What Pet?

1. 67

   Ultimate Hubberposted 15 years ago

   What do you have as a pet? Share with us.
   
   I have a turtle as pet.

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      Jawa Lunkposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I used to have a reject farm with 1 dumb dog, a three legged cat, 15 chickens, and a hen who thought she was a rooster...

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   2. 68

      norlawrenceposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I have a dog, cat, horse  and 2 birds

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2. 83

   Whitney05posted 15 years ago

   This would be good to go in the pet category. I think there's already a topic that's similar to this one.
   
   http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/2425
   
   
   My pet list is now:
   
   many leopard geckos
   many crested geckos
   1 gargoyle gecko
   1 p. bastardi gecko
   1 ball python
   2 rosy boas
   3 pac man frogs
   2 cherryhead red footed tortoises
   2 russian tortoises
   4 dogs

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3. 70

   Jeffrey Nealposted 15 years ago

   2 Dogs
   2 Cats indoors
   2 not quite feral stray cats outdoors
   2 fish

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4. 95

   rmcrayneposted 15 years ago

   2 dogs, both rescues:
   
   Boykin Spaniel, Hope
   Chocolate Dapple Dachshund, Sebastian

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5. 60

   tksenseiposted 15 years ago

   2 cats, one Wolfgang.

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6. 0

   Justine76posted 15 years ago

   2 dogs 1 cat 8 chickens 6 rabbits

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7. 60

   tksenseiposted 15 years ago

   Just to stir up a little discussion:
   
   Anything other than a dog or a cat doesn't count as a 'pet.' They are just animals you keep around.
   
   
   And cats just barely make the cut.

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      EmpressFelicityposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Ooooh, I resemble that remark!
      
      [3 cats, one of whom is my avatar]

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   2. 0

      Justine76posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      
      so, whats your criteria for pet?

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   3. 70

      Jeffrey Nealposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I keep trying to tell the wife this, but it's not getting through.

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   4. 83

      Whitney05posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I beg to differ. But whatever floats your boat.  If you're looking at affection, some tortoises are quite affectionate and will come up to you to have their head rubbed and to be fed. If it's personality, then again some tortoises are quite personable. Same with other reptiles.

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      1. 67

         Ultimate Hubberposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Exactly! And I have been writing an article for a website in which this one is a strong point for not releasing pet turtles into the wild.

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8. 86

   rebekahELLEposted 15 years ago

   we brought home a new pet this weekend, a beautiful lab mix, shiny black, a year and a half. he's so wonderful, loves our backyard where he can go explore freely. we got him from one of my sons neighbors who was keeping him until he could find him a good home.... and we were just waiting for the perfect dog to show up, and he showed up!!
   
   not pets, but we do have a black racer in the yard, a tortoise who has dug a hole by the side of the house, lizards, squirrels, birds from the north, ducks, sand hill cranes... they're all around here.

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   1. 67

      Ultimate Hubberposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Lucky you! for having so many other animals in your yard. I would have loved it if I could have them in my backyard especially those ducks and cranes.

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9. 70

   Song-Birdposted 15 years ago

   One wonderful, loving, cuddly cat!

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10. 69

    jayjay40posted 15 years ago

    A Jack Russel dog, 3 cats and a goldfish called Spot

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11. 61

    Drwibbleposted 15 years ago

    Over the last month I have had a cat adopted me as its owner.
    In the flat beneath ours, the neighbour owned a big fat black cat along with his two dogs. However, he got in financial difficulties, sold his flat, moved out with the dogs but left the cat behind to fend for itself.  I noticed this previously fat cat was rapidly becoming a very skinny cat, this was when I realised it was abandoned. Phoned the local cats home but they are totally full with abandoned cats and as it is an elderly cat (grey whiskers, grey hair in her fur) it will most likely had to be put down. Not happy with that scenario, I have now de-wormed and de-flead it and feeding to gain its trust. It now purrs at my door to be let in, however, it is still nervous with any sudden noise.

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    1. 83

       Solarasposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you for taking care of the kitty.

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12. 60

    tksenseiposted 15 years ago

    Dogs 'evolved' alongside humans for thousands and thousands of years, developing an understanding, connection, and level of communication with humans that is unmatched in any other domesticated animal. Some domesticated cats are capable of a degree of this (though only when they damn well feel like it!). All other 'pets' just happen to be there when their human owners project feelings they want onto creatures who don't understand and couldn't care less in any case.

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    1. 83

       Whitney05posted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Correct, but that doesn't mean that other animals cannot be considered pets. Dogs don't know that they're pets, neither do cats. Dogs and cats could care less because they can get affection from other animals and from themselves. Dogs and cats both can go wild when left to their own devices, and it's pretty dang hard to re-domesticate a wild dog or cat. They'll run from you and don't want anything to do with you. I've seen some wild dogs that will attack you when you walk out of your door.
       
       A friend of mine had a pack od wild dogs, that were once domestic dogs but got loose and just started living in the woods, turning wild. They couldn't walk outside without the dogs running up growling and trying to attack. They had to shoot everyone of them one by one in order to be able to walk outside.
       
       I wouldn't consider those dogs pets even though they were once someone's pet. They lived in the wild so long they became wild.
       
       Anyway... I don't think it's right to say no animal can be a pet except a dog or cat... What about horses who run toward you when whistled at or hear their name called? What about mini pot belly pigs who are trained to do tricks like dogs and love to see you when you get home from work? Are these animals not pets?

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       1. 60

          tksenseiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          No, they are not. They have been conditioned to react in a certain way to certain signals but they cannot connect or communicate with humans the way dogs can. I guess there's nothing wrong with keeping certain animals around if doing so doesn't create a risk to them or to humans, but IMO they are not pets.

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          1. 83

             Whitney05posted 15 years agoin reply to this

             That's crazy... I mean horses have been domesticated to live with humans just as dogs have, yet you deem them not pets? Very odd to me.  I can understand how you feel snakes or animals that have virtually no affection or care that you're there, but when it comes to animals that want you there and react to you, how is that not a pet? They are just as social and caring. Fancy rats, ferrets, hamsters, rabbits, some tortoise species, cockatiels, conures, parrots, parakeets, and so many other animals are very social to people.
             
             To me, if you're spending your time and money on the animal, it's a pet, especially if it going to show you affection.

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             1. 60

                tksenseiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                I do not. They are work animals and have been domesticated for that role, not as companions.

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                tksenseiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                No, this is just the projection I mentioned before.

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    2. 0

       Justine76posted 15 years agoin reply to this

       thats makes sense, but what difference does it make? If it makes somebody happy to think thier animal loves them back, I dont think there is really a problem with it? I think of a "pet" as something you pet. A dog is more of a companion.

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13. 0

    sneakorocksolidposted 15 years ago

    We raise cats as a cash crop and sell them to chinese take-outs. It a very easy way to make money while watching TV at home!

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14. 78

    Katelyn Weelposted 15 years ago

    I think pets could also be considered a hobby, like in the case of fish. I keep african cichlids and though they aren't affectionate (about as friendly as piranhas)  they are definitely more than just decoration!
    
    Any animal that lives in your house (with your permission) is a pet. I think I had a pet rock once when I was little...does that count?

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    1. 70

       Jeffrey Nealposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       I kept African cichlids for several years.  Before them, I never knew fish could be as interesting as these, even though I've always had some sort of fish around.

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       1. 78

          Katelyn Weelposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Yeah me too, I just sit and watch them.. its better than TV haha

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15. 0

    B.C. BOUTIQUEposted 15 years ago

    a "herd" of German Boxers
    1 , 17 yr old Irish setter/collie mix
    2 cats  ( a black kitten and a huge orange/gold striped tabby cat )
    2 lionhead rabbits
    1 mini-rex rabbit
    1 husband ( lol )

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    1. 67

       Ultimate Hubberposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       

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16. 61

    Luciendaskyposted 15 years ago

    A yortis I mean a tortoise (whose name is Yortis)

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17. 0

    B.C. BOUTIQUEposted 15 years ago

    Technically, since their dogs, it would be a "pack"..but it sure seems like a "herd" somedays... 

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18. 78

    Nera Woodsposted 15 years ago

    We have two dogs -- named them Asia and Europe.

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19. 0

    B.C. BOUTIQUEposted 15 years ago

    I almost forgot, its not my pet, its my daughters, but I spend alot of time with it ( and any money I can afford, just like my pets )
    1 appaloosa pony

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20. 61

    Gemsongposted 15 years ago

    I have a dog and two cats. The dog was abandoned but now she's healthy and my best girl.
    
    The cat Rajah was given to us when we moved into our house 15 years ago. He's started showing his age. I can't believe Idid it but I bought him a sweater since he seems to have a hard time keeping warm. He also has a skin condition that means his fur isnt thick enough to keep him warm.
    
    The other is Dragon a cat that was found in the bushes near our house as a kitten. He was so small he was barely weaned and I fed him with an eyedropper. Of course he is now huge.
    
    Any non human that share your life and your love is a authentic pet. I think that is what is important.

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21. 71

    E. Nicolsonposted 15 years ago

    A cockatiel named Milo who has the run of the place, but prefers to sit on a human shoulder.

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22. 70

    NaomiRposted 15 years ago

    We have a cat named Maya.

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23. 54

    wrenfrost56posted 15 years ago

    2 rat's. There called gismo and sniffargus.

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24. 71

    clivewilliamsposted 8 years ago

    6 leeches
    Flies
    6 Mosquitoes

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