Poll Do You Have Pets / Animal Companions?

[stuff]

I have a dog. She loves me unconditionally, and helps me ground myself. I love her right back. Having a pet makes it a lot easier to ride out my suicidal feelings. It's harder to think that way knowing there is a little furry friend who relies on me for her existence.

 

[aka]

I have a dog and a cat that are my constant companions.

 

[SweetPeaandSunBird]

Took Stormy to vet for x-rays three days ago...Last night she went down hill really fasto...I rushed her to the vet and ended up putting her to sleep. She died in my arms around 9:30 PM.

Oh, whitewillow, I am so sorry for your loss. I adore animals. I had a rescue cat, my sweet Tessie Mae. We had a wonderful 20 years together. I'm tearing up as I type this. I still prayer-speak to her all the time.

May you find solace in your grief. (((hugs)))

 

[SweetPeaandSunBird]

I have four cats and one dog. They are all rescues, and they rescue me so many times per day. :inlove:

 

[JustBe]

20 years! Wow!

The only bad thing about the pets we love so dearly is their short life spans, but boy do they pack a lot of living and loving into those years.

 

[Britt.f7]

I couldn't have anything but a parakeet when I was little. A lot of strays followed me home though. ;)

Right now I have two dogs and two cats. My husband said he would move out if we get another dog. I think of it. :p Besides, we have one small dog and I think he should have to count her as a cat, not a dog. I'm used to danes!

 

[Sebastian]

My rabbit is absolutely a healing animal, ze is the most loving, cuddly, sweet hearted bunny ever. My parakeet also helps ground me, I trained him to tell me to calm down and say that he loves me when I'm triggered.

 

[mothsorbet]

I have a kitty named Miles Davis, he's about 6 months old and all black. I did have a white long haired BEAUTIFUL cat that I called Kathleen (named after Kathleen Hanna from Bikini Kill), but I gave her to my friend because she and Miles didn't get along. :grumpy:

 

[Graven Idol]

As for me, I have a year and half old cinnamon green check conure (little parrot) named Horus. He's been with me since I've been diagnosed and has been with me when I was too scared to leave my apartment. I would talk to him like he was my own child and house guest. He's very tame so I can walk around rooms with him on my shoulder, so it's like a constant reassurance, there.

I also adopted a black kitten from a shelter, Grimalkin. He's about five months old now, and same with Horus, he's with me all the time. It's even nice to pick him up and hold him.

I swear both of them can pick up on my feelings when I'm upset, because they're there to preen or lick me.

 

[Britt.f7]

I swear both of them can pick up on my feelings when I'm upset

I really do believe animals are attuned to our emotions. Some people believe that animals can't feel or that we project ourselves onto them. I don't believe this. Animals have proved to me all too often this to not be true.

I don't think I could manage not having my critters or a life without any.

 

[Changing4Best]

I have a PTSD Service Dog; I trained her using the book HEALING COMPANIONS by Jane Miller. She was a rescue from an abusive situation herself. She's a miniture dachshund, fits right comfortably in my lap. She knows when I need her. Comes right over and climbs up on me to be taken up into my lap.

I also have a fish aquarium. It has a betta I named Rubeo, since he's bright red and then 6 neon tetras and an algae eater that is getting to be HUGE! He's what is called a Plecos, and though hopefully he's not the kind that grows to 2 feet long, he does help keep the tank free of too much algae. The lady at the fish department in Walmart told me that I needed one of these. I asked her what it was and she told me some exotic name. I figured she knew what she was talking about, so... but I wonder now if she was just trying to get rid of the thing before it got huge! GADD!!! I hope not. It is now abut 4 inches long! And growing... and I have no idea what I shall do if it grows beyond 6 inches, because if it does, it will grow to be 2 feet long and I only have a 10 gallon tank!!!

 

[Invisible-Guy]

I love dogs and right now we're trying to get the OK for a service dog. I already fell in love with one of the Golden Retrievers. I drive all the way across the county just to see him sometimes. If I can't get a service dog, I think I'll rescue a companion dog. They're just big balls of fur and love :)