Putting it nicely

[Brengirl]

I have always felt different from most folks in that "I don't like animals". It's not that I do not care about them and would ever do them any harm but I have no wish for them to share my space. Am I alone?

[Bigmallly]

No, you are not alone Bren. I have a fish tank & that's enough form me. I like my holidays too much & pets just tie you down in IMO.........ducks before I get shot down in flames.

[Nicos]

My mother is exactly the same, and can't understand why I feel like I do !!

[northepaul]

I kind of know what you mean Bren, I used to have dogs, once they died and circumstances meant I had to live in rented accomodation with no pets as standard, I got used to not having any. I like not having the tie and being able to go on holiday too now

[binley100]

I'm sure you're not alone Bren . It's just the same as some people choose not to have kids. It doesn't mean they're a worse person. Anyway if everyone was the same wouldn't life be boring.

[janeyo]

Everyone is different! Some people feel the same about children!

I only dislike my animals when they a)scrap the carpets 4 inches away from the scratching posts, b) bring dead or half dead things in to show off,
and other people's animlas, like nex doors dogs who bark all the time and next doors cat who likes my garden more than his own, and peopel who let their dogs poo on my front lawn.
Not found any fault with my chooks yet except one little one tries to peck my hands now if I don't get the food bowl down quick enough. It hurts

[snohare]

I grew up with dogs, and I have had a lot of dealings with cats as well, not to mention the occasional hamster or gerbil, but I can see why a lot of folk wouldn't feel any need to have them in their lives. I think a lot of it is to do with how much you know about them, and whether you have previous experience with them. If you have no inderstanding of how they act, you will not be able to interpret their signalling needs or emotions, you won't know how to change their behaviour to the way you want it, and it is just pure hassle. I'm sure many abused and abandoned pets are ones where people impulsively took on an animal with little or no comprehension of what to do, and gave up in disgust because they were getting nothing but grief.
The other thing is, I feel sure that for some folk, pets are surrogate children. If you are temperamentally unsuited to looking after a dumb creature that is totally reliant upon you, whose needs you must interpret from small clues, then you are not likely to be any good as a parent; I think the impulse to get a pet is sometimes the sublimated need to reproduce. I often see a young couple with a pet dog and think that is them in training for childcare, even if they don't admit the instinct !
But then again I may be biased, I got a golden lab after a long period of feeling broody...

[Brengirl]

I think there has to be a chemistry between you and the animal. I am really quite nervous of them and I feel quite sure this is reflected in their behaviour towards me. I did own a dog once that completely distrupted my life and eventually my love turned to distrust and dislike. I hated the way it looked, and smelt and eventually because of it's behaviour it was destroyed. I felt the guilt so deeply it is still with me.

[piskieinboots]

I've had cats most of my adult life with a couple of periods without them - I prefer having them in my life to not having them. However, when they come in with muddy paws and jump on my white duvet (freshly put on bed) I have to question my sanity

[Glutton4...]

Why the Avatar then, Bren?

[Florence Fennel]

That's no animal - that's a rabbiguineaster

While the children were growing up we had various animals, birds and fish and we have always had GS dogs. When our last dog died of old age, I swore no more and I've stuck to it. We're not fit enough to keep dogs now.

[janeyo]

I felt sorry for my son's friend (aged 5) the other week. He was given 2 fish as a pet by grandma or someone. The first time they needed cleaning out his mother took them up to the school in a jar and gave them away because she didn't want the hassle of cleaning them out.
I do think having pets can be a great way to teach children lots of things.

My son's friend has now learned that a) animals are hassle and too much bother to look after and b) disposable. Not a great start to his 'animal respecting' life!

[Bren In Pots]

We've had dogs all our married life until our collie Jess died at the grand age of 18, that was 3 year ago and we both decided we don't want to go through that again.
Even the last big fish in the pond have recently died so we're now pet less for the first time.

[Brengirl]

Why the Avatar then, Bren?

Cos they are soft, sweet and cuddly and are pretty good at procreation

But, maybe because my nickname as a child was Bunny.

[Glutton4...]

We've had dogs all our married life until our collie Jess died at the grand age of 18, that was 3 year ago and we both decided we don't want to go through that again.
Even the last big fish in the pond have recently died so we're now pet less for the first time.

Time for Chooks then, Bren!