There are pet lovers, and there are real pet lovers.

Oh,Margie,You have about 50 +'s for this discussin! Everything you said is absolutely true!I do not consider my pets as pets,to me my kitty,birds ,and fishies,are my children.I love them as if they were my own. People who aren't animal lovers don't understand and are quick to tease and judge.I have a very deep love for them and they give me the same back. and I'm sure even my fishies do,too! I do not own them. Sometimes i think i belong to them.They are always there when i have no one to turn to and they accept me for who I am. They don't care how much I weigh or what I look like.I believe the human need to learn a lesson from them instead of looking down at them

Yes, I did love my pet, I was always there for my little dog and I miss him a lot since he passed away in January, it will take me a long time to get over the loss of him as I had him for 12 years he was my daughters dog first, and she paid a lot of attention to him, and always fed him, took him for walks, washed him and was a good owner until she had to move away and then I took over but we really loved our pet dog.

Maybe I fall somewhere inbetween. I love my animals, but they are almost like kids. They demand more attention than I can give them sometimes. No doubt, they are somewhat spoiled.

My friend Brenna teases me all the time about how much i spoil my cat, but I feel about her klike I feel about my daughter....you can't spoil them by giving them too much love and attention. Too many things, yes...too much attention, NEVER! Rain rules the roost and she knows it. She gets away with just about anything that won't hurt her...The kitchen counters are off limits, but that's about it. And, I do feel like I have to explain to her when I tell her no. I've only had her for six months and I hope they're right about how long indoor cats live, because now I can't imagine being without her.

well i love my dog 24/7 and he is spolied rotten

I totally understand where you're coming from with this. My mother does not understand when I talk about my cat Tara, as though she's a member of the family. Mom says "But she's just a cat." I say "No mom, she's also a member of the family, and if we had to get out of here fast, I would not leave without her." I meant every word of that and I still stand by it now. I don't go to extremes such as buying clothes or what I call "Bling" for her, but she is treated with respect. We respect her right to have love and attention when she craves it, and we respect her to give her space and time to sleep if thats what she wants to do. Even my kids respect that. My cat is the queen of the household, she knows that and acts as such. We all have no problem with that so why should other people?

I do hear you but ther eis also those that go WAY to far with loving their pet. My BIL is so into his dog that he calls his wife 3xday when he is out on a flight (He is a pilot) to see how his dog is doing, not his wife, his DOG. He prefers sleeping with the dog in their bed. Meaning under the covers and spoons their dog. They have a queen size bed, and the dog weighs a good 85 lbs....Not a small dog. Now our dog use to sleep with us too, but when we had kids we had to set up som eboundaries to ensure that our child had no harm to her. She did great, both of them and we loved our dog...but again, she was just a dog. we gave her love at all times, but not the extreme love that the BIL wouuld give his dog. They were robbed recently and their dog is a huge scaredy cat. She probably ran under their bed for safety. BIL came home and all he kept talking about was how much his dog was traumatized by the whole thing. He was not there, neiher was his wife but that is all they talked about...

Yea, Treating dogs should be very gentle. NOt just dogs but all pets. i allow m,y pets to get on my beds,ofas & treat her as my own child.

You did not offend me as I am a true animal lover.

I have always treated my pets as a family. I know some people thinks it is very wrong for us to feel this way about pets. I really do believe that they have feelings but might not understand what we are saying. Pets do keep me company.

I do love my dog very much and give her a lot of attention... but one thing is I had another dog, when I was a teenager, who ended up dying of cancer at the age of 6. I came home from school one day, and my mom had had the dog put to sleep. I was so distraught, I actually ran away from home (although I gave in and went back in a few hours!) and for the rest of the next two weeks I was just miserable and depressed... I couldn't stand to be at home without the dog, so I'd jsut walk around the neighborhood for hours until past dark. So my mom decided to get me another dog, which I agreed to , not to replace my first dog, but to fill in the missing energy in the house! We went to the animal shelter and a dog picked ME out! She looked a little bit like my first dog... the first dog was a black lab mix with white on her stomach and paws, and the new puppy was a lab mix with brown on her stomach and paws! I loved her right away. She was never a replacement for my first dog though. To this day, I still cry for my first dog sometimes... although I tell myself if Zip wouldn't die, I never would have met Chopper, which makes me just as sad! Sometimes at night I dream that Zip is alive again, and I have both dogs at the same time, and they are friends. Those are happy dreams.

I feel the same. I always treat my dog with respect and love. Sometimes I don't want to deal with petting and brushing and grooming. But I continue to because he is important to me and he makes time for me too. He dedicates his whole life to me and my family, so it is important to be thankful for his love too! Some people don't get that.

I'm totally the same way about my animals. I have 3 dogs and a cat, and they are all my babies. It would kill me if anything happened to one of them. I'm having a hard time right now because I have to move..my landlord sold my house.. and I have a great dane. Shes the sweetest thing, but nobody wants to rent to me because of her breed. Some people have said to find her another home because I need a place to live, but I love her like she's my child..it would break my heart. I'd rather live in a cardboard box than have to give her up. If I cant find a place, unfortunately, I may have to send her to live with a friend for a little while and find somewhere temporarily for us to stay until I can find a place where I can have all my babies. I will have to send her back to live with the friend I bought her from, so it will be someone she knows already and I know she would be taken care of very well, and I could get her back as soon as I'm able. I would never give her up completely...and I would go visit her all the time and try to take her for a little while and maybe sneak her into where I'm living for short visits. LOL I lost one of my babies last August..a rottie/shepard mix named Nicki..she had a big tumor and she was old, so I had to put her to sleep, and I still cry when I think of her. Luckily I got Daisy shortly before she got sick and I had to put her down, or I probably wouldn't have gotten Daisy, I would have been too sad. I'm glad I got her though, she's so sweet. She doesn't take Nicki's place, but she is special and a really awesome puppy. :O))

I think we should treat animals friendly.first.pets is our friends,when we feel annoying,pets can communicate with us,althould they cannot speaking ,some pets know people's feeling ,like dogs,some are gentle like cats.severl years ago,I have a dog, we sleep in a bed and I take him as my brother,but unforturenately,he lost .second ,pets can inspire our mercy.when I see a dog ,I will give some food ,and want him to my arm.as we know ,nowadays the relations between humans is becoming pool, if we pay more attention to our world as paying on pets,our world will becoming haminous

Yup .. I am one of those kinds of folks who .. completely 'share' my lifes experiences with my pet ... sadly I've now lost my two beloved cats .. they were so perfect that I know no other cat will come close to how they were so I prefer not to get a new cat .. I've always chosen my friends and boyfriends according to how they act around animals .. I can't and won't be friends with anyone who doesn't respect animals .. and I'll be on the phone an instant I know an animal is being abused in any way .. there is simply no need for it ..

I am a true pet lover. So much that a friend had to give away her pet cat she's had since he was a baby (2 years old now) and couldn't find him the best new forever home. She was leaving for a 2 yr tour in Iraq, but knew I could care for him and find him the best home without sending him to the pound. Bentley is such a sweetheart, but with 4 cats of my own in a small cottage, there's no room and no extra funds to have a 5th. He's half persian and half domestic, neutered, litter-trained, declawed in front, and has all his shots. I am picky and have turned down 2 people so far. Anyone in West Virginia or close by want this little loverboy? His catster info URL is: http://www.catster.com/cats/505219

I am a wacked out pet lover, but not to the point where I buy outfits for them and have doggie birthday parties etc. They do not go to spas and have thier toe nails painted either. I treat them as family with pet needs. Lots of love, room to run and play, free feeding and plenty of fresh water and of course kisses as you can tell from my avatar. lol