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It is interesting to me because growing up everyone had "a" family pet. A well loved dog or a cat and the children might have a hamster or something. Then when people started working full time there might be two pets to keep each other company all day. Now four or five is not uncommon. Just wondering what may have changed.
I've got some friends. They fill a good sized (5 bedroom) house with...
2 men
1 woman
7 kids
3 dogs
4 cats
?? ferrets
?? bunnies
?? hedgehogs
...and recently said they have a rooster in the garage (why?) that they wanted advice on taking care of.
Also they feed outdoor cats, so any number of strays live in the yard now more or less.
That's...well...that's a lotta circus, and a lotta monkeys.
And I do not know how they survive on the income of only one person, but somehow they manage to.
It is interesting to me because growing up everyone had "a" family pet. A well loved dog or a cat and the children might have a hamster or something. Then when people started working full time there might be two pets to keep each other company all day. Now four or five is not uncommon. Just wondering what may have changed.
The rampant pervasive loneliness of the culture in the U.S.
Also the pervasive fad/interest and emphasis on dogs and cats in the U.S. culture.....which also encourages more and more people to join in. Also the somewhat recent emphasis (in terms of over the decades) in the U.S. culture on 'rescue dogs'.
I've got some friends. They fill a good sized (5 bedroom) house with...
2 men
1 woman
7 kids
3 dogs
4 cats
?? ferrets
?? bunnies
?? hedgehogs
...and recently said they have a rooster in the garage (why?) that they wanted advice on taking care of.
Also they feed outdoor cats, so any number of strays live in the yard now more or less.
That's...well...that's a lotta circus, and a lotta monkeys.
And I do not know how they survive on the income of only one person, but somehow they manage to.
My parents, no one's parents I knew, would have allowed that when I was growing up.
I ran into someone I went to school with and I mentioned my dog I had at the time, who was difficult to train. She kind of blew me off and said she had three kids, two dogs, two cats, a bird, a ferret, blah blah. I guess she told me.
My parents, no one's parents I knew, would have allowed that when I was growing up.
I ran into someone I went to school with and I mentioned my dog I had at the time, who was difficult to train. She kind of blew me off and said she had three kids, two dogs, two cats, a bird, a ferret, blah blah. I guess she told me.
Those kids grew up, and now get to have all the pets their parents wouldn't let them have.
I'm going to blame misplaced maternal instincts. This can occur in men, too, albeit less frequently.
If I can smell your pets before I step off the welcome mat, I'm not returning to your residence. I cannot stand when a house smells like a vet's office, or worse.
If a pet or pets can undo your deep clean in less than 24 hours, you can't handle it/them.
Also the somewhat recent emphasis (in terms of over the decades) in the U.S. culture on 'rescue dogs'.
This ^^^.
So many people feel deep compassion for animals, which is a good thing, but the idea that every animal must be rescued has gone too far. They will adopt a dog or a cat to save it's life, and put up with all sorts of nonsense just so they can say they saved it. Some of them will rescue as many animals as they hear about that need rescuing. Apparently their numbers are irrelevant.
The dogs and cats are now running the asylum, and their human keepers are their slaves.
Animals don't give love. Animals respond to their environment and owners perceive that response as love in order to meet their emotional needs.
Of course animals can feel love. This is an old stereotype that really needs to be put to rest, based on outdated science. All mammals certainly have emotions. You could also interpret human relationships the same way you just did — when two humans hug, certain hormones are released in the brain causing them to feel good. It’s just a hormone payoff, not love.
I have 4 cats because there are so many people out there who treat animals terribly. I’d prefer less cat poop in my house, but I rescued two of them who showed up at my house in ill health and very hungry, after having been abandoned by their owners. I have drawn the line at 4 though, I cannot save them all.
When I grew up there were dog houses. No way would my father have an animal running around the house. Cats were all outside too. Chickens of course.
Then it all changed and what brought on the change I don't know, maybe the animal foundations.
A friend just spent $1500 on her dog's neglected teeth. Good ole credit card.
I live alone and am not lonely so a pet would add nothing but work for me. Don't need that. With so many distractions how can anyone feel lonely.
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