pets
By gabbyjoe1973
@gabbyjoe1973 (28)
United States
July 20, 2011 1:39am CST
I do not believe in cruelty against animals but I must say that there are many people out there who I feel go overboard with loving there pets some even treat them better than there own children. as a matter of fact my sister has a yorkshire and the way she treats this dog and talks to him amazes me you would swear that she was talking to a child. She even said that if anything was to happen to him she would not want to go to work again, I think that is crazy. I believe that you can love your pet but she takes loving your pet to a whole new level. She even stays up late with him in her arms walking around the house if there is a thunderstorm and he is scared, knowing that she has to wake up early.
1 person likes this
11 responses
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
20 Jul 11
Obviously, you do not nor have had a pet. You must understand that the affection and bond that is developed with these animals is much like a human bond. We raise them and interact with them and they give us so much in return. We develop a loving relationship. They are in our lives day after day for years and become a major part of our lives. Especially for people who do not have children or whose children have left for lives of their own.
The pet develops an understanding of its owner and there is a dependency on both sides. I would be staying up and reassuring a scared pet in a thunderstorm as well. As it is, my pets take their cues from me during storms and if I remain calm and ignore the noises, they do so as well. The pet needs to be taught that the storm noises will not harm them. So that is what she is doing with her reassurance.
1 person likes this
@Awinds (2468)
• United States
20 Jul 11
All of that "love" can be a form of cruelty. Let's take the Yorkshire Terrier example further. An owner with such a dog takes it do a doggie spa everyday and feeds it the richest food at any time the dog desires. The dog is furnished with more pillows than it is could use in a lifetime. No one bothers to teach the Yorkshire manners - it is the owners "baby" and it doesn't "understand."
What do you get? A spoiled, overweight dog everyone but the owner hates. Feeding an animal to the point of obesity is cruel. It puts the creature at risk for heart problems and other health issues. Allowing the dog to have no manners is also cruel: imagine if that little dog escaped and bit someone or went where it was not suppose to? Imagine that someone is a person who does not like dogs very much, and has very little patience with them. You can bet that little dog is not going to get out of there unharmed.
Over-love is another form of cruelty I think. If one really love's a their pet they will care about the animal's health and safety. They will not just use the animal as a replacement for human companionship.
@Awinds (2468)
• United States
20 Jul 11
"An owner..." I am well aware that not all owners of Yorkshire terriers spoil their dogs. There are however a minority that do. If you ready my response more carefully, you will notice that I used "owner" in the singular form, not the plural. I used one owner as an example, not all owners. If I wanted to make a generalization about all Yorkshire terrier owners I would have said "all", rather than "an."
Read more carefully before you go on the defensive! :)
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
17 May 12
It has been proven many times over that people that talk to their pets are more relaxed and have lower blood pressure and are healthier than those people who don't. Having a pet in your life gives you focus, a companion who listens to you no matter what you say, and keeps you healthy by providing you exercise that you wouldn't normally get. Dogs do understand what we say to them, and by talking to them they understand more and more of our vocabulary. Plus you sister is able to relieve stress by taking to her dog. By relieving this stress she is less apt to have a stroke or heart attack.
As for staying up late holding the dog during a thunderstorm shows your sister's deep caring not only for her companion but also for the world around her. It would be incredibly cruel to allow the poor dog to suffer during the most horrible noise that could be not only frightening but also painful...the noise levels from each clap of thunder have to be so painful to ears that are 100 times more sensitive than our ears. Who wouldn't want to comfort and protect a being that is so dedicated to us? They are our companion, protector, alarm, and comfort. Your sister deserves an award for compassion and love!!! 
@ekt1609 (34)
• Australia
17 May 12
There are pet owners who go to far and spoil their pets to the point that it is unhealthy particularly for the animal. However what you have mentioned about your sister reassuring her dog in a thunderstorm is just an act of kindness. Just because the dog is an animal doesnt mean that it should be scared, many dogs have huge problems during thunderstorms and end up with phobias this intense fear can lead to the animal hurting themselves! If an owner has the ability to reassure the animal then they should do it, even if it is just to save themselves from having to pay a huge vet bill.
My pet cat is extremley well looked after and is a huge part of my family. I work from home so spend alot of time with her in my company. She has toys and good food as well as all the love and care that she could possibly need, but she is also aloud to be a cat.
I think animals shoul be aloud to be animals, when they start getting carried around everywhere and dressed up in little outfits then that is going to far. To just care for an animal, have its best interests at heart and provide well for them then that is called being a good owner.
@interactivelearning (451)
• United States
20 Jul 11
I agree with you, I also feel that animals are gods gifts to us. There is absolutely NO REASON to hurt them. Its been proven that kids / teenagers who get some what of a high off killing INNOCENT animals and like said these so called human beings end up becoming serial killers.
Anytime I have ANY extra money its gonna be dedicated to PETA. I am very familiar with PETA if you do end up donating, You do not have to worry about where your money is going.
The SPCA - No Kill Shelters along with PETA are two really great non profit organizations and if you donate, You will feel better knowing that you did something good.
I found my pet cat when he was about 2 weeks old, It was about 95 degrees, 2 more hours the vet said before the little guy would of passed :(.... 6 years later hes doing Great
Thanks for everyone who took the time to read this... God Bless Everyone!
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
17 May 12
Thank you for your words about teenagers who get high from killing innocent animals. I am so ashamed to admit that my "brother" was one of those people. I hate to tell you how many animals he killed while he lived at home. I was terrified of the sibling because of that fact, he came close to killing me several times...so that terror was justified. He started his "high" with frogs and smaller animals and worked his way up to cats and then even large dogs.
From killing and injuring innocent animals he went to bigger and better highs, he started killing humans. Somehow he managed to wiggle his way out of murder charges, but one day it will happen. Although I am not positive that he hasn't ended up in prison from a murder charge, I haven't had contact with him since 1983, and don't want to EVER hear from him again.
I have NEVER admitted this about my sibling. I don't even like to call him my brother. He, like my father, are not deserving of recognition or respect as part of my family or up bringing. I still, almost 40 years later, have nightmares about his killing of various dogs and cats and the horrific way he did it. I cry often about his sins against the gentlest of God's gifts to mankind. I sincerely wish that someone would do to him what he did to the animals and to me.
@diala84 (138)
• United States
21 Jul 11
I think it can be easier to love pets since they don't talk back and they don't put up a fuss like children sometimes can. Some people need that unconditional attention and love a pet gives since relations with friends, family, spouse, kids etc.. can all fluctuate with time. Human relationships aren't perfect we fight and make up but you don't have to worry about that with a pet. I have never felt this kind of attachment to an animal but I think that it can be easier to trust your pet especially if a person has had a lot of mistrust and confrontations with other people.
@omarfw (50)
• United States
20 Jul 11
I believe the connection between a pet and a human is no different than between two humans but I also think it's easier to form one with humans because people can reciprocate and communicate with you. Many people use their pets as replacements for the connections they want in their lives, but a connection to a pet is often one sided.
@RJlady1 (144)
• United States
20 Jul 11
I think that once in awhile you'll find a person who's a tad obsessed with their pet, especially when they first get one. I think it can be a bit much, too.
I also think there are people who love the innocence of animals so much that they obsess about saving animals to the detriment of their relationships with people. And in fact will curse out those who aren't as obsessed as they are.
@tryurbest (115)
• China
20 Jul 11
I do not think spoiling a pet is right. Pets can be a part of our life, but your sister loves her pet overboard. I have a dog too, but I take care of him well. Feeding him with normal food,taking him to go ou three times a day. The dog is often praised by my neighbours bocause he can carry rubbish bags to downstairs.
@veravivi (59)
• China
20 Jul 11
We treat dogs as our family, even as our child, because dogs are as friendly as our family. You chose a dog as your family member, so you should take the responsibility of him. They are listening to you, do what you ask him to do, sometimes the dog is naughty. Your dog always accompanies with you everytime wheather you are rich or poor, beauty or ugly. Dog is a present God gives to us. We have to be a good owner and give your dog a wonderful life.
