People who don't like or don't own dogs are missing out on this part of the equation

[Amerigo Vespucci]

[OhioChick]

1. How adorable....

I :loveya: dogs and puppies.

[MountainLaurel]

2. Sweetie puppers!

My goldie loves nothing more than a good snuggle.

[Rainbowreflect]

26. Mine too. I have a 10 year old Golden and a nine week old puppy.

I am so glad I have a long weekend to play with the puppy and cuddle with my other dogs.

[MountainLaurel]

46. That's a lot like my weekend

Planning on doing a lot of reading, which will involve at least one animal sleeping on me.

[SammyWinstonJack]

3. Yes, they are!

:-)

[DesertFlower]

4. i love dogs, but don't own one. i'm

disabled and not able to walk a dog. we have a wonderful cat.

[shireen]

169. cats are amazing creatures too,

in their own special way. :)

My former neighbors, also close friends, had a tabby that thought he was the center of the universe, and the purpose of humans was to serve him. We, in turn, worshipped him. He was pretty shy around strangers but comfortable around me, after all, I was his god-mother and aunt. ;)

He would often come upstairs to my apartment for 'visits.' One of his parents would knock on my door to announce his presence, and when i opened the door, His Majesty would strut in, tail held high, to inspect the premises. Sometimes, he's sit for hours at a time glowering at me. When he was ready to return home, he'd give me a commanding meow, I'd drop everything I was doing and escort him downstairs, open my friends' door, and announce that His Majesty had returned home.

Did i mention that he hated me? When my friends would go on short trips, I would take care of His Majesty. He grew to dislike me because he thought i made mommy and daddy disappear. Too bad, because that made me love him even more. He went out of his way to ignore me and sulk when i came down to feed him. And he would oh-so-reluctantly accept treats and special tuna-infused dinners. I would even spend about 1-2 hours each evening reading or watching tv on their sofa so he had someone to ignore ... every now and then, he'd walk by and give me these dirty looks. It was hilarious.

My sweet little god-son (he was very sweet to his parents) passed away a few months ago. My friends had made the very difficult decision to release him of his suffering, and they were devastated. I went to say goodbye to him on the morning he was to be euthanized at home (by a visiting vet who handled it very compassionately). Even though he was very sick and weak, he mustered enough strength to give me one final glowering glare and walk away in disgust. His mom and I had a good much-needed laugh over that, it's a precious memory we'll have of a truly remarkable cat we were so fortunate to have in our lives. I'll always love you and I miss you, Mr. Puck.

[DesertFlower]

177. our cat joey , who someone put outside our apartment

door in new york was mean. he bit and scratched us for 14 years, but we loved him and cried when we had to put him down.

our next door neighbor had a little kitten who we used to allow to come in and play with joey.

before that we lived in a 2 family house. we had a cat named mona. our landlord lived in the apartment below us. every morning when the husband left for work their cat used to run out and come upstairs. when we opened the door he would charge in and knock mona down -- that was his greeting. then they would play. she allowed him to eat from her bowl.

cats are amazing and don't require much work. they are so clean. i swear they clean themselves at least 6 times a day. lol.

[qb]

5. The most cherished quality of our dogs

is their cuddly-ness.
:loveya:

[xchrom]

6. Dogs are family. Nt

[RebelOne]

8. Agreed. n/t

[get the red out]

27. Oh yes!! 1 hr left until "Layla time"

I posted on FB that I'm not doing black Friday, but will be doing "black dog Friday". I can't wait to spend 4 days with our Layla. DH and I sometimes almost quarrel over her affections, though she spreads those around pretty well.

Dogs are our angels.

[HillWilliam]

55. We do Black Dog Friday

and six other days of the weeks. We have six rescues; four are all or nearly all black. All girls, all princesses. The eldest is a cattledog/springer mix. She is absolutely an angel since nearly all her life she's been a seizure-alert dog for my partner. The youngest, a border collie, is training to take over a lot of "mammaw's" duties.

Pics of our babies are here.

[get the red out]

81. Your babies are beautiful!

I would love to live where I could have a pack of wonderful dogs! What sweeties. Seizure alert dogs just amaze me, I read that no one really knows exactly how they do it, but they do!

Our Layla is either a BC mix or Aussie mix; little pound pup with lots of energy and smart either way, she's 18 months now. I'll take dogs every day of the week over insane shopping for sure.

[HillWilliam]

96. It's true, you can't teach them to alert

They volunteer it from love. What you can work on is their communication skills and your own skills of observation. Lead with love, they'll give back a million times over.

[ewagner]

130. Still miss my Border Collie

Border collies don't belong to the "Herding Class"...they belong to the "Management Class"...they never fail to let you know they are in charge. Lost her 7 years ago and still can't bring myself to replace her.

[HillWilliam]

183. I know what you mean

It's been years since we lost my best-buddy-ever-ever, Sadie. She was a miniature border who thought she was 10' tall. She loved puppies so much. I've fostered and rescued for years. Finally, she got to keep one of her own to raise: Dora, who's our eldergal and Grande Dame. The youngest is Julie, the border.

Julie reminds me so much of Sadie, it aches. The pain of loss never goes away, but you learn where to put it after a while. There have been a few furkids in the meantime who needed a home, rehabilitation, and lots of love.

It's true, you can never replace one who's gone Over the Bridge. For me, paying Sadie's love forward is the best way I know of honoring her.

[unapatriciated]

115. we rescued an aussie-britney mix

We adopted Snootchie in 2003. She had been in the shelter for almost six months ( half of her life, thankfully it was a no kill shelter). The previous owners got her as a pup to train as a working dog on their ranch. She killed a chicken (while still a puppy) and to the shelter she went. They gave her such a horrible write up that no one was willing to adopt her. She is the most loving dog we have every had in our family, will let anyone rub her ears for as long as they are willing. Snootchie still loves to chase birds and squirrels but has yet to catch one.

[HillWilliam]

185. She's gorgeous!!

What a smile! I'm in love with her already.

People who've never kept company with herders and heelers should read up first. Honestly. These dogs have a strong prey drive that's (at least on paper) redirected to herding/heeling. "Moving = MINE" is their mentality. It's in their genes.

Collies of all sorts, cattledogs, and shepherds (we're living with all three types) are gonna chase birds. Lucky you, that Snootchie's previous furparent was an idiot who didn't understand that it's a necessity and their responsibility to keep these dogs AWAY from chickens, guineas, whatever yard-fowl. Their loss is your wonderful gain.

Love and blessings to your family. Snootchie is a total charmer!

[shireen]

171. you're very fortunate to have those sweethearts!

And your property is a perfect place for them to run and have fun.
:)

[HillWilliam]

186. We realize how very lucky we are

About 10 years ago, we became homeless and jobless. The winter of 2001/2002 was the worst ever. We were able by then to rent a small house in the mountains from programming piecework I was able to get. A lot of the windows were broken; we had no heat save for a kerosene heater. My partner (almost 30 years Pos) got pneumonia and almost died.

I'd never been so scared in all my life.

Through all that, our furkids never realized how desperate things were. They eat before we do. They see a doctor if they need to before we do.

At the eleventh hour, fifty-nine minutes and fifty-eight seconds, I got a job I got to keep for a little over nine years before the company started going under. It allowed us to find a place way out in the country of our own and I could use my VA I'd been hanging onto against the day we could settle down.

Through it all, we've fostered or adopted who we can. The girls give back so much love and support. Callalily (the white collie/kuvasz mix) was the toughest case. With room patience and love, she's a gentle princess now who loves getting attention (how un-kuvasz-like LOL). The rest have their own stories, too.

We're going through another "scary time" right now. I've been unemployed and looking for work since March. Again, (this time with the help of a beloved friend) the girls have no idea how sketchy things are right now. They just know the other daddy is home a lot more now. They've kept my spirits up and give me a reason to get up in the morning, greet them and my DH, and start in on filling out applications and charming recruiters all day. HillbillyBob and the girls are the reason I keep going.

Yes, that's a *lot* to be grateful for.

[JNelson6563]

7. Dogs are awesome.

Loyal and loving creatures, what's not to love?

Julie

[pnorman]

12. I like dogs, but I'm basically a cat admirer.

"Loyal and loving creatures"? I've never seen a cat that matches that description. But OTOH, I've never even heard of a cat that could be described as a "cringing whipped cur" or even "groveling"!

[REP]

64. I've never lived with a cat who didn't match that description!

Cats are loyal and loving; at least every one that I've known. And they do not grovel or cringe. I tend to end up with cats who have been abused and abandoned, so I'd add "brave" to loyal and loving.

Don't get me wrong - I like dogs. I like all animals, really. But I think cats get a bad rap.

[Fokker Trip]

124. I totally agree. That's been our experience too.

You've touched on every point I'd make. Its possible to form a pride with ones cats, the human has to meet the cat in the middle. The hierarchy is there but less obvious than it is with dogs and the signals are different too. Every animal is so distinct in its signs and communication. Its so interesting to me to work with them in their realm as much as possible. Frankly its a kinder realm than the human realm as far as I'm concerned. We are one brutal bunch of monkeys.

We had five cats and we used to walk them every night. No leashes and they always walked in a strung out line and stayed with us. People would be walking by and get freaked out that 5 cats just appeared with us in a line, it was funny.

We had friends who got a cat. We knew it was a bad idea but didn't feel we could say anything(they don't listen much to anyone). The kids were allowed to chase that poor little cat mercilessly. We looked after the it on several weekends and it was the sweetest little white male. After a couple of months of being incessantly pestered and then ignored the cat would no longer come near any of the family members. So they started calling it ungrateful and unloving because it wouldn't come to them. Then they gave it away. A blessing I think.

We are no longer friends with these people, there really is something wrong with them as a family. Thankfully they haven't taken in any more animals as far as I know.

My wife and I are thinking of instituting a cat test policy. Any new friends have to be Ok with cats and actually be able to understand our affection for these creatures, else-wise we won't be able to really be friends with them.

[dixiegrrrrl]

135. Same thing happened with the family next door. But their cat moved into our house!

He just walked away from them, showed up at our door, walked into the house, ignored the dog, sauntered past our other cat, sat down in front of the food bowl, and said " I am here".
and has turned out to be a delightful young man, about a year old.
The family that had him would not let him in the house, only gave him dry food and often no water,
the 4 kids would drag him around, and I have always been worried about their now 10 year old who shows sadistic streak, he wants to "kill all squirrels and rabbits whenever I see them", and has a perpetual scowl on his face.
So glad the cat was smart enough to adopt us!

[kestrel91316]

153. Cats are excellent judges of character.

[AlbertCat]

140. People who don't like cats...

.... are control freaks and can't stand it that cats don't fawn over them 24 hours a day like dogs.

Dogs are wolves... which in the wild are social animals.

Cats are not. The only cat that is social in the wild is the female lion. Cats are the only domesticated animal that did not start out as a social animal.


Dogs can be sweet if the owner treats them well, but I still prefer cats.

[Jackpine Radical]

145. Cat? "Domesticated animal??!"

I think you have the relationship between cats & humans reversed.

[kestrel91316]

154. Did you swipe a pic of Maru Kitty?? Or is that one of your own?

[DainBramaged]

197. That is the magnificent Maru....

[JNelson6563]

68. I love both.

Grew up having both so learned early on how awesome each was in their own way.

Julie

[dionysus]

93. actually, my maine coon is rather clingy and used to play fetch... very doggish...

[GoCubsGo]

149. I have a cat like that, too.

She even fetches when she feels like it. Actually, all three cats I have had were rather clingy, and both females are/were the most dog-like.

[rhett o rick]

95. I am "owned" by a cat. nm

[emcguffie]

106. My last cat was very doglike.

And my current dog is very catlike.

My cat was always at the door waiting for me when I got home, and he jumped up on me just like dogs do. That was Buster.

Buster would also pace back and forth on the side of the tub whenever I bathed, until he could get himself over onto my neck and shoulders, where he would sit while I bathed.

Bisou (our dog) doesn't go that far, but she is the most precious piece of dog-flesh I have ever encountered. An Italian greyhound, she is just a pure love bunny.

I just can't figure out where they get all that love.

[AlbertCat]

141. I just can't figure out where they get all that love.

From the food you feed them....


:P

[redqueen]

9. Aw

:loveya:

I wish I could have a dog. Just not home enough. :(

[UnrepentantLiberal]

10. Boo!

Sorry, my cat got on my laptop when I was in the kitchen.

[tblue37]

11. Post this precious beauty on _Cats in Sinks_!

http://catsinsinks.com/

Oh, and don't forget to drop by Kitten War to vote for cute kitties!
http://kittenwar.com/

[UnrepentantLiberal]

14. Cool.

I will.

[tblue37]

59. Sleek dark gray shorthairs with spanking white markings to set off

their dominant color--I think that is one of the most gorgeous looks for a cat. I have three cats now, because my 19-year-old Lila died in July. I have a pastel (dilute) calico, a gorgeous black and orange tortie with no white at all, and a sleek Siamese looking half Siamese (her mom was a brown tabby).

Lucia (pronounced loo-chee-a--but I usually call her Lucy) looks like a nearly perfect tabby point (also called lynx point) Siamese, though her stripes are slightly less pronounced than in this picture of a lynx point, so she is even less "tabby" than this one is:

http://www.google.com/search?q=tabby+point+siamese+cat&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&oe=&rlz=1I7ADFA_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1024&bih=571&sei=F2zNTuO4OdGltwey4vRo

But the dark part of one back leg has a small splotch of white that makes it look as though she has been slightly splattered by paint.

No one who sees her believes she's not a true Siamese. My only regret is that she didn't get the Siamese voice, which I have always loved.

[emcguffie]

107. What a beauty! n/t

[mopinko]

13. every kid should have a dog.

preferably a boxer dog, of course, but any dog is better than no dog.
but what a different world it would be if every kid had a canine guardian angel. mine outlawed spanking in my house.

[Myrina]

16. ... and just think what kids would learn ....

.... how to be responsible & caring, trust and be trusted, to value play and exercise, and to be able to find joy out walking in the woods or at a park rather than staring at an X-Box every weekend.

My doggies - and my foster doggies especially - have taught me so many life lessons, I can't even begin to explain.

[MedleyMisty]

82. Mine too

Apparently my father only got really mad at me once in the seven years I had with him, and we were outside. Brownie, a dog my brother adopted a year before I was born, got in between me and him to protect me. :)

I have four cats right now and I love cats and my adult life is much better suited to cats, but I loved Brownie so much.

[mod mom]

15. My pup is away at obedience camp. I miss the puppy nose resting on my feet

as I sit on the computer. I miss her cuddling up to me. Can't wait to get her back.

She has a squirrel issues and pulled me down giving me tendonitis. The trainer is working to cure her of pulling. She is 65 lbs of pure energy. We adopted her from the pound when she was 6 1/2 months and had little time on a leash before the adoption.

[themadstork]

17. Three dogs and two kittehs in our house

Fiance and I love the furries!

[sufrommich]

18. That is so sweet it makes my teeth hurt. Cute doggy. nt

[reggie the dog]

19. broo roo!

[slackmaster]

20. Beautiful, touching photo

But there are good reasons for CATS being the most popular household pet.

[reggie the dog]

24. yep, they eat rodents

where i live people have "indoors" and "outdoors" cats.

basically a group of 5 to 8 cats live at the house, along with 3 goats and 2 "indoors doggies" the indoors dogs go inside and outside but sleep inside.

the inside cats (2 of them) sleep inside but go in and outside

the outdoors cats dont want to live inside and come around to get food sometimes.

since the cats arrived (friend cannot say no to adopting animals but has a small ranch so it is fine) the lizzard and rodent population inside the house has dropped as well

many people in rural france keep cats for that reason and many of those cats prefer to live outside as wildcats

there are many "feral" cats here and who knows how many generations they have been living wild.

[Rainbowreflect]

28. Our new puppy caught a mouse in our backyard last week.

Not even 9 weeks old and a brave hunter. ;)

[reggie the dog]

34. make sure you teach it to be nice to turtles and frogs ;)

[Rainbowreflect]

36. I don't think that will be a problem. Baby bunnies next spring will be.

[klook]

126. Rat terriers and schnauzers

are good rodent-eaters, too.

Worst things about outdoor / feral cats: they kill birds and your yard is their litterbox.

[kestrel91316]

155. In rural parts of the US people often have "barn cats" and "house cats".

The barn cats control vermin. The house cats are pets.

[Wait Wut]

21. I officially love you...

...for bringing a tear to my eye. That's beautiful.

My dog (that I inherited with a husband) is old, deaf and very dumb. But, he makes me laugh and helps me relax. My kitties make me nuts. :eyes: I still love them, though. Occasionally, they're good kitties.

[Gold Metal Flake]

22. Look at the paw on that Goldie.

Gonna be a big one!

[reggie the dog]

23. my dog stayed with my parents when i moved here

i do miss my pug, so nice to cuddle with and listen to him snore.


my buddy has a collie mut mix that has to be the smartest dog i have ever known, very doggie friendly... and loves going on hikes with us

[U4ikLefty]

158. wrong place

[msongs]

25. my neighbor's dog has barked 500 times in the past hour. you want it come get it nt

[get the red out]

29. You neighbor is a problem

He/she should be responsible and train the dog. Like children, if not properly instructed, they don't automatically do the right thing.

[dana_b]

39. exactly

it's the human that is the problem - not the dog.

[EFerrari]

30. That would drive me nuts.

Your neighbor needs training.

[renate]

42. I love dogs but the neighborhood ones that are allowed to bark drive me crazy

I can only assume the neighbors aren't aware of how endlessly the dogs bark when they're left alone, but it still SUCKS.

[JoePhilly]

44. LOL .. that made me laugh!

[Amerigo Vespucci]

60. In Redwood City, I had neighbors who had a HUNTING DOG...

...a springer spaniel...defined by Wikipedia as "a breed of gun dog traditionally used for flushing and retrieving game"...and they tied this dog up in the back yard next to a PIGEON COOP.



That's right, boys and girls...they tied up a dog that specializes in "flushing and retrieving birds" next to BIRDS.

They were stoner fucking ASSHOLES, just SLOBS.

The dog barked...NON-STOP...for several HOURS a night, EVERY night.

I called the COPS, I called the HUMANE SOCIETY, nothing worked.

Finally I moved and didn't hear the dog anymore.

It IS the owner's fault, in 99.9% of the situations. It's people who SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED to have a dog, but they have a dog. Or DOGS, plural.

[klook]

127. Those are the kind of idiots

who keep a dog as a cheap alternative to a burglar alarm system. But when the dog barks non-stop (as these neglected, maltreated dogs often do) it's not even useful as an alarm.

I once had a neighbor who treated her dog like that (although not the extreme scenario you describe). Another neighbor and I had to have a couple of Real Serious talks with her before she stopped tying the dog out in the yard for hours at a time.

[blueamy66]

195. Hey, I have neighbors that run a pitbull puppy mill outta their

backyard.....Humane Society won't do a thing, unless there is obvious abuse...the fucking backyard is DIRT and they are either caged or chained 24/7. The HOA is now involved....fuck those assholes.....

[U4ikLefty]

160. I see no solution was offered.

Blaming the humans won't make the dog stop barking all night.

[cherokeeprogressive]

173. I have a Chihuahua who's only barked maybe 50 times in her life.

That's 50 barks, not barking fits.

When we made the decision to get her as a pet for our Golden Retriever, everyone wondered why we'd want a "yappy" dog. When we brought her home from the rescue shelter she was eight weeks old and immediately assumed the personality of Bella the retriever.

Our two cats make more noise then our dogs do LOL.

[U4ikLefty]

174. Another outlier, chihuahuas are notorious for long barking rants.

I would be confident that most cats are indeed LESS noisy that most chihuahuas.

Enjoy your world.

[cherokeeprogressive]

176. Know what?

I DO enjoy my world. Immensely. I wake up with a smile, and go to bed with a smile. I work with a smile. A kick in the shin would hardly put a dent in my good mood for more than a second or two.

I guess I'm an outlier as well.

Hope your day goes as good as mine is going to. Honestly.

[U4ikLefty]

178. Chicken butt!!!

I am very happy as well, but I actually live in reality where dogs make sounds (long-barking rants) that keep people awake during working hours.

[cherokeeprogressive]

179. People SHOULD be awake during working hours.

Silly.

[U4ikLefty]

180. my mistake...sleeping FOR work. got a snappy reply for that one?

My neighbor's dog barked for hours in the middle of the night. Got any remedies?

[cherokeeprogressive]

182. Two.

A well placed .177 pellet.

A bowl of anti-freeze.

Sometimes where I live the coyotes go off for what seems like hours on end, about 50 yards from my bedroom window. I guess I've learned to live with it.

Truly sorry for your dog problems.

Oh and by the way, I'd NEVER harm a dog; mine or anyone else's. That was, as you put it, a "snappy reply".

[U4ikLefty]

184. I see, no solution from you either.

[JuniperLea]

31. I loves me some puppies!

[stuntcat]

71. aw sweeties

especially the pics of them sitting on the bed are precious!

[great white snark]

139. Aw...cuteness overload.

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. I am biased towards birds

[mopinko]

146. many lessons to be learned from birds including

it is possible to love someone even if they occasionally make you bleed.

[shireen]

172. if you're on facebook, check out the 'King O' fan page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/King-O/106115256133162

He's a parrot at Best Friend's Parrot Garden, sent there because he's had behavioral issues and became a feather plucker when his first guardian passed away. One of his former guardians, who had to give him up, posts there often and frequently sends care packages to him and the other parrots.

King O became so popular that the Parrot Garden manager started posting these hilarious videos of him dancing and 'singing' to music. He's garnered a lot of fans. We watched in amazement as the number of fans grew from just a handful to the current number of 1181. The Parrot garden facebook page is a lot of fun too. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Best-Friends-Animal-Society-Parrot-Garden/151833614851566

[vankuria]

33. Sweet photo, I love it

Couldn't imagine my life without a furry friend to share it with. I spent 3 weeks battling pneumonia and my dog never left my side. The world can be a very nasty place and thank God we have our furry friends to give us unconditional love. They're always there when we need them, don't ask for much and seem to understand just how we feel.

[Fumesucker]

35. ...

[Chisox08]

37. My Husky approves this message.

[Ikonoklast]

38. Two of my most favorite girls in the world.

My daughter and my little kitty, Missy.





If one has a kitty, one is never sleeping alone, ever.

[mindfulNJ]

40. DU doggies are the best!

Here's my furry son:)

[aquart]

41. Puppy!

I was raised by an airedale, myself.

[SidDithers]

43. The problem is not with dogs...

but with owners who think everyone loves their dog as much as they do. Keep your dog from slobbering on me, or from jumping up on me with dirty, wet paws, and your dog and I will get along fine.

Sid

[Missy Vixen]

57. My dog isn't interested in spending time with you, either. n/t

[DisgustipatedinCA]

74. Please continue to not show up at my house

Thank you.

[LibDemAlways]

110. Sid, i hear ya. Twice recently I've been

"greeted" by friends' dogs biting me. I know it's the owners' fault that their pets are out of control, but it doesn't make the experience of being bit any more pleasant. And I'm not particularly a fan of being jumped up on or slobbered on either. I wouldn't have allowed my daughter to jump up on, slobber on, or bite a guest in my home when she was small, and I appreciate dog owners showing me the same consideration.

[JDPriestly]

45. True. For many people, a pet dog means at least some

physical closeness, touching and unquestioning love. A dog is a great friend for those who can afford the dog food and the vet bills.

[HomerRamone]

108. Just took a friend's cat to the vet.. Two-day stay with ultrasound: $2000

Dogs were like my siblings growing up. Wish I could afford one now.

[kestrel91316]

156. That's not a routine expense. Pet insurance is an increasingly good idea for

the unforseeable crap that can happen.

Hope kitty is ok. There's lots of potentially serious stuff that is highly treatable.

[backwoodsbob]

47. aww

[HillWilliam]

58. Love the Upside-Down Doggies

Ashley-Marie has this silly grin when she's upside down :)

CHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZZZ!

[JoePhilly]

48. I've told my kids they can have a dog if I see even ONE neighbor kid picking up their dog's poop.

Don't get me wrong ... I'd actually love to give my kids a dog ... but there are 2 problems ...

1) I'm mildly allergic to dogs, and I have asthma. So there are many breeds that I can't be around for any duration. (this is the real issue)

2) But almost as important ... I do not have the time to walk a dog every day, or a desire to pick up their poop.

We have lots of neighbors who have dogs. In every case (except for one), part of the "getting a dog" deal was that the kids would take care of, walk, and clean up after, the dog. Its all about learning responsibility!!

Yet every day, I see those parents walking these dogs and picking up the poop. But I've yet to see just one of the neighborhood kids walking the dog and cleaning up behind it.

Its become a running joke with my kids.

We'll be in the car and see a neighbor picking up poop. And I say "I wonder why Jacob isn't walking the dog?" ... and my daughters both laugh ... I think they know that they would end up being just like "Jacob", and I'd be the one who'd have to walk that dog. And that's not happening.

I've told this story to the parents at the bus stop. They all sign and say "very smart!" We usually have 3 dogs at the bus stop each morning, and its not uncommon for 2 or 3 more to walk by. So my daughters get to pet a bunch of dogs, and I don't have to clean up after them.

Win win.

[ooglymoogly]

163. A life for a child without a dog to love on is a sad thing for me to contemplate

As A child growing up I always had a dog. My favorite memory was of Chubby, a border collie that walked me to school every morning over a mile and was there promptly when I got out. I felt safe with that dog and still cannot imagine a heaven without her.

However, the reason I write this is to let you know about a dog I presently have who's traits may assuage some of your concerns.

My dog Choo choo is an Australasian silky, a knockoff off of the Yorky, with a little longer nose and hair of silk that gives them that name. Best of all, they do not shed, they do not slobber, they are extremely protective of family and once bonded do not waste time with, jump up on, nor tolerate others infringing on their me time, I know, not such a good trait, but lovable just the same. I got her just 2 years ago (love at first sight) as a puppy and for cat lovers who also like dogs, this is your animal. She is very smart and pushes me around the house to get what she wants or to be let out. She does go crazy when the mail man comes and shreds the mail as it is fed through the door...the mail man has learned only to put fliers through and loves to play with her.

She is always with me, wrapped around my neck in my lounge chair that I sit in front of the computer. She loves to play and have her belly scratched, in short I cannot imagine a life without her. When I am in bed she cuddles close to me sometimes resting her neck across mine to wake me and when I watch videos.

This breed was bred to ferret out rats, mice and rodents. I live on a river so there is a rat problem...she will not rest if she smells a rat, mouse or other creature in the house...So far, that I know of, she has killed two rats and a squirrel that taunted her every day, climbing on the window screens and the old treelike hydrangea vines that cover the house.

So please get your kids and you a dog...if chosen right and treated with love, you will never regret it. It will bring your family as much love as it can handle.

As an old man,I have had many dogs, but for me the two best breads were and are terriers and border collies, but I love them all and one, long gone, sassy siamese.

Ps I too have asthma.

[Withywindle]

49. D'awww, and damn straight.

I turned out more of a cat person, but my parents are dog people and I grew up with a lot of canine siblings. (I'm an only human child, but I never lacked for company.)

Dogs and cats evolved alongside humans, to be our companions, and the relationship we have with them is very, very special. And I agree, people who don't get that are really missing out, in my opinion. Fine if people choose not to have such a relationship, but they don't get to judge those of us who do.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

50. I can understand the appeal of dogs, but the appeal of puppies is truly stupid.

Wanting a dog for reasons that will last 10-15 years looks entirely sensible to me - I'm not a big dog fan, but I can see how one could be.

But wanting a puppy specifically is both stupid and harmful, because it won't stay a puppy, and you'll be left with a dog you don't want.

If you want a dog by all means by one as a puppy, but make certain that you know that what you're actually getting will mostly be adult dog.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

52. Same thing with cats / kittens...

...it's a responsibility that spans the life of the animal.

No different than parents who buy baby ducks for their kids at Easter.

These are animals, not toys. The commitment lasts after the "new" wears off.

:toast:

[Rainbowreflect]

53. I agree with you.

We have bring puppies into the family because our adult dogs seem more open to letting a puppy in than an adult dog. It also allows us to bond and train from a young age. That said, we want dogs, not just puppies. Although puppies are cute they are A LOT of work.

[Douglas Carpenter]

101. yeah, kind of like wanting children

[Donald Ian Rankin]

188. Pass. I can't understand why people want children. N.T.

[Douglas Carpenter]

190. yeah but like puppies and kittens they don't stay children that long

[ooglymoogly]

165. I cannot imagine anyone, not even a child, not understanding,

that a puppy will turn into a bigger dog. Admittedly there are those who should never own a dog and even those who should never be allowed to own a dog.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

189. I think almost everyone is intellectually aware of that.

I'm not sure how fully some people internalise it when presented with a cute puppy, though.

[Stuart G]

51. I don't own one, but dogs are some of the best people I know..nt

[Rainbowreflect]

54. I don't think a person can own a dog.

I know ours own us. ;)

[RebelOne]

61. Mine always did. Whatever the dog wanted the dog got. n/t

[Iggo]

56. I get that from people.

[nadine_mn]

62. The best and purest love is puppy love

Kitty love is close too

[frogmarch]

63. Adorable!

My granddaughter's 6-year-old half brother, who just got a much-longed-for puppy, is happy, and a good citizen to boot:

[Amerigo Vespucci]

65. What a great kid!

:toast:

[Scuba]

66. And this...

<a href="http://imgur.com/qxqH4"><img src="" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

[Liberal_in_LA]

67. lovely picture

[Dystopian]

69. KandR

My doggie recommended this thread...
See her smile.
peace~

[stuntcat]

70. there must be something wrong with anyone who doesn't like dogs!

I haven't had one of my own since I went away to school. Long as I was moving around & living in apartments I've just had cats (some cats are just as lovey as the picture) But I know we'll have a dog or two again someday, definitely when I get away from living in a busy city.

People who say they don't like any animal really bother me.

[N7Shepard]

78. A little over the top - my mother always had dogs and I don't like people who

mistreat dogs (or any animals) but I really only like cats as pets.

Is something wrong with me?

[stuntcat]

84. nothing wrong with that!

no way, I can totally see picking one and never the other! I love the peace and quiet of cats, I will never NOT live with them. It's just I'm hoping to someday live out somewhere where I have room for a couple of dogs, and goats and chickens too.

The only people I think there's something wrong with are the ones who dislike, even "hate", a whole species. Critters are all good :loveya: IMHO. I'm always upset with my best friend over his hate of spiders lol

[ellie]

72. Puppy!

My dog died a couple of weeks ago. I miss hugging him and kissing his muzzle. He was a momma's boy.

[SammyWinstonJack]

92. So sorry.

:hug:

[ellie]

129. Thanks

He was my good boy Ziggy.

[Trillo]

73. I thought this was going to be a thread about police and the OWS protests.

You know, rich corporations and their controllers not keeping their dogs properly leashed in public.

Your message is much more positive than mine.

[Lucky Luciano]

75. My pitbull hugs me like that everyday! nt

I really :loveya: my dog!!! She is the best!

[BlackHoleSon]

76. New theory recognizes our social evolution

and success was highly dependent on dogs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDmzzREXI_g

[lonestarnot]

77. K & R!

[Odin2005]

79. AWWWWW!!!

[SalviaBlue]

80. I love dogs. Here's my boy:

[TBF]

83. Looks a lot like mine -

[Tx4obama]

85. My dog's birthday is August 4th - the same day as President Obama's :)

[Major Hogwash]

86. And of course, then there's the picking up of the dawg shit.

:rofl:

[Amerigo Vespucci]

87. I've spent every day of the last 25 years of my life cleaning a cat box

You get used to it.

:-)

[OswegoAtheist]

88. You're right, maybe I should give dogs another chance...

...sniffle sniffle ACHOO ACHOO HACK KOFF KOFF ACHOO ACHOO GASP GASP KOFF SNIFFLE ACHOO ACHOO GAG GASP ACHOO.

Oswego "Nope, still don't like dogs." Atheist

[Skip Intro]

89. Dogs are cool. Not as cool as cats, but that's not their fault.

:evilgrin:

[Amerigo Vespucci]

90. It's just a different trip...

...I've had cats for the last 25 years, and recently, I've been around a friend's dogs (they have SIX). They are really, really full of character. Dogs don't mess with your head the way cats do, but they still have an agenda. Ideally, I would have cats and dogs. I'll have to get to the point where I own a home rather than rent one before I can do that.

[Skip Intro]

91. I'd like to eventually have a dog or two and a couple of cats.

I'm gonna have to get another cat soon to keep current cat company as she needs far more engagement than I'm giving her. Hopefully I'll have a new one before Christmas. Would love to build them an outdoor catio sometime before the warm weather returns. Maybe toss in a beagle and one other pup next year too.

Cats and/or Dogs - far, far less taxing than many of the people I deal with.

[HillWilliam]

97. LOL - *We* have six as well

or they have us, I'm afraid. They're all rescues. We've got lots of room and lots of love. We're all grateful to have one another.

[DainBramaged]

94. Our little hero

[HillWilliam]

98. Who couldn't love those eyes n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

99. When I was a child our family dog bit my hand for no reason and I had to go to the ER

It's not that I don't like dogs, but if they are even slightly aggressive they scare the living shit out of me. I realize that dogs rarely bite unprovoked and that my experience was just bad luck. But I still have an irrational fear of aggressive dogs. Dogs that don't bark and just lick, I'm okay with.

[Douglas Carpenter]

100. Eulogy of the Dog by George Graham Vest

George Graham Vest served in the United States Senate for twenty-four years, from 1879 to 1903, but the act for which he is best remembered is a speech delivered in an insignificant court case while he was still a lawyer in rural Missouri.

The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter whom he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with out happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It flies from him perhaps when he needs it most. A man’s reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is the dog.

Gentlemen of the jury, a man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground when the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince.

When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth an outcast into the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws and his eyes sad but open, in alert watchfulness, faithful and true, even unto death.


http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/Speeches_Vest_Dog.htm

[Amerigo Vespucci]

104. All true, and we're shown examples of it again and again

Unconditional love and complete loyalty, but also an inconceivable sense of empathy. Dogs can't "think like humans" but they always know what humans are thinking...and feeling...and they respond accordingly.

[nashville_brook]

102. dog hugs are the BEST!!

[Flatulo]

103. Dogs are the finest creatures on the planet. The bond they

form with their human caretakers is a thing of great beauty. It is truly a special privelige to have a canine friend.

We've shared our lives with a fine chocolate lab named Maddie for almost 13 years. Her eyes are so soulful and intelligent, you just know she's sentient and self-aware.

[Lorien]

105. "Pets", not just dogs

In fact, most mammals and a fair number of birds are capable of showing love and affection for one another and us.

[Enthusiast]

109. Kicked and recommended! nt

[unapatriciated]

111. They are great snugglers

[pintobean]

112. They're praying

:evilgrin:

Rec
Great pic.

[madokie]

113. No doubt about it

We have a Border Collie that stays with me and for instance she knows I can only hear out of one ear so she is on special watch all the time to any noise that might be from that side of me, Not because I asked her to or trained her to but because she likes me and wants to keep me around a while longer as so do I, her. She is my helper, I am her security, together we spend most all our days.

I've never understood people who only see an animal as an animal when that is as far from the way it is as night and day. That raccoon, squirrel, deer they all have family and they all communicate with each other, not in ways that are apparent to those of who I speak of here, nor is their family life like human family life is. Look at the ant or the bee and you can see societies that are in many ways as complex as ours is, just in a different unique to their way, to their evolution.

[blaze]

117. I suspect you would love this book

http://www.amazon.com/Kinship-All-Life-Allen-Boone/dp/0060609125

I bought and read it years and years ago.... it had a powerful effect on on me.

[madokie]

120. Yes I think I would

Thank you for the link

[Speed8098]

114. They only know love.

Who could not love dogs. They are the essence of innocence and unconditional love. These are our little ones. Bubbles has the gray and Brooklyn the tan.




And this was our Rockie before she passed away on 1/1/08 at 16 years old



edited to add Rockie.

[DiehardLiberal]

162. Had to show you my babies...

They look JUST like yours! Their names are Petey (gold) and Toby (gray) and are littermates and now 13.5 yrs old. I adopted them from a rescue org in Bay Area when they were 7 weeks old and their parents had been dropped in the night drop of the Oakland SPCA and they were born into rescue 3 days later (fortunately the rescuer intervened as they usually euthanize pregnant animals there!). They have been so much fun and are sleeping on my bed as I type this.

Hmmm - can't figure out how to upload photos.. can anyone help?

Also, I lost my own Rocky, a Maine Coon cat who was almost 17 in Sept. He was my very, very special guy. Seems like we have both politics AND pets in common..

:)

[sellitman]

116. Dogs are Angels

My Black Lab is prime example

:-)

[blaze]

118. Such a sweet pic

Thanks for sharing

[mother earth]

119. Dogs are people too.... :) Kick!!!

[Fokker Trip]

121. That is so beautiful.

We have a lovely ginger and white male cat who will do the same as that sweet pup. One paw on each shoulder.

Animals are so amazing, all animals can feel and emote in their own way. I feel so sad at the way animals are treated as just property or as machines to produce food. When I read about factory farming It makes me sick and so angry.

[blueamy66]

122. Okay, you're killing me.

I am soooo torn.

I have the opportunity to "adopt" 2 long hair mini doxies from a friend. I SO WANT DOGGIES! I even have a doggie door and a yard big enough for the little ones. And there is a park just down the road.

BUT, I had a Basset and was depressed for quite a while when I had to put her down. Plus, there are the issues of the costs and the fact that my guy travels for work quite a bit and I will/would feel bad to leave them alone all day while I am at work.

I am leaning toward taking them....Leopold and Katie.

What is everyone's opinion on changing Katie's name at age 3? I don't like the name. Maybe change it to Katerina? :-)

[irisblue]

144. changing dogs' name

it's not that hard. alex the wonder dog and i adopted duke when he was 12+. his human mom was moving to be closer to family as she was dying of breast cancer, and i couldn't stand his then name. when we brought him home, i tarted calling him duke. i made it a point to sound happy, cheery, loving as i brushed, petted and loved on him. within a few days he was reacting to his name. don't worry, an adopted dog will love you, always. the humans get the bigger blessings kind regards.

[blueamy66]

196. thank you

we are soooo leaning toward taking these babies....

[SemperEadem]

123. I may not own a dog, but I get the sentiment of the picture

I mean, really! I don't own a dog because the hours I work would be unfair to the animal, so please don't assume that just because I don't, I can't possibly understand what a dog brings to one's life.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

125. I need to clarify a bit...

...the "don't own or don't like" wording wasn't intended to be quite as rigid as it may seem.

I had a dog when I lived with my parents, but since I have lived on my own...and rented...I haven't had another. I've been very lucky that I've been able to take Seiko, my cat, along on the 5 moves I've made in the last 8 years. It would have been much tougher, if not impossible, to bring her and/or a dog.

So "don't like" does mean "don't like," but "don't own" means:

1). People who don't own a dog, but could have one if they wanted to, and either never gave it a thought or had "pros" and "cons" they haven't worked through

2). People who would have a dog if the circumstances were right, like owning their home. That's the category I'm in. If I could afford to buy a home, the first thing I'd do would be to get a dog.

And yes, I do understand that you understand what dogs are all about. I would say the "don't like" people don't understand (or, other factors outweigh any positive feelings they might have).

But I don't think understanding is conditional on a person owning a dog...if I did, I couldn't have posted this thread. And as I said elsewhere in the thread, my renewed appreciation has come from being around...but not owning...the six dogs at my friend's home.

:toast:

[LenaGayle]

128. I do enjoy dogs

Much more than people, they give there love and loyalty without asking much in return.

[OnyxCollie]

131. I love my dogs,

but right now I fear for their health.

They were all bitten by ticks last week.

I took the Duck-Duck to the the vet yesterday; Lia is going tomorrow; and Dante and Rose have appointments for Monday.

I'm hoping for the best.

[smokey nj]

161. I hope they're all ok!

[OnyxCollie]

187. Me too!

[DesertFlower]

132. having a dog is like never having a day off.

they have to be walked in all kinds of weather -- you can't sleep late -- if you're sick in bed with a fever you still have to get up and walk the dog.

i love them but don't want that responsibility.

[OnyxCollie]

133. I consider that to be a vacation.

After reading about torture, election-rigging, environmental destruction, police brutality, drone strikes, etc., just walking with dogs provides a brief respite.

[skepticscott]

136. Agreed

And every time you travel, you either have to find a dog sitter, kennel them, or only take vacations where they can accompany. Makes it very hard to do anything spontaneously. And the expectations for their medical care have become more and more extensive.

Perhaps it's just me, but it seems that public expectations for how people regard and treat their pets have changed significantly since I was young. Nowadays, you're regarded as a horrible person if you don't pay for chemotherapy, joint replacement, and the whole gamut of human-level care for your dog or cat. And mistreatment of a pet always seems to generate far more outrage among the public than mistreatment of a homeless person.

[DesertFlower]

175. we've owned 1 dog and 7 cats.

when their time was up we let them go. no heroics. i would never ever subject myself to chemo much less an animal who doesn't understand. they would think they're being punished.

i love all animals including the coyotes who walk around our property. most times we've had 2 or 3 cats, but now only have 1. after he's gone -- no more pets. we do spoil them. i'm 70 and hubby is 64. no one would take our cat and treat him the way we do. he eats boar's head cold cuts which cost $10.00 a lb. he also jumps up on our countertops to eat. i don't know anyone who would put up with that.

a dog is just too much work for our personalities. the dog we had was a 9lb shit tzu. we tried to train her to go in cat litter. when that didn't work we tried paper training her. she had her own private spot in our second bathroom, but most times she pissed and shit on the carpeting. hubby said she didn't like her feet getting wet from the pee. most times we didn't even know it unless we walked barefoot and stepped into the wet carpeting.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

134. So says you...

[ChazInAz]

137. My turn.

When I was a kid, I had a neat little beagle/Jack Russel/god-knows-what mutt, as well as two cats. The dog was my best bud and lived a long and happy life. In my freshman year of college, when I came home for Thanksgiving, he was so excited and demonstrative he actually died of a heart attack. Now THERE'S loyalty!
Since then, I've only lived with cats, usually two at a time. My current pair are Natasha Krospina I, Empress of All The Cats and Hastur the Unspeakable. Natasha is an enormous long-haired black Munchkin and Hastur is a young Savannah. I still like dogs, but the I suspect that I am part cat...understand their thinking and speak their languages (Natasha says I have a horrible accent in Egyptian, but my Russian is passable). When I need a dog fix, I just drop in on my daughter and play with her pit bull.

[AlbertCat]

138. Love other people's dogs...

.... if they're taken care of, walked and paid attention to, not just chained up in the back yard like so many stupid "these're my huntin' dawgs" rednecks who never hunt.

I still prefer cats though. Dogs are too needy.

[silverweb]

167. Bingo.

I love other people's dogs, too, but prefer cats for the same reason you do (as well as many others).

[KG]

142. like 'em so much, had one grafted to my shoulder

[The Doctor.]

143. Dogs totally win the 'evolutionary adaptation' prize.

Anything that evolved to make us like them has done pretty well.

[bvar22]

147. Help us out here.

What kind of dog is this?



She showed up at our house a few weeks ago.
We are trying to teach her to "Sit" and "Fetch",
but she just doesn't seem to Get It. :shrug:

[bengalherder]

148. Goldens are so sweet.

We love dogs, but circumstance requires that we get our semi-monthly dog fix from my SIL's Golden or the two friendly mutts down the street.

Instead, because we can, we give a home to two cats who are a couple of the most loving and amazing creatures I have ever met. We will be giving them lots of love this long weekend! :D

[ZombieHorde]

150. Cute pic. nt

[zanana1]

151. That just melted my heart. Thank you. nt

[Vinca]

152. That's so sweet! I love dogs, but the kitties won't let me have one.

[ellisonz]

157. I'm Bad.

Shadow sitting in my father's yard chair.



Shadow and I having Thanksgiving Dinner last year.

[kestrel91316]

159. Long ago, in a galaxy far away, I had a Great Pyrenees. I got her

third-hand, and she was a great dog! Very clean, calm, and cat-like (except for the gargantuan poops and the grocery sack full of fur I brushed off her virtually every day, lol).

I still miss my Sunni, even after 28 years. She lived to the age of 12, which is unusual for a giant breed, and then just got terribly senile.

She looked almost exactly like this, and weighed 120 lb:

[kas125]

164. Dogs are the only creatures....

[ooglymoogly]

168. Ahhh, the incredible doggy mind meld.

live long and prosper.

[shireen]

166. they are the most honest loving creatures

i love them so much ...

[in_cog_ni_to]

170. *sigh* PURE LOVE.

Unconditional love is what you always get from a dog. :loveya:

[kas125]

181. I love my dogs. One, I got when he was three months old because

whoever had him returned him to my friend saying their landlord says no pets. This is Casey Jones -



My other one, I got from the shelter. She'd been found last Christmas eve running loose with a collar and leash attached, but nobody came to claim her. Thankfully, ours is a no kill shelter and they kept her until I rescued her in April. Nobody wanted her because she's deaf, but I love her to pieces. This is Lady -





My landscape would be empty without them...

[DainBramaged]

191. We do not need possessions for blessings, we have our fur babies......and they have us......

Happy Thanksgiving.

[pinstikfartherin]

192. I love my babies..

I couldn't be with someone who didn't like dogs because I couldn't be without my babies! Luckily my SO understands and puts up with my love for dogs.

Aubrey the bulldog



Jack the Jack Russell

[Safetykitten]

193. I have no idea what I am going to do when my dog's time comes.

I just can't imagine him gone. I will have to be institutionalized I guess. He is the center of my universe.

[SwampG8r]

194. my tasha is a rescue

whoever had her before us taught her to hug
she still doesnt feel like she has greeted you until she has hugged you
she snuggles her arms around you and smooshes her face against you

[Prometheus Bound]

198. People who don't like or don't own chickens are missing out on this part of the equation

And people who don't like or don't own rabbits are missing out on this part of the equation:



And people who don't like or don't own pigs are missing out on this part of the equation:



And people who don't like or don't own goats are missing out on this part of the equation:



And people who don't like or don't own snakes are missing out on this part of the equation:

[appleannie1]

199. After my oldest son died, my two dogs actually hugged me one day when I was crying. They sense so

much and offer so much without expecting anything in return so are overjoyed when it is given.