Did you have any pets when you were a child?
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31366)
Denmark
August 30, 2015 6:14pm CST
When I was 3 years old my parents bought a Golden Retriever. He was a nice dog, but he was very scared and we couldn't take him for a walk because he was afraid of the cars. When he got older he became ill and the vet had to put him to sleep when he was 9 years old. Two years later my parents bought a Boxer, and for many years we always had one or two Boxers.
In the first grade I received a budgie, and after some time we bought her a friend, but the new budgie died after a few weeks. When I was 11 I received a guinea pig, and we spent a lot of time together. I often asked my parents if I could have a cat, but they always said no. My father hates cats, and he didn't want a cat in his home.
14 people like this
17 responses
@Hugospal (17)
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
31 Aug 15
My parents were not animal people but I too had a budgie for a short time. She lived for a few years but then got sick. Other than that we were allowed to have fish, and we had a rabbit but he had to be kept outside.
We also kind of adopted a stray cat that lived to be 22 years old. The only pet my parents absolutely refused to deal with was a dog, but don't get me wrong, they didn't really want any of the others either, that was all the kids' fault.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
31 Aug 15
I had a guinea pig in my childhood. I also asked my mother if I could have a rabbit, but she said no and she told me that rabbits were too messy, and she didn't want the smell in the house. It could have been a solution to keep it outside you did, but we never thought about that.
3 people like this
@else34 (13515)
• New Delhi, India
1 Sep 15
@Porcospino @Porcospino,I have seen that those who keep pets develop an attachment to them.My brother would never eat before his pets were fed to their satisfaction.And when my brother would go somewhere for some days,his wife had a hard time feeding his pets.They missed their master so much that they would give up food.
1 person likes this
@Hugospal (17)
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
31 Aug 15
@Porcospino You have to build a proper hutch or buy one but most rabbits do okay outside.
3 people like this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
31 Aug 15
There was a pet in the household when I was younger, but it was my brother's dog, as he got him for his birthday, when he turned 5. He loved that dog as they were inseperable. None of us could get as close to him as my brother, since it was his dog. 
5 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
31 Aug 15
It sounds like there was a special connection between your brother and the dog Which breed was the dog? In my family I experienced the same thing. The first Boxer we had was my father's dog. The rest of us also took care of the dog, but my father and the dog were especially close.
Which breed was the dog? In my family I experienced the same thing. The first Boxer we had was my father's dog. The rest of us also took care of the dog, but my father and the dog were especially close.5 people like this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
31 Aug 15
@Porcospino The dog was a beagle and his name was Kippy. He was a good dog, however, he did figure out how to climb fences and would get out from time to time, but we always got him back.
3 people like this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
31 Aug 15
Yes, I had all kinds of pets when I was child. Dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, rabbits, fish. Heck, I even had a horse at one point! lol The only reason being is that it belonged to a friend, so my mom was able to buy him for cheap and keep him there.
3 people like this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
31 Aug 15
@Porcospino I agree, that is a lot of pets, though it was spaced out. I certainly didn't have them all at the same time! lol
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
31 Aug 15
That is a lot of pets I always dreamed about living in home with lots of pets. In my childhood my parents said no when I asked them for a cat and a rabbit, but today husband and I have a dog, a cat, a guinea pig and 5 rabbits.
I always dreamed about living in home with lots of pets. In my childhood my parents said no when I asked them for a cat and a rabbit, but today husband and I have a dog, a cat, a guinea pig and 5 rabbits.2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
31 Aug 15
We had lots of birds - we call them love birds here - the ones which are quite small and come in different colors. We also had rabbits, a pair of guinea pig, and some fishes too. But all this happened only during my teens. We did not have pets earlier.
Then came a puppy. She changed everything. We got so very attached with her. And even after 15 years, we still mourn her loss. I never had the courage to buy another pet since 2000.
3 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
31 Aug 15
We had birds in my childhood (budgies) The first one lived for a long time, and my grandmother "adopted" her because our dog couldn't leave her alone. We wanted our bird to have a peaceful home, but the dog kept barking at her. We were happy when my grandmother offered to take her. My grandmother was also an animal lover.
I understand what you mean when you describe your puppy. I also get very attached to animals and it is very painful when they die. Our current dog is 6 years old and we know that he isn't going to live forever, but we don't even want to think about that.
2 people like this
@jstory07 (139725)
• Roseburg, Oregon
31 Aug 15
I always had cats and dogs, birds and hamsters. My kids had all of those pets to.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
31 Aug 15
You home sounds wonderful. I always wanted to be surrounded by lots of pets. In my family my mother loves animals, but my father isn't a big animal lover. My brother and I are like my mother and as adults we both have pets.
2 people like this
@rusty2rusty (6763)
• Defiance, Ohio
31 Aug 15
I had many pets growing up. As i grew up on a farm. I remember chicken we turned in to a pet. Her name was Henrietta. She was the only chicken who would allow us to pick up her chicks without peaking us in the knees as kids.
2 people like this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
31 Aug 15
Never had a pet of my own when I was a kid. Usually, the pet, a dog, belonged to my uncle and I'd take care of it and consider it my own.
3 people like this
@allknowing (136582)
• India
31 Aug 15
But I never petted them as we do now. We as kids went about doing our thing while mother took care of these pets.
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
31 Aug 15
Which types of pets did you have in your home as a child? I grew up with dogs, birds and a guinea pig. My parents took take of the dogs, but the guinea pig was my responsibility.
2 people like this
@allknowing (136582)
• India
31 Aug 15
@Porcospino Dogs and cats. Mother also reared cows and pigs but she petted them too.
3 people like this
@Butchcass4 (5895)
• United States
31 Aug 15
I had a cat when around 8 years old her name was Skipper and she was a calico and we had to move from the safety of a farm to near a road and Skipper was having babies one day and that day when I came home from school my Mom told me she was killed. It was tragic. I believe we kept one of her kittens and called it Midnight. Not sure what happened to that one as we moved
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
1 Sep 15
I am sorry to hear that. It is very sad that she was killed when you moved to another area.
1 person likes this
@Butchcass4 (5895)
• United States
1 Sep 15
@Marcyaz Thank you for your condolences. I was very sad, I still miss her but I believe I will see her in heaven and my other pets too.
1 person likes this
@inspiire_15 (2)
• Bangalore, India
31 Aug 15
We too had a white Pomeranian dog as our pet. But at that time I was only four, and was very scared of him. After he left us, we didn't brought another one. But now I feel that one should have a dog or a cat at home. I requested my parents for one, but they did't agreed. I wish they pay some heed to my such a small request.
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
31 Aug 15
Welcome to myLot It is sad that your parents won't let you have a dog or a cat. When I was living at home I often asked my parents for a cat, but they always said no because my father hates cats.
It is sad that your parents won't let you have a dog or a cat. When I was living at home I often asked my parents for a cat, but they always said no because my father hates cats.2 people like this
@inspiire_15 (2)
• Bangalore, India
31 Aug 15
@Porcospino Thank you so much. Though everybody in my house like animals but they feel that I am not going to take care of the animal and the whole responsibility of them from providing food to taking them for a walk will have to be performed by them. :( So they are against it.
2 people like this
@linlifeandlivin (71)
• Seattle, Washington
31 Aug 15
We always had at least one dog, one cat and sometimes birds or fish or whatever my parents wanted.
Now I hate pets.
2 people like this
@linlifeandlivin (71)
• Seattle, Washington
1 Sep 15
@Porcospino I guess I don't completely hate them... I just don't like the way they invade the personal space and I always feel dirty after petting them. Cleaning after them is a pain and just plain gross lol I can appreciate how cute they can be (though think alot of the "cute" things are just ... odd) but when I do find one that is cute (usually just the babies) I can play with and pet them... but then I feel dirty for days...
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
31 Aug 15
I have had pets since I was a young child. Very seldom was I without at least one pet and generally had at least 2 sometimes 3. Cats, dogs and a guinnea pig. I always loved them and took care of them.
My father was the pet lover in our family, my mother liked pets and was never unkind to them but she did not feel the same way my father, brother and I did. She never had a pet growing up that could explain part of it.
My children also have a love of pets of any kind and have some of their own even some horses.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
1 Sep 15
It is very nice to grow up in home with pets. In my family my mother was the big pet lover. Our dog was very attached to my father, but mother loves pets more than my father does.
@owstalaga (4707)
• Philippines
9 Sep 15
Yeah we had a lot of pets when I was a kid. We had dogs, turtles, rabbits and native chickens. No cats though, I wonder why. It was only when we moved to the province that I had a chance to pet cats.
1 person likes this
@owstalaga (4707)
• Philippines
9 Sep 15
@Porcospino Oh nice. Rabbits are so cute and cuddly!
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
9 Sep 15
My cousin kept turtles as pets in the past. I didn't have rabbits when I was a child, but I have many rabbits now.
1 person likes this
@fufurinha (11930)
• Portugal
31 Aug 15
I have my dog (German shepherd) since I was 11 years old. She is 12 years old now, she's getting old.
1 person likes this
