Born or Made?

[Alysser]

I voted for 'born loving them all' because I think that's what happened to me. My baby book has pictures of me laughing at dogs and cats from 3 months +.

[Catherinedana]

But Karen, you forgot the option "Born a Crazy Bird Lady"

[Taz_Zoee]

I've always had a pet around. Living in the country we had dogs, cats, rabbits, cows, horses, chickens, roosters, turkeys and for a short time goats.
At first I was more drawn to cats. My sister was the dog person. While I liked dogs I never really bonded with any we had. Until I got Zoee. She is MY first dog.

But I have a friend that saw her mom get attacked by a dog when she was 11, so she has a fear of ALL animals. A co-worker brought her cockatiel to work one day because it was sick and my friend wouldn't go near it. I've tried to talk her into doing something to get over this fear. She now has a two year old daughter and her husband would really like to get a dog for her to grow up with. So far that hasn't happened. I wish I could just flip a switch and she wouldn't be afraid anymore. It's just sad for her daughter.

[Casper]

I would have to say I was taught to love animals.

When I was little, I was terrified of dogs. Any size; it didn't matter. Over the years my dad would tell me stories of the dogs he grew up with, and the thought of having a dog grew on me. By the time I was 9 I was begging and pleading for a dog for Christmas. Thats when Frisk came along, and he changed everything.

My love of cats didn't come on its own. Not long after I got Frisk, my parents let my sister get a cat -- Melani. She's one of those cats that love one person (my sister), and barely tolerates everyone else. Nevertheless, she weaseled her way into my heart... and to this day, I still don't know how! A couple of years passed before a tiny little kitten followed my sisters' friends to the house and darted in the front door, straight to the cat food, and began chowing down like he lived here. I bet you can guess where this is going! That would be Khaith, my first cat.


I am happy to say that I now love all animals, and I find it so hard to fathom how I used to be!

[Cataholic]

I love all animals, but I am beyond crazy for cats. I can't get enough of them.

I have a sister-in-law that was what I can only describe as animal averse. She shyed away, shoo'd away, sat away from my cats, my father's dogs...just obviously a disliker of animals.

Then, my brother rescued two kittens. Chocolate and Milkshake. They were ONLY allowed on the screened in porch. HE took care of them, she wanted no part. This was a about 15 months ago. They now have FOUR indoor cats. They have furniture for cats, pet sitters with explicit directions, calls to me with cat questions, just total cat immersion. It is quite bizarre. When she comes over, all my cats are attended to and she routinely tries to steal my love bug, Cali.

The weirdest, bizarre thing I have witnessed as it comes to animals. It also proves my theory the only person that doesn't love a cat doesn't know a cat. LOL.

[MonicanHonda]

I was only allowed small animals (hamsters/fish/anole) as a child but ALWAYS wanted a dog. Even as a tiny baby, my first phrase was "bye bye doggy". My parents tolerate animals but don't like them. Lol They wonder how I became such an animal lover.

[wolf_Q]

I was defintely born an animal lover. From the time I could hold a crayon I was drawing dogs, cats, and lots of other animals. You could ask any of my teachers from kindergarten on and they'd say I was an animal nut. I drew animals on all my homework and I remember making little dogs and cats out of mud and giving it to a teacher ha ha.

I've been crazy about wolves as long as I can remember and always dreamed of having my "wolf-dog" which turned out to be huskies. I was sick a lot as a child so I couldn't really play that much with other kids so my mom got me a dog when I was two - Smokey the poodle. He turned out to be her shadow, not really "my" dog but I still loved him.

We were never allowed any pets besides dogs and I had a few fish so I don't know too much about small animals/birds. Honestly I have no desire to ever have any of them as pets (no offense to anyone) they are just not for me. I've pet-sat some birds and guinea pigs before and my sister had a hamster so I have a little experience with them. I've always thought lizards were neat but I'm not sure I'd get them. I don't dislike pets besides dogs/cats I'd just much rather have dogs or maybe cats. I do really like cats too, they are a lot of fun, but considering I'll probably always have huskies I'm not sure I'll ever have a cat. I kind of have a paranoia of them peeing in the house all the time because it seems I read/hear about that happening a lot too, more than dogs it seems, but I don't know for sure. I think it would be cool to have a horse or a goat, but I don't know anything about them, maybe down the road if I had a lot of land. Right now I don't want any more pets, period, four dogs is more than enough. All in all, I'm definitely a dog person.

[MonicanHonda]

Wolves have ALWAYS been my absolute favorite animal (besides my dogs ) My absolute dream job was to be a wolf biologist <3 Such gorgeous amazing creatures.

[Marigold2]

Growing up on a farm I have had cows, horses, pigs, ducks, geese, rabbits, dogs, cats. Now we have hamsters and birds, fish, hermit crabs, gecko, rabbits and cats.
I love them all. Each one is special.
My heart has always been pulled to the huge cats, tigers and lions, snow leopards. How I wish I would have dedicated my life to them.

[Roxyluvsme13]

I said born loving them all.

I wanted a dog from the time that I knew dogs existed. And then as I've encountered other animals, I've definitely loved them too.

[mrspunkysmom]

I was born cat person but I think that love and respect of creatures is also taught. I respect all life, but I understand cats.

[Catlady711]

I would have voted 'born loving them all' except that I'm not a fan of lizards at all, not overly fond of monkeys either, and can't get quite as attatched to most fish or birds as I can other critters.

I love pretty much most things with fur/hair, cats, dogs, guinea pigs, degus, big hairy spiders (as long as they aren't crawling on me), boa constrictors, porcupines, turtles, as well as the typical exotic cuties (koala, panda, penguins, cougar, bears, etc).

[luvofallhorses]

I was born an animal lover.

[Vette]

For as long as i can remember ive always been more of a dog person

[kokopup]

I think most people and domestic animals are born to love all animals and then their environment will foster or blunt that love. I have seen in both people and animals, especially cats where they are afraid of every thing and every body. I have seen one cat out of a litter that from day one will hide and not socialize with anyone. When they are born this way no amount of socializing will change that. I have seen the same traits in humans. My niece from day one was afraid of every thing and everybody. She is 23 now and is still afraid of all animals and shys away from people. Envirnoment is a big influence but some times there is an innate fear built in that can't be changed.