Does this bother you too?

[COCatMama]

spider plants are hard to kill

[Uabassoon]

I thought so too until my spider plant died.

[moosmom]

I was just joking. I've had people tell me he's ugly. I don't really take offense. I think he's pretty cool! If he didn't have such bad eyes because of a herpes virus due to neglect from his breeder, he'd look alot different, but still hairless. I think he's very unique and wherever I take him, he gets ALOT of attention. He's a people magnet and he loves it.

[Uabassoon]

I've always thought sphynx cats were cute. Granted they are a little strange looking, but I still think they are cute. I'd like to own one someday, they are supposed to have great purrsonalities.

[toughCookie]

Because I've read that having cats when children are young are less likely to develop allergies and asthsma.

not true, my nephew had bad asthma when he was very young, and allergies to cats, and they had a cat in the home, had to give it away

Lalania, it would be wonderful if all children could have cats and dogs, and whatever other pets, but it is just not possible in alot of cases, situations. I don't think it's reason to get mad at people because they choose to not have pets.

I used to think hairless looked odd too, but, now I don't think so.when my mom first saw Cassie, she said "that's the ugliest cat I ever saw!" (not hairless but looks different from the others)
but it didn't take her long at all to love her too.

[Aspen and Misty]

Originally posted by Lalania
umm that sounds like animal neglect to me! if one of my 'friends' treated their pet like that, I wouldn't be their friend anymore....

I know that it is neglect. The dogs name is Molly. If you go here http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...threadid=18716 then you can read all about Molly's story.

Ash

[Aspen and Misty]

I am in LOVE with sphynx my sister wants one and I have to admit at first I was like Ummm NO. Now I am like lets get one! AWWW I just love them! They are so pretty!

Ash

[Uabassoon]

toughCookie, I didn't say they NEVER devlop asthma or allergies just that it is less likely. There are a few different studies that have been done on that. Here's one link from MSNBC

kids and cats

[toughCookie]

I wasn't arguing the matter with you, I was just telling you that it's not true in my nephews case. I didn't realize that it mattered to you. my nephew doesn't have a cat anymore and I don't have kids so...don't need to read the study.

[Twisterdog]

My parents don't have pets anymore, now that all the kids are grown. They let us have dogs and birds and fish when we lived at home, though. My parents love my dogs and birds, and like to come visit them, they are simply to the stage in their life where they'd rather not have pets to tie them down. They certainly got the pets for us kids, but they also made sure these animals were cared for, for their entire lives.

I think it is FAR, FAR worse for uncommited parents to get a pet "for the kids, to teach them responsiblity", than to not have a pet at all. What these parents usually teach their kids is that its ok to get a living creature, treat it well until the "new wears off", then either toss it in the backyard, let it die from neglect, or take it to the shelter. Every pet I've gotten "for my son", I was firmly aware that the responsibility was ultimately mine for the animal, him being a child and me being an adult. But there's a lot of parents that view "the kids' dog" they same way the view "the kids' bike" or "the kids' scooter" ... amusing for the kids for a while, but when they lose interest, it's just in the way and we'll get rid of it and get something new. These people should NOT have pets, they are doing their kids NO favors.

P.S. I LOVE Chinese Crested dogs ... I hope to get one someday.

[aly]

Originally posted by Twisterdog


I think it is FAR, FAR worse for uncommited parents to get a pet "for the kids, to teach them responsiblity", than to not have a pet at all. What these parents usually teach their kids is that its ok to get a living creature, treat it well until the "new wears off", then either toss it in the backyard, let it die from neglect, or take it to the shelter. Every pet I've gotten "for my son", I was firmly aware that the responsibility was ultimately mine for the animal, him being a child and me being an adult. But there's a lot of parents that view "the kids' dog" they same way the view "the kids' bike" or "the kids' scooter" ... amusing for the kids for a while, but when they lose interest, it's just in the way and we'll get rid of it and get something new. These people should NOT have pets, they are doing their kids NO favors.

AMEN SISTER! Couldn't have said it better.

[Cookiebaker]

Twisterdog, you said it so much better than I did. That is exactly what I was thinking!! Thanks.

[moosmom]

Right on Twisterdog!!!

[COCatMama]

IMO, People like that shouldn't have KIDS either!

[COCatMama]

Not everyone *wants* to have children, nor can everyone actually *have* children. Sorry to hear she is unwell but as I said before my mom was a single parent and did it on her own and had a MESS of plants and we had several birds/fish/rodents and then my first dog. And btw, I pay my own rent, and bills and have no BF/Husband living with me, My mom only helps me minimally as she has to pay *her* own bills all by herself. And with African Violets you have to make sure not to get water on the leaves as it kills them, pour the water into the dish at the bottom . I do not work two jobs because I don't *need* to but I *do* work full-time. Next year I may go to night school a couple of times a week too. And I have heard hairless animals cause less allergy attacks and I am aware it's the dander that's a trigger, and NOT the fur. I believe some kinds of poodles are supposed to be good for allergic people? I can't remember.

I still maintain that if you can't afford one kid, you shouldn't keep having them. I only have one dog despite so many telling me to get another one, I can't afford food and vet bills etc for two dogs, and I was lucky to find a place to live that would allow Juneau. He is my only 'pet' and will be for a long time.

Originally posted by Karen


Any plants given to my sister die within a month, from lack of water. Would you wish that on an animal? She is currently recovering at home from surgery, and called me to say someone sent her some very pretty African Violets - and how sad she was that the person had unknowingly sent them to their doom! (I told her maybe her daughter, age 8, could be taught to water the poor things.)

She is a grown person, a responsible person, and manages a lot. Tell you what - once YOU have children, ( and in her case two jobs) then you can argue whether that automatically makes you have time for a pet! And by the way, it's the skin - the dander - that causes allergies, not the hair itself.

To each his or her own decision. I honestly believe that.