Pet Lovers

[wildcat fan]

Yes!  We are clearly her servants.  😻

[GingerPeach]

@151949 wrote:

There is a difference between spoiled and well loved. A pet can be very much loved but also be well trained and very well behaved -- or a pet can be spoiled and untrained and a nuisance to everyone it comes into contact with.

That's perfect.  I personally don't like the term "spoiled" since, as you said, it brings with it that "untrained and ill-behaved" component.  And it also makes it seem like a wrong thing to do.  It makes me think of a spoiled child where that even seems more true.  

My dogs, past and present, are and were all well-loved, an important part of the family, whose needs (since they are completely dependent upon us) are taken into consideration.  

Now, I don't think that most posters here are using "spoiled" in that sense.  But it's not wrong to feed your pet the best food you can afford, or provide them with the most supportive sleeping arrangements, or take them with you if they like that,  or leave them home if they prefer that, and so on.  In other words, treat them well.

Maybe some think I'm making too much of this, but too often I still see that old-fashioned concept that dogs are "just" dogs (or whichever kind of animal lives with you) that seems to still live in the backs of people's minds.  It's too bad some people who dearly love their pets and do treat them well feel that they have to apologize for it.

[GCR18]

Yep, my kitty sure is.

[Kachina624]

When did this photo capability appear?  I just have to try it.

MY dogs have always been well-behaved and relatively unspoiled until I got this one.  She is a purebred SMOOTH Collie rescued from a hoarder along with over 100 others last year in Tomball, Texas.  She was so neglected and so sick when I got her that I've over-compensated and now she's spoiled rotten.  She's a lot healthier now than she was in this picture.  Collie rescue spent over $5,000 on her medical bills for an autoimmune disease.  She's a sweetie and well worth it.

[Bird mama]

Oh Kachina - she is so beautiul.

[Kachina624]

Thanks birdmama; I just adore her.  We immediately formed a bond as we've been through so much together trying to get her feeling well.  She'll probably be on a low dose of predisone forever but at least she can move and feels well.

What kind of birds do you have?  I'd like to see them.

[Bird mama]

Kachina - I live with two sparrows and one pigeon.  Bet you didn't expect that (lol).

My eldest male sparrow is Poppi - he just turned 10 on June 26th.  My youngest female sparrow is Presto - she turned 2 on June 10th.  My pigeon found me, after he was savagely attacked.  I know he was born sometime in 2009, don't know his date.  He and I celebrate an anniversary of July 8th - he's been with me 6 years.

My old man Poppi

Grayson

I have to find a pic of Presto - be right back.

[Bird mama]

Presto

[GingerPeach]

@birdmama and @Kachina624

Beautiful and wonderful animals - I bet they know they are so lucky to be living with you.

[Bird mama]

Homegirl - I'm the lucky one and I know it.  I never dreamed I would live with a bird and before Poppie's sister Peewee died 4th of July weekend in 2014, I lived with 4.

I converted rooms into aviaries for the sparrows.  I don't clip their wings and I think having extra freedom of movement added to the longevity.

By the time Presto came along, alone in my niece's yard, eyes still closed, I learned quite a bit from Poppi and Peewee.  Presto is tame, sits on my shoulder, arm, tries to eat out of my mouth and is very affectionate. 

Poppi, my eldest has always been standoffish and I respect the boundaries that he established for me.  He and his sister were raised straight out of the egg.

One of the most humbling, terrifying and enriching experiences of my life.