For some reason, It really burns my uhhh ears when I see a family with 4958495 skin kids and not one single bird/fish/hamster/cat/dog/pet rock. It makes me reeeeeealllllly sad. I was raised as an only child in a single parent home and tho most of my childhood was spent in apartment type dwellings we ALWAYS had pets of SOME kind, even tho my mom has allergies! We had budgies, fish, and I had several hamsters at different times. Then we moved out to the 'burbs and I finally was able to have the dog I had always wanted! I got my first dog when I was 10 years old. I am TOTALLY mystified by people that don't like animals at all, I have to wonder what kind of people they are being afraid of a dog or cat is a different matter entirely mind you....