What I learned from my Pets

[Eddie Munson]

I'll post a story in a little bit if that's okay Actually could I just give the link that leads to my own pet subject?

Sure c:

[Hawkfire.]

Ok thanks c: I'll just need to get that up and ready lol

[QUITTING DELETE ME]

Well, this is about all my pets, really.

My rats: Don't put your finger in a cage
My goldfish: everything to do with dodgy pet shops is bad
Minstrel my cat: Even old things are fun
Garfield: Love is irreplaceable
Emily: Everything's totally unique

[IAmLink]

What I learned from Okami, my Shiba Inu:

Not all dogs are the same and, therefore, can not be treated and trained the same.
The "heavy hand" method that I have grown up with, is not nearly the best option when training.
Dominance does not apply to the relationship between dogs and humans.
Shibas are proud, so better you respect that pride if you want respect in return.
Shibas are not your normal "dog", they would rather be your partner instead of your pet.
If a Shiba Inu doesn't want to do something, they're not going to do it.
Keep an open mind: what may seem like unreasonable aggression and anger, may really only be a fear and insecurity.
Real training takes time, work, and patience; and the results are well worth it in the end.
It's the small things that matter most.

Here's my girl (do NOT steal my pictures!!):


"Get that camera out of my face, I'm sleeping here!"


Yes, she is in fact sleeping like that. Completely knocked out:

[Shenan_the_cat]

Well, I own this lovely black lab called Harley and she thinks she's a cat, because she was raised by two cats after we brought her from her mum. She sleeps with her head in my brothers shoes and can't get enough of cat nip.

[The True Werewolf]

my pets taught me to take in life step by step and to love everyone no matter what. They have also taught me to be strong and to let nothing get me down in life. They have also before I had friends taught me the true meaning of love and friendship. I have also seen these characteristics in wild animals as well, I have witnessed a mother coyote defending her young from a mountian lion knowing very well that she could have been killed. I have seen a mother deer lift up her child onto it's legs to help it to walk when it stumbled. I have seen so many things that have taught me as I watched them.

[Farrah]

I used to have a pitbull mix named Cassie. She was all white, except for a parchment-colored strip down her back, and she had the saddest eyes. Cassie had run away from home (or so we suspected) and lived in the wild for a long time, avoiding the animal control as well. When she finally got caught, she was sent to the pound. My mom saw her, a cute little puppy, huddled as far back into her cage as she could go, with her sad eyes staring at my mom. She got spayed (i think that's how you spell it), cleaned off, put in a flea bath, and given all of her shots, and then my mom took her home. My sister decided on the name Cassie; it was either that or something like Salt (my uncle has a dog named Pepper). Cassie lived with me from the minute I was born. She washed my ears and feet, and took care of me, accepting me into the family. She was always more wary of men than women (which made for a suspicion that the home she ran away from was an abusive one), and she was extremely patient with me and my brother. The only time I can recall when she warned us was when my brother was tugging on her tail.

Then, when I was in third grade, Cassie stopped barking when the doorbell rang. We didn't think much of it, but it was the beginning of Alzheimers. She began to forget things. There was medicine we could have given her, but it wouldn't have been able to reverse what had happened. My poor sister, my caretaker, my dog, was going to be put down. On a school day.

In the morning, I practically ate outside (we had to keep her there). I sat and petted her, hardly able to believe that this would be my last time to see her, last time to ever see this wonderful dog, who was always gentle and kind. I cried. I didn't want to go to school, because when I did, I would never see my friend again. She just layed there, content and quiet. When I left for school, I was trying really hard not to cry. I almost burst into tears twice that day, and when I got home, I silently prayed that a dog would bark, that my older sister, my snow colored, sad eyed, rescued from the pound, sister, would answer and bark. I knew it wouldn't happen, but I still hoped. She had always hated the vet. And she had died there, quietly, without a fight. It was unfair. Unfair! Why should she have to die in a place she used to hate, without any fight, so unlike her? I cried for months afterwards. I missed my dog. I still miss my dog. I still cry sometimes. We moved the same year, to Illinois. I sang, for the first month that we were there, songs about Cassie. I don't remember any of them. Cassie taught me to always treasure what I have, because nothing gold can stay.

Then, in my second year in Illinois, we looked for a new dog. I wanted a new dog. I would never forget Cassie, but there was a hole in my heart. Our house seemed so empty.

We looked for corgis, because my mom has always wanted a corgi. We decided on Pembroke corgis, and started looking. For a while, we couldn't find anything. But finally, during the time in which my dad left for Pakistan, we found a breeder. And we knew it was the perfect one.

The little corgi that is now my little sister's name was, at the time, Pink. I knew, knew, knewit was perfect. My favorite color was always pink. I knew it was meant to be. When we headed down to the clinic they were at, I couldn't wait to see her.

There were three of them. All were so excited to see new people! They jumped on us, and I was a bit nervous, having never had anything jump on me before. We found out that the three were all related. The biggest was their mother, whose name was Selene. Then there was Kiwi, Pink's sister, and finally, Pink. Pink was the smallest of them all because she had had heart problems and had surgery when she was younger. She has a white diamond on the back of her neck, and no "saddle" (a dark mark on the back in the shape of a saddle.). None of them had any saddles. They are all the same warm tan color.

At first, my mom actually wanted to buy Selene, who was for sale with Pink. Only Kiwi would stay. Her side was that an older dog would be easier to handle. But me and my brother wouldn't hear of it. We wanted Pink. She would live longer, we argued, and, I kept mentioning, she and me fit. Finally, we got Pink, deciding to rename her Emma. When we were walking away, she was so confused. Why were we leaving her family behind? She was sad for the first few days, but now, I don't think it ever bothers her. I love her. She has such a comical face, and shes always so happy.

I knew another dog would help me, and she did. I'm still very sad about Cassie leaving us, but if she hadn't, we wouldn't have gotten Emma. Just a while ago, my mom had a dream that Cassie had visited her with a pack of wild dogs, like a final farewell. Maybe it was just a dream. I like to think it was her checking up on us, and letting us know that she was leaving now, off to go hunt adventures with her friends. Emma is very much alive and with us, still brightening everyone's day with a silly tilt of her head. She taught me that even though sometimes you never think you can get over something, or you never want to get another dog, cat, bird, or horse, you can get over something, and often times another animal is just the thing.

[Bluebird22]

My dog Sophie has been with me though thick and thin. I have several disease one of which is juvenile arthritis. I have to go to the doctor a lot, have surgeries, knee procedures, and some times I have to stay bed ridden for a couple days. but getting back to Sophie. When ever I'm on the loosing side of the disease Sophie says right by me. when I fall (litterly) she runs to me and makes sure I'm alright. I love how Sophie doesn't treat or look at me any differently. when we go for walks and I go slower then she's used to, she'll look at me like "Come on Mom, walk a little faster..." Sophie is my shoulder to cry on, my psychiatrist, sunggle buddy, pillow, foot warmer, friend, partner in crime, baby, and the Animal I love most. Sophie has thought me even when things are hard, you put on a brave face and carry on. <3 Love you Big Girl

[demonthief.]

All these stories are so amazing and many have brought a tear to my eye!
I LOVE THIS THREAD!

I had a cat named Benjamen, he was a darling of a cat, he never bit or scratched anyone in his life. He taught me to find the good things in life. In the afternoons when i would sit and watch the news, he would jump up into my lap and curl up and go to sleep as i pet him and when it was raining outside he would came and curl up beside you (he hated storms)... He never did sleep with me on my bed no matter how many time i would pick him up and place him on my bed hoping he would stay there long enough to go to sleep with me. He was adopted from a shelter for my older sisters 10th birthday, so he was her cat but very much a part of the family. I found out later that he was ticklish on his feet which i found very cute. We my older sister began to get busy with uni work, it was my job to feed each night and he would patiently wait for his food and would never complain. But a few years ago he started to not eat his food ..... he was a old cat, and so i didn't think much of it . So going to school, patting Benjamen goodbye and everything was fine, but when i got home he wasn't around....it turns out that he had cancer and that he was put down while i was at school... i was so sad, but i knew that he was in a better place.... I will remember you as the friend who would sit on my lap in rain or shine...


Rest in peace Benjamen....

[Farrah]

Oh I'm sorry Moonlight! I know how hard that is. I loved your story; I wish I could have met Benjamen.