I need help with a theory I have about pets and their owners

I have one child, natural. I have 4 dogs, 1 pure bred that costs $300 and 3 mixed breeds. I also have a mixed breed kitten that I found back in October. They are family members for the most part. I don't vacation because I cannot afford it, but if I could, I have no problems kenneling the animals. I support some animal issues but I eat meat too. I play with my pets and I love them, but I also never forget that they are animals. If any of my dogs were to ever so much as nip at my son, they are out of here. I would never hesitate to put any of them to sleep if the need arose. I try to take care of them to the best of my ability and all of my animals have been spayed or neutered.

I live with my parents still, being I just turned 19 years old. Our house is a very..."lively" one. It's never quiet. It's never empty. We have 5 people who live here, 2 kids who come over on the weekends (stepbrother and sister) and older sister who's moved out but still visits a lot, and my boyfriend who also basically lives here. Along with that we have 2 dogs, 5 cats, 1 bird, a turtle and a suckerfish. Most of the cats are usually outside and just come in when it's freezing or when they're hungry, but nonetheless, our house is always full. We love our pets. We treat them as family. Of course, my mother always complains about us getting a new one, so we can't get anymore, but deep down, secretly, I know she loves them just as much. :) I'm all into animal rights right now and nature, so much in fact my mom, step dad and sister call me a tree hugger. Which isn't true, I'm not that crazy about it...but, haha, getting to the point. We love our animals and we treat them well. They outweigh the number of humans in the house so we have to or else they'll revolt. :)

Neat discussion, clearly you put a lot of thought into this. My boyfriend and I live by ourselves (no kids yet) and we own 1 pet- he's a lab/ pitbull mix. We are extremely passionate towards this dog, if anything he is far too spoiled. This dog sleeps with us and we have even discussed what we will do on our honeymooon because we can't really imagine putting him in a boarding facility, he is definately like a kid to us.

3 pets, 2 dogs, one cat. Love them very much. I plan my vacations thinking about my pets. They travel with me. All my pets are members of my family. I support PETA. My babies? yes! My child is already independent. She has 3 cats, they were abused and blind as kittens, she was fostering them and than adopted. It is in my family. We love animals.

I have 7 pets altogether. One dog, a purebred Siberian Husky, 2 cats, 2 mice and 2 Betta fish. I have no children, nor do I wish to. Yes, my animals are my 'babies'. :) I believe in the concept of animal welfare, making sure that all animals are treated in a kind and humane manner, but I think animal rights as a concept is quite flaky. Animal rights activists also seem to be more volatile, unstable and frightening than a lot of causes they fight against, and I can't advocate for a group that uses fear and violence to further their cause. Also, because PETA's concept of 'total animal liberation' sounds elegant and noble to some people, it really means that they would like ALL animals to liberated from their so-called 'bondage' -- including our beloved family pets. Therefore I am NOT a PETA advocate, but I will support causes like my national and local humane societies, breed rescues and anti breed legislation organizations whose values are actually based around the love of companion animals. I've never refused to go away or not take a vacation because of my pets, mainly because I can always find someone more than happy to watch the animals for whatever brief period of time I'd be away. Even if I were gone for a little longer than I normally am, I have 2 roommates who both love the animals and wouldn't mind pitching in.

First let me tell you that I have 3 pets( 1 cat and 2 dogs). I have 2 boys ages 21 and 16 and they both live with us. In regards to my pets, they are like family to me and I always make sure that I get someone to take care of them when I go on vacation. My pets are very spoil and I'm also involved with charity organizations such as SPCA, and Peta because to me animals are precious and they only have us to speak for them. Pets can bring a lot of happiness and joy to our lives and they ask for so little in return. To me pets give you unconditional love and this is so hard for humans to do.

We have a cat and a dog. The cat is indoors all the time and the dog is out side except for nights. They are just that pets. The cat is more because she is in the house all the time. We do go out and play with the dog every day. There are 2 teenagers that live here with me, but they are gone working school and friends. They enjoy the pets when they are home. If We hade to leave town for what ever reason, yes I would put them in a boarding situation. We are attached to out pets but people come frist.

We have a 20mth old beagle, and she is the light of our lives! We've had a tough time of it lately and she has been such a bright star in our household. Not a day goes by when she doesn't make me laugh, or make me realise just how much I love her. We don't have children, but I really do want them. Time is catching up with me, and I think I am funnelling my maternal instincts through to her - both my husband and I treat her very much as a member of the family. She is inside a lot, but she also enjoys time outside. It is summer here in Australia, and it has been quite hot, so she's inside more during the day as it is cooler. I feel really bad at the moment though, as she had a bout of diarrhoea last night, so has been kept outside today and tonight - fortunately today has been much cooler and it's been good for her to be out in the fresh air. As for holidays - if we were to go on holidays, she would go to a dog-sitter (another dog owner who takes in dogs) as I couldn't enjoy a holiday if I knew she was in a boarding kennel. She needs regular love and attention like she gets at home. And also, we are going to my father's 80th birthday party on Saturday night, and rather than leave her alone for 8 or more hours, we have booked her into a local boarding kennel where she will have some time playing with other dogs and get lots of attention, so in a way, she gets a party too! Lastly, if we ever do have a child - I would still love our pup just as much, there's enough love to go around, but I would still be extremely careful with the baby around her as the baby would definitely be the more important of the two.

Two dogs, two children living at home, two children not living at home, two grandchildren not living with me. I enjoy the dogs but if we did not have dogs at all, it would not bother me. As long as we do have the dogs, I enjoy the security that they provide to me.

My family has a total of four large and one extra large dogs. I also have three children, six, seven, and nine years old. Our dogs are apart of our family so there isn't anything we wouldn't do for them. When I serve each meal my dogs are also served as well. When we take vacations we make sure that we aren't far from home and that I have a family member stay at my house with the animals so that the dogs aren't alone that much. We also take short vacations as well. Usually a three day weekend or something. I am not involved in PETA but I do sign petitions that I think are unjust. An example would be this past year when there were a few states trying to ban certain breeds of dogs. I am against punishing a breed for one or two bad ones in a bunch. Hope this helps. Have a great day.

First, I don't think we own pets, anymore then we own wives or children, we are their caretakers and they are our friends. I had a cat named PorkBun when I was pregnant who had to be put to sleep due to cancer. He was my baby. He liked me to carry him in my arms,cradled like a baby - he was content to go everywhere around the house with me like that. If I wasn't carrying him, he was following - even to the bathroom. Even when I showered - he would wait outside the door to the toilet and the shower in the vanity area. I don't persoanlly have any pets but I live in a small community of pets. Not only do all of our neighbors have dogs - literally I think - you can't walk down the street without a dog from every house coming out to bark - and our immediate neighbors on one side never let their dogs in - so cruel and they bark all night. And, in our community, on our huge lot are three dogs -well one in the lot next door, Grandma Viola's lot - our landlady's great grandmother. Bear, Kibeer and Charlie. We have white doves, a huge - tremendously huge bunny and some very pretty chickens in our communal garden. Inside their house, our land lady and her family have two budgies, two fighter fish and two geckos. I do have children - the pregnancy ran full term. Just to let you know. Any pets I've ever had are members of thefamily, when we leave, a friend checks on them and visits with them. I don't advocate PETA just because they are a bit extremist in their methods - but at least they do something. I do advocate animals issues. Children and animals need to be protected because they can't protect themselves. Hope this helps.

well, I don't own a pet. I have a little theory on this myself. Couples who do not have children, or are just married and do not intend to have children just yet, usually have pets. And they really really love their pets. Most people who own pets really love them. I think those who don't love their pets are children who want pets for the fun of it. when the novelty wears off, they discard it like the previous toy. that's sad. But to most people i know who own pets, their pets are a member of the family. and they are treated like babies.

1) Three pets, plus a rather big number of aquarium fish that I haven't counted lately. 2) Dog, guinea pig, lovebird, fish 3) No children 4) I love them to pieces, but the extent what I'd do depends on the pet we're talking about. I would definately go on vacation without second thoughts if I had just the fish. But with all these pets, I would only consider going on vacation if my parents agreed to take care of everyone. I would never even consider a boarding facility for my dog as he is much too attached to me and would go nuts without a person he already knows well. But overall I'd do anything for them. They are like my kids. I don't let them get away with anything though, they are after all pets and their place is below me but they do get very spoiled anyway. I don't particularly involve myself in animal issues or PETA. Some things that the 'animal activists' involve themselves in are just pure stupidity and I won't take any part of it. I give my opinion when it's asked for and I might try to educate the uneducated, but I don't force my opinions on people who don't want to listen.

we have a 9 month old boy our own. we have a cat, and a dobberman. we love our pets to the extent we cover them up at night. get holiday dinners with the fam. and when it comes down to it i would provide medical atention to the pets if needed and eat raman noodles for a week. and when it comes down to a choice of my friends out in the rain or my pets i have a spare umbella so they can go to their own homes.

I have a grown daughter and also have pets. I have two dachshunds and four cats. I board the dogs with the kennel that I got them from when I need to go out of town. The cats stay at home and I have neighbors that check on them if I am going to be gone more than just a couple of days. I am not a adamant advocate of PETA, as I do recycle fur stoles and coats into teddy bears. I don't agree with testing on animals or simply killing them because there are too many. I consider my dogs and cats family members, but I don't talk to them in baby talk or dress them up...I feel that dressing the dogs up is silly and to me it is a bit offensive. I do have rain coats for them and sweaters as that breed does get cold, but putting them in pajamas, dresses, and other such clothes isn't my cup of tea. I feed them well and respect them as a member of the earth community. I also make sure that they have their shots and are trained. I hope this has helped you out with the feud...it'll be interesting to hear what the feud was about.

I have one cat and one dog. 3 fish at this juncture. one son who is grown and does not live with me. I am very passionate about my pets and only board them when I absolutely need to. I am a very passionate pet person. They are my babies.

"One, how many pets do you own, fish and 2 birds. what kind of pets you own, and if you own more than one type of pet. " 16 cats, 5 dogs, 4 horses, Secondly, I want to know if you have any children, that would be natural, adopted, step, doesn't matter, just if you have any kids in your home as well." No. My pets will come first and foremost always. I could never put a child above my cat. If I had a baby and the baby was allergic, I'd give the baby up for adoption. There are millions of people waiting on babies to adopt, but millions of pets every year are euth'd just because no one wants them. "And third, I want to know how passionate you are about your pets. I mean we all love our pets, but I want to know the extent." I'd do anything for them. I'd spend any amount of money on them. If they needed something, I'd find a way to pay for it. "Do you avoid vacation because you don't want to put them in a borading facility?" I have my neighbor or my vet's assistant come out. Dogs and cats and birds and fish are easy to take care of, but if you get someone inexperienced with horses around them, it's very easy to get hurt or killed. "Do you adamantly advocate PETA or go all out over animal issues?" Yes. I do. Far too many pets are being thrown away or they are being used as test subjects simply because they are 'pets.' They think and feel just like us and they know pain, only they have no idea why it hurts or what is going on. "Are your pets like "babies" to you?" Yes. They are. "Do you treat your pet like a member of the family?" Yes. I do. My pets are my family. "Do you think of your pet as nothing more than an animal, a pet to feed and maybe play with?" No. My pets are my kids. I'd gladly go without so they could have something. And I've gone without eating for days on end because I didn't have enough money for their food and mine.

1)I had two dogs until yesterday when I lost one to illness. 2)I do not have any children. I wanted to have children very much it just didn't happen. 3)I love my dogs very much. I think of them as my children but I do not try and make them human. I love them for what they are. They are canine members of the family not just pets to feed and play with. I have gone on vacation without them but when I do I leave them with a friend who will care for them. I do not like boarding kennels. If I can I take them with me. It is hard to take animals on holiday in Australia because there are not many places that allow pets. We have managed it by keeping the dogs in the car at night with beds and walking them the next day. We did that when we moved. The motels would not allow the dogs in the room but they accepted them in the car as long as they were quiet. I also keep chickens now for eggs and while they are not members of the family like my dogs I need to consider them if I went on vacation. I would not just leave them and I am not sure how I would take care of them so we have not been away since we got them. But we are also getting old and now we live in the country there is not the same need to escape. We live a peaceful lifestyle and only occasionally stay away for the night. If we do that we take our dog with us and make sure the chickens have enough food until we get home. I have a friend who has two lovely dogs who are her babies. She had them before she got pregnant and now she has a human baby and two canine babies. My family has always had dogs. I grew up with them and will always have one in my life. I much prefer to have a dog as company than live without one.

Loving our pets*friends*is a family affair..I have one cat(Bones)and a guinea pig(Quincy)and of course you know I have two children...If I wanted to go somewhere I would not just leve my pets of course I would find a family member or close friend to watch out for my pets...I do nto over spoil my pets like some people seem to do...no fancy outfits for the cat or pig..I do love them and care for them in every way I can...All animals have feelings and I treat my pets with respect toward their feelings...As much as I love my pets they woudl never come before my children...I know this lady who puts her pets before her own kid and that is sad to me for many reasons...If you are a pet owner or become one you should take care of your pet but some people take it to a new level..

At home we have two dogs and one cat. I've been living with animals around all my life. Our first dogs i never even knew how we got them. As soon as i was born they were there. We had dogs, cats, fish of diverse kinds, a fortune lobster, a parrot, a bunch of chickens, roosters and ducks, and a whole barn of pigs. I never lived with any kids at home until now that's probably the reason why I love babies and kids too much. We have a one - year old girl at home. I am about to have my own baby this year. I am so passionate of animals but I am not an extreme follower of PETA. When i see a astray animal (specially dogs, puppies or kittens) I have the desire to take it home with me. I cry when I see animals getting hurt, I even cry over pigs, goats and cows in the slaughter house getting butchered even if i know i'm going to eat them too (lol). But what can I do? When it comes to my pets at home I love to give them all the comfort and nourishment specially with my dog. I love dogs and puppies so much. They're just caring and smart. Forever loyal and true. I also gave my puppy it's own bed.