconditionally, even when I am a big old grump. He sits up on my bed when I am sad and alerts me when someone comes up the drive. He is the ultimate tester for any date I may have and he always fesses up to having been bad.

It's been nearly ten years now and I can say I don't know what my life would have been without him. Even when he gets all his hair all over clothes and in my car, he is my little baby poopie head and I love him more than I have ever loved anyone.

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2000

I love my cats because they love me and are glad to see me when I come home. Also because I just think everything they do is absolutely adorable and am always calling someone in to see how cute they are sleeping or something.

I have only wanted to strangle them about three times in their whole lives. They're very low maintenence.

I've always had cats. I will always have cats.

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2000

i love my pet rat because she is always there she is just like a dog she will follow me round the house when i first got her i knew that rats were inteligent and clean but i was not gonna get her untill even the shop keeper recomended her.her name is cleo (cleopatra)she always with out fail calles to her name when she has wondered off some where eg under my bed she plays: tug of war hide and seek tag licker game where u put your hand out and she will lick play fight no biting and catch the string #which is very good it is just like a dog just smaller easier to look after and cheaper and more inteligent i bet you thought that rats were all brown smelly and like sewers well thay are very different thay are cleaner and dont smell like hamsters and dogs so think abou twhat i am saying and get a rat for your child or your self for got to mention a rat is very good for children from 8+ they are good with children it gives them good company they are like a minature dog but easier to keep and it teaches kid responsibility but make sure thay do look after them and also it is fun for the rat it is highly recomended for children!!!!!!!!!!!!! trust me you wont be dissopointed!

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2001
I wonder if her intelligent rat could teach her how to use punctuation.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2001
Um, hello. She is a Dido look alike. Avoiding puncuation is more than a perogative, it's art. Step off little fishie.

Speaking of pet love, I finally found out why cats are constantly licking themselves -- it's because they taste soooo good.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2001

What's a Dido?

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2001
Well, her spelling is so atrocious...

Maybe she forgot an L.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2001

A dido is a dildo without the long skinny part that gets shoved in the middle. (I know that sucked, but so what? you didn't hafta pay for it)

Here is one Dido. Here is another .

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2001

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