Your family pets

[WebLady]

I think we did this a while back but figured there has been a lot of talk about pets lately so maybe we should do it again ...

Are your pets "just animals" or do you consider them more part of the family or even "kids"?

Do you take care of them like you would a child; restrained in the car, never let run wild, regular vet care, insurance, etc? Do you celebrate their birthdays and get them holiday gifts and such?

*poll coming ;)

ETA - My dogs are just as important to me as a child would be. My dogs are never out of my sight. We have insurance for them and they get regular vet care. We celebrate their birthdays and they get wrapped Christmas gifts. I probably take more pictures of my dogs than some people do of their kids.

I think of them when I have to go somewhere and when we make plans and such. I knew they would change our lives and be a big responsibility when we got them and DH and I discussed it in great length. I will do everything in my power to give them as long of and as happy and healthy a life as I can.

[Kfancii]

Our 4 are called our Fur-Kids. Since we don't have any human children (and don't want any either) we are content with our pups. They don't have insurance although I have looked into it, but we do hire a dog sitter at the rate of $60.00 a night to come and stay with them when we are away from home overnight. I also bake homemade dog treats for them and we feed them expensive "wholesome" food instead of the stuff you get at the grocery. They have complete run of the house and a doggie door so they can come and go as they please and generally at least 2 of them sleep in the bed with us at night. To say they are just a wee bit spoiled would be a huge understatement but I wouldn't have it any other way. Thankfully Mack feels the same way I do about dogs. :puppy:

[Nikita706]

You know, we LOVE our animals. Even all of our fish in our fish tank have names and we do a little burial service for them when they die. But inevitably, our pets do not share the bond that we share with our son. I always thought that I considered my cat (Demon) like my own child. However once I had my son, I realized that there was an entire range of emotions that I didn't know existed before he was born. And it's impossible to explain to anyone that doesn't have children. I always knew that I would love my son. Even when I was pregnant, I had no idea. But the second he was born, it was like nothing I'd ever experienced before. Yes, our animals are VERY important to us, and very well taken care of. They sleep in bed with us, in addition to their regular food, they get a can of canned food every night, they regularly visit the vet, etc., but if a situation were ever to arise, our son would come first, no questions asked.

[Dani]

All my life, the dogs we have had have always been part of the family. Now that I am 35 my dog is my child. She is never far from my thoughts, I want to please her, she sleeps in my bed, and gets something everynight for dinner besides her dog food. (I cook more for her than I do Doug! lol) I won't take her to the kennel for boarding, we had bad luck with that before with our other dogs (they came home sick).

She is my 5 year old golden who does nothing wrong (she is trained really well) and is the highlight of our lives. My office has about 20 or so pictures of her around my computer :)

When we come back from our honeymoon we will be getting another fur-child to add to our family. I can't wait!

[PGDesigns]

Our dogs are our kids.

Our furkids will be the closest thing to "skin kids" (as FH calls them lol) we want to ever experience. :)

While we do not currently have them enrolled in pet insurance, they have been in the past. Like Kelly's crew, our dogs also eat high-quality food that can not be bought at the grocery store. (For those of you wondering, most brands sold in grocery stores are full of fillers such as corn and are not healthy.)

Our plans revolve around them, and they generally travel with us. On the rare occasions that we aren't able to bring them along, we board them at the vet's because one of our girls is so scared of new people, she freaks out, and I do not trust anyone to watch her and make sure she doesn't get loose. They all love the staff at the vet's and actually enjoy being there, and the staff knows how much I worry about them that they make sure to spoil them while we're gone.

They sleep in bed with us, receive b-day and Christmas gifts, have life vests and seat belts. The little ones even have clothes because they get really cold in the winter, even here in Georgia. I have thousands of pictures of them (literally) on my computer and framed ones around the house. The oldest girl even serves as a "rescue ambassador" for local daycares, churches, and nursing homes.

They were all adopted from the local shelter where they would've died in the gas chamber. I'm currently putting together a "documentary" to show the violences our society imposes upon animals for my final project in my Sex, Violence, & Culture class.

OK, I just realized I wrote a book. Sorry! I tend to do that about my kids.:bbredface:

[WebLady]

I probably should have said this before but ... I just want to remind everyone to respect each others opinions and differences. (no one has done anything wrong yet, so no worries ;)) I was just curious how the average person thought, thus the poll.

So if you would rather just put in your poll vote and not reply, that is fine ... we just don't want this to be a debate between the pets as kids people and everyone else ... or any debate about what is or isn't a good pet owner :sweatdrop:

[WBandMe]

Our dog is our BABY. She is spoiled rotten, sleeps in bed, gets really good food, has little sweatshirts and jackets. We always put her in her doggie seatbelt in the car and she gets regular vet care and grooming. I'm sure like Nikita said if we had a baby in the house, it would be a different story, but I'm the youngest and I was 14 when we got her, so she's pretty much the priority now hehe. We plan trips around her and always stop to walk her and stuff on long car rides. We adopted her and our vet adopted her sister, so I'd imagine if we ever did need to leave her overnight we would board her at the vet's. She is 100% part of the family--in fact, FH has accused me of loving her more than him! :bbeek:

[Parhelion]

My FH and I have a grand total of seventeen pets--eleven gerbils (four of which will be rehomed once they're old enough), two Roborovski hamsters, two zebra finches, one leopard gecko, and a hyperactive ferret. We're both animal fanatics and give our furbabies a lot of love. They're a huge part of our family...and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Oh yeah...and we an on getting a rat after we get married. ;)

[KMS]

Our pets are as close to children as we will have for quite a while. We care about their health, nutrition, and happiness just as much as we do our own.

[Nekochanpurr]

While i LOVE my kitties, and call them my babies.. They would never take the place of a real child for me. If my child need hospitalization for an illness, i wouldn't care what i had to pay.. However, i would not give that same expense to my cats, though i love them. It would depend on age and their chances of making it.. They are spoiled rotten, though. Heh.

[smileyone2002]

we dont have any kids yet and we both brought a cat into the relationship and then we got our puppy and we consider him as our kid!! HAHA..I know it is pathetic but he is just too cute and depends on us way more than the kitty's do! :puppy:

[sjk1431]

mine are just like kids to me we won't be having kids for a while so we just have our animals.

[LadyDante]

We took Jasmin in from the street when she was 5 weeks old. And she was so starved that she couldn't even walk for more than 2 steps, and then fall over, also infested with fleas. We literally brought her back from being close to death to being a healthy spoiled 3 year old kitty. She is like my kid, and I am just as overprotective of her as if she was a child.

[ladymelissa]

Other... the cat has us trained. It's all about her.

[TangoWedding]

I said 'other' because my answer is different with Moxie than it was with my beagle, Malachi.

Moxie is my pet. I've had her for almost 4 years now and she's my dog...that's about it. I love her as a dog, but there's not that "connection". However, with my last beagle (who had to be put to sleep), it was WAY different. He was my dog-child and one of the favorite parts of my life. His dying broke my heart into a thousand pieces - I've honestly never cried so much over anything in my life.

So yeah. Different dogs, different relationships, for me.

[BrideInCuffs21]

My friends think I am nuts when it comes to my baby Polaris but he is just like a child to me.... my baby is a malamute and Ill tell you what this dog has a personality just like a human...

ok so how is he like a child, well...

1. The spare bedroom at the house with a queen size bed... yup its his he gets up on the bed with a blanket and pillow and sleeps there

2. Where ever I go he goes, except work and school

3. When FH and I are both at work he goes to grandmas house for the night

4. He has his own little bed area in the livingroom but also sits on the couch with you

5. When you talk to him he wil actually answer you back and can howl and it sounds like 'i love you'

6. If you are in another room he will come into the room with you; whether you are on the computer, in the shower, or on the toliet.

7. He will sit, lay watch TV; whether he is actually watching it or not his face and eyes are fixed towards the tv

8. He will shake hands

9. He throws temper tantrums when he does get what he wants whether its to go outside or a treat

10. If his bowl is empty of food or water he will come and get you'

11. If you say 'go outside' or 'go for a ride' he will go to the appropriate door for either of them

12. He can drink out of a glass himself

13. He loves his carrots

14. He loves his 'wooby' a fuzzy squeaker toy its his security toy

15. When you say 'going to day camp' he goes to the back door and gets leash because he knows he is going to the groomers. Which he goes on a monthly base

16. He gets jealous if he smells another dog on you

17. He knows how to give guilt trips really well... the moopy, droopy sad face he can do is unreal and exactly like a child pouting

18. He knows how to push your buttons; when he digs holes in the backyard the look on his face of 'who me?' Or the day he tore up a bag of potting soil, ugh that was a mess!!!

19. He wears scarfs with a different theme every month

20. When he is home by himself for a couple hours, a radio is left on for him

What can I say I love him and a little obsessed but I would be the same way for a real kid.... hahaha...

[BamaBride]

maggie (teacup chihuahua) lives with FH and his parents (they have 7 chihuahua's and she was one of the babies) I talked him into keeping her so she's been "ours" ever since she was born she just lives w/ him. Well she's spoiled like a kid, she gets eggs for breakfast, her own KFC or Chik-fil-a for lunch, and whatever were having for dinner. BUT FH's parents are like killing her b/c they feed her all this she's a 4 lb teacup chihuahua LOL. We have talked about it and she's going on a diet when we get our own house. Theres no point now when her "grandparents" are around lol.....gaaah they give her little debbie cakes....aww i bet she's sleeping on my FH's head right now lol

[Danielle9608]

Ditto is defiantly like a child to us. If we are going to be gone long (more then a couple of hours) we either take her to my mothers or take her over to the neighbor's house. She goes to the vet more often then I see my doctor. She sleeps in her own ditto sized bed, complete with pillow and blanket. She receives Christmas presents and attends every family function.

[bichonlvr]

I was torn...for sure part of the family...but really come on the kids come first, right??? I guess if you don't have kids! But if there was a fire, I would grab kids first, right?!??!?!

[WebLady]

I was torn...for sure part of the family...but really come on the kids come first, right??? I guess if you don't have kids! But if there was a fire, I would grab kids first, right?!??!?!
OK, I really don't want to upset anyone here and I hope my views are not taken the wrong way or anything ... I just don't understand why this sort of thing even comes into question. There was never anything asking if anyone would choose pets over their kids.

But if you (all the "yous" are in general here) are in a dangerous situation why wouldn't you get the kids and the pets out? Everyone should have an emergency escape plan that would get everyone (you, pets and kids) safely out of the house.

I don't have kids, but if I had my niece with me and there was a fire or something I would make darn sure to get her and I as well and my dogs out safely; there is just no question about it. As much as I don't care for my mom's dog, I would do my best to make sure he got out of the house if something were happen over at their place.

[Nikita706]

I was torn...for sure part of the family...but really come on the kids come first, right??? I guess if you don't have kids! But if there was a fire, I would grab kids first, right?!??!?!

I thought this exact thing, and I agree. It's easy when you have no kids to say 'my pets are everything', but seriously, if you had to choose, like say your animal was attacking your child, or if your house was burning down and you had to choose, I don't think anyone would say 'Sorry son, but the dog (or cat) is just as important'. Yes, I would absolutely be fighting to the death to make sure my animals are safe and well-taken care of, but i'm sorry, nobody compares to my son. Frankly, I'd be shocked to see a parent that felt otherwise. I really don't want to offend anyone, but that's what I thought of when I saw the original question.

[Nikita706]

But if you (all the "yous" are in general here) are in a dangerous situation why wouldn't you get the kids and the pets out? Everyone should have an emergency escape plan that would get everyone (you, pets and kids) safely out of the house.

I don't have kids, but if I had my niece with me and there was a fire or something I would make darn sure to get her and I as well and my dogs out safely; there is just no question about it. As much as I don't care for my mom's dog, I would do my best to make sure he got out of the house if something were happen over at their place.

In an ideal situation, yes, of course I would get all of my animals out safely too, but if you had to make 2 trips in, I think most people would choose their children first, then their pets. Saying that your pets are like a child, to me, implies that there would be a question in your mind as to whether you would grab your dog or your child first.

[WebLady]

I thought this exact thing, and I agree. It's easy when you have no kids to say 'my pets are everything', but seriously, if you had to choose, like say your animal was attacking your child, or if your house was burning down and you had to choose, I don't think anyone would say 'Sorry son, but the dog (or cat) is just as important'. Yes, I would absolutely be fighting to the death to make sure my animals are safe and well-taken care of, but i'm sorry, nobody compares to my son. Frankly, I'd be shocked to see a parent that felt otherwise. I really don't want to offend anyone, but that's what I thought of when I saw the original question.
Well anyone that thought this about the post/poll question completely missed the point ... the reason for this post was to get a general idea of how others think of their pets.

I know people with and without kids that consider their pets part of the family and even refer to them as their "kids" In fact, I know what lady that has 2 children and a dog and tells people she has 3 kids :p

I have known others (again, with and without kids) that have a dog or a cat and hardly pay any attention to it let alone know where it is through out the day and just put out food and water for it.

Then there are varied areas in between too; so I was just curious what was more common. This has nothing to do with caring for your kids.

Perhaps this is the wrong place for such a topic; so before anyone else gets riled up, offended, upset or further defensive of their views, I will just close the thread.