I'd like to say (I'm afraid I'm getting off the topic, too!) that I strongly agree with you, AntiPam, and I think that someone who shows disrespect (I'm not even talking about CRUELTY!) to animals is not trustworthy. My boyfriend adores animals and is all love and kindness to Sirocco, my own ginger kitty, even though he's fonder of dogs! I sometimes tell him that the affection he shows for animals makes me love him still better! He regrets we don't have a bigger house, b/c then we would be able to adopt a dog... and as some of you have explained, I thought I was a dog person till I had Sirocco, now I know I can't imagine living w/o one (or more!)
And, now... how I got him... I just moved from my parent's place last August and though I never had a pet, I knew it was the first thing I wanted to do when on my own... I was told that some neighbour of a co-worker had just kittens (well, her cat ) and I went and picked Sirocco up (in fact he was the only one who let me do that!) There were 5 siblings, and they're supposed to have a home already, but for Sirocco and a black one who was to stay with my colleague's neighbour. Sometimes I feel a bit guilty,for not having "rescued" a cat properly, though pet shelters here are not as organised as yours and they're plenty of dogs but there aren't so many cats (or naught) I am afraid that when you adopt a kitty from people whose queen has just have kittens, you're just saving the little thing (unless, they're pedigree of course, which wasn't the case!)

The best thing about Sirocco is the way I feel when I look at him when back form work or early in the morning when I wake up.. It "fills" me up with good thoughts and I realise I have to look after him, and that makes me even happier... And I think I stop now, I know everyone of you knows what I'm talking about!