topic Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it? in Home

Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

Mominohio — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 17:54:53 GMT

I love home. No matter where I've lived, how humble it may have been (and in the beginning of my adult life, a few places were quite humble, to put it kindly), I have been a homemaker at heart. I love to decorate, entertain, and I LOVE TO CLEAN! I insist on a clean house.

But....we do have pets. At this time, we have two cats, and one old dog. I have had at least one pet in the house for my entire life. In general, I think pets are one of the things that makes a house a home. (OK, don't tear me apart if you don't have a pet for good reason...allergy, lifestyle that doesn't leave time to care for one, lack of money or the right place to have them, I do get that!)

My question is, do you feel you can have indoor pets, yet still have a clean home? I have had people tell me that they won't visit anywhere that had pets indoors, and especially won't eat at someone's home if they have pets. My husband's cousin married a woman who wouldn't eat at my house because we had a little dog at the time, but you should have seen the cockroach infested place they lived, totally gross!

I don't exclude someone's home being clean, just because there are pets. Having pets, and being 'dirty' don't automatically go hand in hand to me.

What is your situation, and your opinions on the issue?

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

Kitlynn — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 17:58:46 GMT

We have always had a dog in the house. Now we have breeds that don't shed and they do get bathed every week and go to the groomer every six weeks. When people come they always comment about how they can't believe we have a dog in the house because the house is so clean and always smells so good. Even my Aunt who doesn't like pets in a house at all says it is amazing. A home without a dog for us just wouldn't be a home. We love our dog just like any family member. He is also well trained.

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

FastDogWalker2 — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:01:32 GMT

Five pets here! Two cats and three dogs! I do not equate cleanliness (or lack therein) to pet ownership. I have been in homes that were spotless that had pets and homes that were unclean with no pets. I am not aware if anyone has ever hesitated to eat at my home or be a guest...I guess I hope not!

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

Justina rae — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:05:46 GMT

"My question is, do you feel you can have indoor pets, yet still have a clean home?"

My answer is, no. My house looks great but it is not clean to my standards of cleanliness. But it's ok. I accept it. I'd rather have pets. I can certainly understand people who might not visit or eat at a person's home who has pets. They are not my kind of people however.

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

GinaV24 — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:06:02 GMT

My Mom was not a fan of pets in the house but when I moved into my own home, I had dogs and they were part of the family, so to speak. I now have 2 cats and they, too, are part of the family. Yes I consider myself to have a clean home so I'm happy.

Other people may not agree, but to each their own. I don't tell them how to live, they don't get to tell me how to live at my own house.

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

depglass — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:07:12 GMT

We have neighbors who frequently go away for the weekend with their pets loose in the basement. They also let them run loose upstairs when they are home. The whole place has been "marked" by both cats and dogs. I guess they are "nose blind" to the problem,. but the house just plain stinks. And they wonder why they can't sell it.

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

jaxs mom — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:08:57 GMT

Their loss as far as I'm concerned. I have 3 dogs and 5 cats. If people don't want to come over, no loss. I'll take my fur babies over some moron any day.

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

ValuSkr — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:09:21 GMT

I don't have pets but a neighbor has a young dog, a cocker I think. It seems like she has Stanley Steemer in to clean carpets every four months.

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

Preds — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:12:23 GMT

As long as our home is clean enough for us and our dog I don't care what others think. We are happy with you or without you.

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

Group 5 minus 1 — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:15:10 GMT

We have 5 dogs and 2 cats. If you do not care for pets then stay away. I always tell people you are welcome any old time but you really, really have to like pets. We have always had pets. From the kitchen I can see our pet cemetery. DH put a special rock on the grave of my Sweet Pea so I can always see it.

I will tell you another wonderful story. Mom died about 5 years ago and we would frequently talk in my dreams. One night I told her we had gotten another dog and she told me how happy she was for me because she knew how very much I loved dogs. 2 days later my DH told me that he had found a dog we were looking for on the internet. The 4 of our dogs and the 2 cats are rescues but he got Charlie from a breeder. Friend of ours told us he was sent from heaven. (He is)

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

Group 5 minus 1 — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:16:43 GMT

Forgot to add we have no carpeting and 4 dog doors.

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

Daludog — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:16:57 GMT

On 4/7/2015 FastDogWalker2 said:
Five pets here! Two cats and three dogs! I do not equate cleanliness (or lack therein) to pet ownership. I have been in homes that were spotless that had pets and homes that were unclean with no pets. I am not aware if anyone has ever hesitated to eat at my home or be a guest...I guess I hope not!

So true!! I have a friend with no pets, but her house is awful..stuff all over, i can hardly see her carpet! I would rather eat in a clean house with pets, then a dirty home without pets.

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

ChiliPepper — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:19:13 GMT

We have 3 cats which we love to death & wouldn't trade for anything. If you have allergies I can understand but other than that if you don't want to come over because of my pets then so be it - stay home. I am a pet person & you are not - that's ok but stay home.

Anyways, if the house is messy once in awhile it is me - not them!

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

PamelaSue72 — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:19:14 GMT

We have six cats. At one time, we were up to eight, but we lost our two Old Ladies a couple years ago. My house is as clean as I can keep it. And other than that, I don't worry about it.

A few years ago, we got our elliptical and needed somebody to come in and put it together. Two men came in and we were sitting back in the bedroom. One by one, the furkids showed up. Finally, one of the guys looked at me and said, "How many cats do you have?" I said we had six. He looked around and said, "I only see five." And I said, "Look under the bed." And there was a pair of eyes looking straight at us. He laughed and said, "God, I'm allergic to cats. I need to go get my meds!" The other guy said he would have never, ever guessed we had six cats. He said he couldn't smell a thing. Which was good.

Last year, a policeman was in our kitchen. He was taking information as I had been hit by a car while out walking. One cat jumped up on the table. And I picked her up. Another cat was sitting on the stereo speakers. He asked me the same thing. I told him we had six cats. He took a deep breath and said, "Honest, I would have never guessed it. I've been in houses with only one cat and you wouldn't believe how bad the smell was."

It's all about cleaning and scooping and taking care of things. Yes, our furniture has scratches. And the carpet has a couple stains from where a cat became ill. It comes with the territory.

Nobody has ever refused a dinner invitation to our house.

To be honest, I'd rather visit people who have pets...they're easier to get along with. And I'd rather be visited by people who have pets; they understand.

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

Vivian — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:20:41 GMT

My house is clean. I have a cleaning woman every week in addition to my own housework, but I cannot live without a dog. Maddie is our fourth beagle and lives in every room of our house, depending on her mood. I'm sure there are people whose standards of household cleanliness are stricter than mine but that's OK. My house without a dog is not a home.

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

spot555 — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:22:10 GMT

Pfffttt I say to "those" people!

Love me, love my dog...or cat...or rat, lol. If it bothers a person THAT MUCH, then they can stay home- period.

I clean A LOT, own a Rug Doctor, & do the best I can. I couldn't care less if someone is offended by a dog or cat hair (they aren't my kind of people, to put it mildly!)

There are so many very serious things to worry about in this world. Pet issues isn't one of them. It just seems like a very "B" attitude.

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

BLH — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:22:39 GMT

Everyone has their own thing. It just depends on what you're used to. As soon as I walk into someone's home who has a cat or dog I can smell it right away. The same if someone smokes. The people who live there are used to it. It's your home and you can do what you want. I have a friend who has a dog and I tell him not to bring the dog to my home. You have to respect everyone's home. I personally just find it disgusting when I see his dog wipe it's behind on the rug. It just grosses me out. But to each their own.

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

Daludog — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:25:07 GMT

Forgot to mention, I would not want to be friends, or have guests over who feel that way. I would rather eat with my pets!

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

curlywhitedog — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:25:17 GMT

I have a dog AND a clean house...they are not mutually exclusive to one another.

As for people who might not want to visit because I have a dog...too bad, so sad, who cares. I'll take my dog over judgmental people any day of the week.

Maria

Re: Do you have pets in your home? Have you ever been criticized for it?

Puppy Lips — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:28:23 GMT

Hello Mom in Ohio. I used to be a Mom in Ohio, now I am a Mom in Florida. We have always had a least one dog. We had two for the past 5 years, but the older one just died last month. I like big dogs with lots of hair. I sweep often -- the hair tends to group together on the floor and I get balls of hair floating around on the tile floor every few days.

I clean my home, but it is not sterile. I guess I could see where someone would not want to visit or eat where there are pets. But as others have said, I would not miss them. Our pets are a part of our family. So you either accept them as part of the deal, or not. But I would never give up my dogs because someone thought they were unhealthy.

Can you have a perfectly clean home with a dog or cat? Probably not. In fact I don't think you can have a perfectly clean home without a dog or cat. Life is not sterile. We bring in things on our shoes and clothes. We sneeze, we breathe, we cook. Life is too short. The more dogs I have to love, the better.