Having A Pet

[cherryblossom]

I don't have a pet. The only pet I want is a dog. I just love dogs, and I could see that a dog would be of huge benefit to me. However, I work long hours, so I know it would not be right to leave a dog at home, while I went out to work. Having a cat doesn't interest me in the slightest, because I just don't like them.

I think to gain value from a pet you would have to love and enjoy the species. To own a cat, for me would have little pleasure and a lot of stress. The same goes for reptiles (insects - don't even go there!).

So I think to gain the benefit of a pet, you need to want to have one. Perhaps you could learn to love an animal if it turned up on your doorstep, and wouldn't go away, but to truly benefit, you probably need to be into the idea in the first place. So what might work for one person, wouldn't work for another.

Also by what percent do you think therapy helps?

Putting a percentage on a therapist, again comes down to preference, and the 'right fit for you', in my opinion. I've had therapists in the past, that I'd place a minus score on (for making me feel worse rather than better). But finding the right therapist for me, has been amazing - 100% improvement.

 

[KP the nut]

I don't have a pet. The only pet I want is a dog. I just love dogs, and I could see that a dog would be of huge benefit to me.

Have you thought about being a dog walker at the local dogs home. They always need people to help with exercise. A plus is you get a hairy pal without the expense and hairy carpets :rolleyes:. I guess the downside would be getting to attached :confused:.

 

[cherryblossom]

It's tempting KP, but at the moment I'm struggling to walk and work due to arthritis in my foot. Maybe I could just pop in for cuddles!!

My friend has a lovely dog (the ginger prince!), Murphy. But I can't even join him for walks at the moment :(

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I have a cat, Loki, she was queen of the house. She played alot. Then we got a 10 month old puppy named Belle. Belle wanted to be friends with Loki, but Loki would haven none of that.

The puppy began to chase her. She learned to jump on the chairs. Then she would leave Loki alone and Loki would provoke her. Needless to say Belle began to chase her alot. This went on for a long time. I do not know when they began to make peace with each other.

Now they eat and drink out of the same bowl. They play and it is not so intense. They are company for each other when we have to leave. I am glad they made friends. Pets bring alot of life into a home. I cannot wait until Belle bonds with me more.

She gets so excited when we take her with us. She is doing better when she is left home alone. I love my animals. I am glad we are done with getting them their booster shots. That was a expensive hassle. We got them both fixed. We won't have them going into heat.

They are playing now. It is just lighthearted fun. They get alot of exercise when they play togeher.

 

[Rainbow_Habitué]

I have a cat and she really helps me feel safer when I get nervous at night for no apparent reason (cats have better hearing than I do and better night vision, so she'd be concerned if there really was something up) and I trust her because, well she's a cat, her only ulterior motive is food and petting.

I'm looking for a dog at the moment too though because as much as I love my cat, she doesn't go out of the house (she's not good on a leash). A dog is like having a social protector/buffer zone even if they aren't a physically protective type. If I feel disapproved of/hated/shunned/etc...., a lab gives me a dopey lick on the hand and I'm reminded that at least someone in this world accepts me for me.

That said, a bengal cat that is hyper-socialized and exposed to lots of sounds/sights/people/animals when it's a kitten would probably be awesome that way too (and easier to convince some landlords to allow). I had a bengal and he was the sweetest creature and eventually became quite in-tune with my moods and voice-tones.

 

[.Ambivalent.]

My cat is absolutely amazing. I don't know what I would do without him. I've actually had him since I was a child, so we know each other pretty well. :) I think the coolest thing is that he is always very aware of my moods. He knows when something is wrong. If I get anxious and nervous, he is right there beside me, and he will not leave my side until I calm down! When I'm depressed, he'll be there wanting to cuddle (something he's normally not a huge fan of). He's also been known to wake me up from nightmares by licking my forehead...Although, he also does this when he's hungry! Ha!

I think pets are very therapeutic in general. I actually used to volunteer my cat as a therapy pet. I'd take him to nursing homes and the local psychiatric hospital. Bringing him in and letting the patients interact with him always seemed to have a soothing effect on them (and my cat loved the extra attention!).

I read a study ages ago about how petting a cat or dog has a direct effect on stress and decreases it for some odd amount of time after the interaction. I can't cite the source and have no idea how accurate it is or what tests were done exactly, but for me personally, spending time with my cat, (or any animal), is quite relaxing. :)

 

[Kaii]

I have three dogs, two small ones for petting and one big one for petting and protection. I honestly feel like my oldest small dog saved my life. She took care of me when I was really depressed and couldn't get out of bed. She was there, right by my side, day after day. She radiated empathy and would lick my tears away. I would pet her for hours at a time. I honestly don't know how she tolerated it. It's amazing that she doesn't have a bald spot.

 

[JustBe]

100% at Least!

 

[The Albatross]

75%? I was really sad when I read in Tampa that they were closing a service dog program. The results were that some animals became aggressive, others had worms or intestinal problems. If you don't have the presence of mind to care for yourself yet, please consider your obligation to a pet.

In AA they say, manage yourself for a year, buy a plant and keep it alive for a year, then get a pet... if you can do all of those, you're ready for a relationship. I find some truth to that actually.

 

[Estacia]

I like pets but not for me. My mother treated our dogs like royalty growing up. They never got abused or went without food like me.

I will pet a pet just not keep one. They affect my PTSD.

 

[snow44]

I get (logically) how a pet could be good. I have 2 cats though I am not a cat person. I take care of them and even allow one of them to sleep in my bed. Do I enjoy them? No. Do they enrich my life? No. They are just another responsibility that I would rather do without. When I was a kid I was REALLY into animals/pets...after having 7 children and now with my ptsd issues, I just want to be left alone...or at least limit my responsibilities when possible.

 

[KP the nut]

Do I enjoy them? No. Do they enrich my life? No. I just want to be left alone...or at least limit my responsibilities when possible.

Sorry Snow44, so why do you have them?