Family Pets - question for all Pet Talk people

[pitc9]

I hear stories about when my dad was young and they had dogs, but they were left tied outside and the kids were not permitted to play with the dogs so that the dogs would be "mean" and protect them. Then when/if any kid got snapped at or bitten, my grandfather would. "Take the dog for a walk in the woods with a gun" It's hard to hear those stories and not feel anger towards him (my grandfather) but it's also hard to be angry with a man who I've never met! He died before I was born.

My mom grew up on a farm, they raised chickens but I don't ever remember hearing stories about any other animals.

As far back as I can remember growing up, we always had cats & dogs.
After raising 4 kids, they have the house to themselves now and have one of each now! I'm SURE they wouldn't want it any other way! Between me and my 3 sisters we have 7 dogs and 3 cats!

When I sent Toby to the bridge 11 months ago, my dad said something that I'll never forget. He told me that he misses Toby more than he missed his dad when he died.

[Taz_Zoee]

I'm not sure if my parents had animals growing up. But I do know my mom's mom always had a cat or two around. And my dad's mom had dogs. The two I remember were Bandit the pug and Benny the poodle.
But I ALWAYS had animals growing up. We had cows, pigs, horses, chickens, turkeys, dogs, cats, bunnies, goats (for a short time) and my sister had a bird for some years. Of course we always had a goldfish for a few months after the local fair came through town.
Most of the cows, pigs and chickens we had butchered and filled our freezers. (sorry) We never named the ones we knew would be food eventually. Of course we had the ones we did name and those remained pets.

[cmayer31]

Both my parents had dogs most of the lives, and my grandparents on my mom's side also had dogs. As far back as I can remember most of my relatives have had dogs. I guess I've done a good job keeping up the tradition.

[Laura's Babies]

I don't ever remember there not being a cat in the house. We had Tippy when we were very young, Pretty when we were older. My Grandmother always had a cat that she named from the Bible. You all know I have my Mom's kitty Boo right now, so I guess you could say we are generations of pet lovers. All my kids also have pets and so do my brother and sister.

[shepgirl]

Grandparents had horses and dogs, uncles had a dog and we had cats and dogs come and go as kids. We would drag home strays "just to give them a meal"- they ended up staying...

[IRescue452]

My grandmother grew up on a farm where they only had use for working animals. When she was about 10 her dog had puppies and her father made her drown them because they couldn't afford to have puppies around. Then when I was growing up I had an aunt my age who had bunnies (we were like 7). We always though they grew up and died but it turned out my grandmother had them slaughtered for meat once they got big. She just let us think they were pets as they were growing. They had a little dachshund at the time because it was a birthday present for my aunt. It barked a lot and I remember once seeing my grandmother out a window whipping the dog for barking. They ended up taking the dog to the vet to be put down when my aunt was in school, because it had one cancerous tumor and they didn't want to deal with vet bills. They told my aunt that the dog ran away.

Now my grandmother has two dogs that she loves, but she still could be a better pet owner, though I don't think she's ever whipped a dog again. My step-grandfather never had pets and still doesn't like them in the living room or on furniture, though he pets the dogs and laughs at their antics.

My grandfather on my mom's side has had several cocker spaniels he adores, but he hates cats and he always used to torment us kids with stories about swinging them by the tail and throwing them.

I don't remember anybody on my dad's side ever having pets. Not so much as a fish.

My mom and her brother were the pet people who always brought home different pets. The older two aunts didn't have pets until a few years ago. One now has two chihuahuas and a shepherd mix, the other has two min pin mixes or something like that, I've never met them. Both profess to absolutely adore their dogs.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

No one in my family is really big into animals like I am. My parents did have two cats before I was born and when I was very small (until they passed away) but other than that, the only pets we had growing up were the ones I BEGGED my parents for (a cat and a guinea pig).

Naturally, when I moved on my own I got the pets that I always wanted!

No one else in my family is really a big animal lover but I think my nephew is turning into one! He loves coming over to our house to play with our dogs and cats. It's really cool.

[moosmom]

Growing up I had TONS of pets. Turtles, gerbils, parakeets and two Airedale Terriers, Tinker's Terror and Samantha Nikki (Father and daughter). I also used to bring home alot of injured pigeons. That just about does it.

[DJFyrewolf36]

My parents have always had pets I have fond memories of my dads fish breeding projects and the dogs we always had. Growing up, there were at least three dogs! At one point we had four, but one sadly went to the RB because one of my brothers friends left the front gate open and he got out and a car hit him . My parents had cats too and my mom has always been a bird person. Not to mention the rats and lizards I had too I even kept grasshoppers lol.

My parents love animals, and love having them around. Both sides of my family are decendants of farmers and always believed that treating the animals right was the best way. My dad had vaious pets growing up and my mom had horses I know for sure.
My parents still have (or are owned by more accurately) birds, fish and two dogs. Mom even has a chicken

[Jessika]

I think my past generations have always had pets, and not just the "pet" pet but honestly loved their animals... but I'm the first HUGE animal nut I believe. Most of my family members take care of their pets and take them to see the vet annually but probably don't know anything about animal care or needs past training, feeding and watering lol

[shais_mom]

my mom and her side lived on a farm so they didn't have indoor pets - didn't really 'believe' in them. They had outside dogs and cats. And a pony at one time I believe.
My dad on the other hand - had baby pigs and lambs in the house - the token goose at a time.
Several dogs and cats. He still talks about their dog Trude who Grandpa used to let upstairs to wake him up and she didn't stop until she'd pushed him out of bed. He still talks about TC - (Top Cat) a cat they had that was 38 inches from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail who used to box with my grandpa when he tied his shoes, until Grandpa came away with bloody knuckles. And the time dad had spent the nite with friends at a Marathon Horror movies at the drive in and as he was putting the car away TC jumped from the rafters of the barn on top of his shoulders! And he didn't stop until he was upstairs under the covers - he left the barn door open as well as the house door!
Another time he had a bottle baby lamb that my great-great-grandma used to feed in her rocking chair. Well, that baby lamb turned into a 150 pound buck and Dad brought him into the house and he saw my great Great Grandma in her rocker and got all excited and came running at her and jumped into her lap- and knocked her and the chair clean over! my dad took off upstairs with the buck in close pursuit!!
The nite my grandma died we said that there were probably so many animals in her room to follow her to the Bridge that there wasn't room in there for anyone else! And she was buried with a copy of the Rainbow Bridge.

[CountryWolf07]

Yes.

My grandparents had a Black Lab, then a Chichuahua - My mom's parents.. My dad's parents always had dogs - from a Basset Hound to Beagles to Bloodhound to Alaskan Malamute..

Always been around dogs.

[cassiesmom]

There were two meezers in my family when my brother and sister were little. I believe my great grandparents had a dog. An aunt and uncle had a dog and another aunt has two cats.

[joycenalex]

karen, i laughed at reading about the oval warm spot. I'd come home early some days, and I'd find the dogs/cats sleep spot (varied by size) warm in areas where they shouldn't be(like my pillow)

[Casper]

I don't recall anyone in my ancestry to be pet people aside from a few on my dad's side.

My Dad, of course, was one of the biggest animal lovers I ever met. I could probably name off every animal he has ever had after hearing his stories so many times(and I never got tired of them, either!). While going through some stuff in the garage we came across a paper of his from when he was in grade-school, just learning how to write. It was all about his horse he had growing up and how he loved her so so so much. It was really sweet.

My grandmum(Dad's mum) especially had a love for dogs. She was not too awfully old when she was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis. At that time she had a dog that never ever left her side. He walked right beside her wherever she went and would nudge her hand until he knew she had a steady grip on his collar.

My great aunt, who took care of and watched out for my dad in his late teenage years, was the biggest cat lover... ever. I have heard a lot of stories about her, but the one that stuck out the most was the fact that when she died, her will stated that all the money in her possession(which was a very nice sum) was to go to a particular cat rescue.

I like to be reminded of all the stories I have heard about my family... its nice to know my sister and I are not the only animal lovers!