larryg@teklds.UUCP (Larry Gardner) (03/29/85)
I have something I want to bring up on net.pets. I have always loved animals, particularly dogs. As I was growing up however, my mother disliked animals and wouldn't let me have a dog; or when I finally would get one after years of begging, we would have it about a year and then it would have to go (my favorite dog she took out in the country and gave away without telling me). Well, when I finally moved out I got my animals. First a dog, then I bred her (she had 12 puppies). I kept one, then I got a cat, and when my room mate moves out I will have another cat. So I have a family of four. Well, the point is that my mom and my friends all think I am weird (some think I am disgusting) for living with all these animals (the dogs and cats all come inside). Now I try to keep my place clean, it's hard with the hair, but it isn't a pig pen. I am just tired of feeling like I am unacceptable to society because I want to live with animals. Two of my room mates moved out because of the dogs. I am looking for a room mate now but I feel that I am doomed to always live alone. Any comments? karen
smkindersley@water.UUCP (sumo kindersley) (03/31/85)
------- > Well, the point is that my mom and my friends all think I am weird (some > think I am disgusting) for living with all these animals (the dogs and > cats all come inside). Now I try to keep my place clean, it's hard > with the hair, but it isn't a pig pen. > > I am just tired of feeling like I am unacceptable to society because I > want to live with animals. > > Any comments? > karen i don't think you are weird. having a dog is a very important part of my life. what a great buddy! it is inescapable that there will be a number of people who dislike living with pets - their loss in my opinion, but their choice as well. i have never had a really bad time finding places to live with my dog but there have been lots of places that i couldn't live while i have a dog. always, even the most dubious roommates about living with a dog have come to love mine. which bring me to my other comment - are you sure your pets are socially competent? i know that the impeccable manners of my labrador have everything to do with her captivating my doubtful friends. when you own pets it is your responsibility to train them to be friendly and well behaved, that is if you are going to expose other people to them. no one (not me for certain!) likes living with obnoxious pets. other than that, just keep an eye out for roommates who are pet-people. they exist: people who can't own a pet for various reasons but vicariously enjoy yours! and i sympathize about the hair problem - and i only have 1 short haired dog! don't give up! sumo kindersley
gary@rochester.UUCP (Gary Cottrell) (04/01/85)
I live in a house with three Doberman's (my roommate's), two turtles, some fish, my dog and my new puppy. I don't think you are weird at all. However, the fact that two of your roommates have moved out "because of the dogs", and the fact that you didn't have a supportive family when you had dogs earlier suggests to me that, like my roommate's Dobermans, your dogs are not "roommate-friendly", in the following sense: Are they allowed on the furniture? Do they chew up your roommates's furniture? Are they allowed to jump up on people? I am not trying to be accusatory. It is simply that a lot of times, the owner of a dog fails to see when the dog's behavior is obnoxious to other people. Noticing this and training your dog to be more acceptable usually helps keep roommates happy. If you aren't guilty of any of the above offenses, then the other people are weird, not you. gary cottrell (allegra or seismo)!rochester!gary (UUCP) gary@rochester (ARPA)
elaine@hpmtlb.UUCP (elaine) (04/02/85)
You think that's bad? My SO and I have three dogs, three cats, and one nursing stray I picked up on the way home from work (total = 12 animals). My friends and coworkers think I overdo it a bit (especially with the strays), but it's my house, not theirs! By the way - I have a friend in Denver that has one or two dozen dogs (depending if she has a litter or not) including two adult Great Danes. Elaine May hplabs!hplvla!elaine
larryg@teklds.UUCP (Larry Gardner) (04/04/85)
What kind of manners are you talking about? karen
jrc@ritcv.UUCP (James R. Carbin) (04/05/85)
> > I have something I want to bring up on net.pets. > > I have always loved animals, particularly dogs. ........ > Well, the point is that my mom and my friends all think I am weird (some > think I am disgusting) for living with all these animals (the dogs and > cats all come inside). Now I try to keep my place clean, it's hard > with the hair, but it isn't a pig pen. > I am just tired of feeling like I am unacceptable to society because I > want to live with animals. Two of my room mates moved out because of > the dogs. I am looking for a room mate now but I feel that I am > doomed to always live alone. > Any comments? > > karen Look at this way. These people don't know what they are missing. I have only a cat, but she is truly one of the best "friends" that I have! When I come home from work, she is ALWAYS waiting for me! She makes few demands upon me outside of a regular supply of food and water, and a clean litter box. She refrains from making judgements about what I've done lately either at home, at work, or with my friends. She asks for so little and gives so much love in return. My own feeling is that if you are a responsible pet owner, you have gained a true friend for the rest of their life. Are you wierd? NO! I would wonder if some of those who are so critical of you are so self-centered that they couldn't possibly conceive of how someone could be be a responsible pet owner. as ever, j.r. {allegra,seismo}!rochester!ritcv!jrc p.s. As I post this article, my cat is lying on the couch next to me waiting for me to go to bed. And as far as hair, even though I only have one cat, she has long hair, so I can sympathize with you with the problem of keeping the hair swept up. But she is worth every bit of the effort involved.
larryg@teklds.UUCP (Larry Gardner) (04/05/85)
Gary, Well, if this is an area I can improve on, then I would like to. First let me say, that it was relayed to me that the dogs just should live outside, and their complaint was that my dogs just shouldn't live inside because it was "wrong" in their eyes. They also complained about the dog hair. o.k. to answer your other questions...the dogs used to be allowed on the couches (which were both mine) but I finally changed that rule and now they are not allowed on any furniture except my bed. They have not destroyed or chewed on anything belonging to any of mh room mates. Oh, they have also complained of the house smelling like dogs. (I personally like the smell of dogs). The dogs do not jump up on me but my 7 month old puppy has jumped up on people before. She wont do it to me because she gets a good kick in the tummy (not hard, but it does the job). I have told people to knee them but they don't like to do it. So I guess I could use some suggestions on how to keep Ruby from jumping on others. that's it, thanks for the comments, karen
toml@rlgvax.UUCP (Tom Love) (04/08/85)
regarding lots of animals - i would concur with the previous followup,
good training is very important. if you can't handle good training,
then keep the animals away from guests etc.
we have four dogs (a champion weimaraner, a beagle mix, an aged and
unfriendly-to-strangers chihuahua, and an unusual chihuahua-yorkshire
mix, the ugliest, friendliest dog in the world), a cat, a six-foot boa,
a turtle w/ misc fish, and numerous rodents (snake food). none of the
free-roaming animals are allowed on the furniture, all are well house
trained. when necessary (e.g. guests over for dinner) we segregate
the dogs off in their "own" room, mostly to eliminate the inevitable
begging for food and/or attention.
there is nothing unusual or weird about enjoying pets - in fact, i often
think that the people who don't like pets are suffering from some deep-
seated latent psychosis :-) however, training and cleanliness are
very, very important in order to avoid making bad impressions on guests
and cohabitors.
anyone else out there have a weimaraner, for show or otherwise?
tom love
computer consoles inc - office systems group
reston, va
{seismo | allegra | ihnp4} !rlgvax!tomlnonh@utzoo.UUCP (Chris Robertson) (04/08/85)
You are definately NOT weird! It's perfectly normal to have pets -- I always have lots of 'em, and so do most of my friends. As far as hair goes, brushing the dogs with a stiff bristle brush OUTSIDE (yep, on the doorstep, in winter) will help a lot. As long as the dogs don't make a nuisance of themselves (and yours don't sound as though they do), the weird people are your roomies, not you. Dunno what I'd do without my cats (say "no!" and "stop that!" a lot less, I guess... uh, what am I saying...!) --chris
boren@randvax.UUCP (Pat Boren) (04/09/85)
Personally, I tend to go with the "philosophy" I saw on a T-shirt: The more people I meet, the more I like my dog. :-) -- decvax!randvax!boren