Pets? (Cincinnati, Dayton, Savannah: day care, houses, neighborhoods)

[Arctic_6]

Hey all,

This board has a rather eclectic community of users, and by this point most of the mainstays may have read one or two of my posts. This may come off as an odd question, and feel free to ignore me if I'm being too off-topic...

I'm interested in what kind of pets people living in the Cincinnati area have, what are some of your experiences with them, etc. This thread could also provide some vital information for people new to the city: exotic pet vets, experiences in neighborhoods or with companies, etc.

My own personal holy terror is a 3 year old Japanese Harlequin rabbit named Cookie, as seen in the attached picture.

He's a delightful little creature and he puts up with me gracefully. I've found there are few house rabbit resources in the area (unfortunately), but I got him treated for a near-fatal illness here:

[url=http://www.glenwayanimalhospital.com/site/view/176636_Home.pml[/url]

They are very caring about animals. Cookie and I had taken an emergency 7 hour drive from rural Virginia (where I was born) back and were seen immediately.

What about other Cinci dwellers? What are your experiences? Who are your pets?

[wolden]

Thats an awfully cute rabbit. We have a cat, 12 years old, best disposition ever. Has never bitten or clawed in anger. Only growls in his sleep.

Not too exotic, but a great pet!

[Ohiogirl81]

Cookie is cute! How can a rabbit be a holy terror? LOL

Nothing exotic about my cats, either. *sigh*

[kjbrill]

We have an orange & brown striped tabby almost 17 years old. My daughter got her at the county shelter when someone had apparently tried to drown the litter in oil before dumping them. This may have affected her vocal chords as she has never purred, but when desiring something can bark like a dog. We call her our puppy. Her mobiity is reduced and she has to make a decided effort to jump up on the couch, etc. We have enjoyed her personality for so many years now it is difficult to realize it may be coming to an end.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by kjbrill

We have an orange & brown striped tabby almost 17 years old. My daughter got her at the county shelter when someone had apparently tried to drown the litter in oil before dumping them.

That is horrible!

People like that are who the "an eye for an eye" punishment should be for.

[Chemistry_Guy]

My dog Ninja is a shining example of man's best friend. She enjoys playing frisbee, stick, ball, tug of war, hide and seek, and face lick with me and enjoys chasing, wrestling, and barking at other dogs. She is an alarm system for our house and she watches over our elderly neighbors as well, or maybe she is just suspicious of motorized wheelchairs. During the summer she comes with me to work most days, and my research students love her. This past year she got a handful of birthday cards and her portrait painted. Here she is in my office.


Some days she enjoys doggy day care, but some places won't accept her because of the shape of her head. Their loss. She is well behaved at home, but since my wife and I both work significantly more than 40 hours a week, she ends up traveling quite a bit. That is okay, since she is a great passenger.


Not too intimidating for a little mutt with some pitbull genes.

[kelent]

Hi, We are moving to Ohio next week. We have two cats, an (exotic) Savannah and a Blue Lynx Point. We will get a dog once we settle in, not sure what kind. I'd also like a rabbit or two and some hens.

[kjbrill]

Chemistry_Guy... Yes she does look like a pitbull. It is a shame an entire breed can be condemned for the actions of some. At one point I had an Akita, a dog from the northern mountain regions of Japan and one who was bred for fighting akin to the pit bull. The one I had was a female and what I liked was she never barked. But if she became over aroused she would sit back on her haunches and Howl. That sound was enough to send you to the other end of the house. At the time we had the Akita we also had an older Blue Merle Collie, also a female. The Collie let the Akita know in no uncertain terms this was her house and the Akita would just be tolerated. Living with pets is an adventure, but one which is very rewarding.

[Arctic_6]

Originally Posted by wolden

Thats an awfully cute rabbit. We have a cat, 12 years old, best disposition ever. Has never bitten or clawed in anger. Only growls in his sleep.

Not too exotic, but a great pet!

Older, content cats are the best. My partner had a cat who lived to be 20. She was the sweetest animal I've ever seen. Really seemed like she understood the meaning of life, it was fascinating. All she did was love everybody. May your cat live just as long!

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Cookie is cute! How can a rabbit be a holy terror? LOL

Nothing exotic about my cats, either. *sigh*

You would be *so* surprised. :-P

When socialized around people and allowed to run around the house, rabbits are kind of like a mix between a cat's self-sufficiency and a puppy's playfulness. Cookie is the most curious creature I've ever seen, and if he things something should be moved, chewed, dug, or chased he will do it. He loves chasing cats. He grew up in a house with 5 cats and even the Maine Coon was terrified of him!

Originally Posted by kjbrill

We have an orange & brown striped tabby almost 17 years old. My daughter got her at the county shelter when someone had apparently tried to drown the litter in oil before dumping them. This may have affected her vocal chords as she has never purred, but when desiring something can bark like a dog. We call her our puppy. Her mobiity is reduced and she has to make a decided effort to jump up on the couch, etc. We have enjoyed her personality for so many years now it is difficult to realize it may be coming to an end.

It's fantastic that she's found a good home! I'm sorry she's ailing, though. That's a very difficult situation.

Originally Posted by Chemistry_Guy

My dog Ninja is a shining example of man's best friend. She enjoys playing frisbee, stick, ball, tug of war, hide and seek, and face lick with me and enjoys chasing, wrestling, and barking at other dogs. She is an alarm system for our house and she watches over our elderly neighbors as well, or maybe she is just suspicious of motorized wheelchairs. During the summer she comes with me to work most days, and my research students love her. This past year she got a handful of birthday cards and her portrait painted. Here she is in my office.

Some days she enjoys doggy day care, but some places won't accept her because of the shape of her head. Their loss. She is well behaved at home, but since my wife and I both work significantly more than 40 hours a week, she ends up traveling quite a bit. That is okay, since she is a great passenger.

Not too intimidating for a little mutt with some pitbull genes.

That is adorable! Ninja looks like an awesome dog. Since your name is Chemistry Guy and she goes to your office and meets your research students, I have to ask if she's ever been in Crosley Tower. Sometimes the sociology department has dogs up on the 10th floor. Does Cincinnati still have its ban on pit bulls?

[Chemistry_Guy]

Originally Posted by Arctic_6

That is adorable! Ninja looks like an awesome dog. Since your name is Chemistry Guy and she goes to your office and meets your research students, I have to ask if she's ever been in Crosley Tower. Sometimes the sociology department has dogs up on the 10th floor. Does Cincinnati still have its ban on pit bulls?

While I am not at UC, I have collaborators there and Ninja has in fact visited Crosley tower, although it was just the basement. Her home away from home is right down the street though. Although St. Francis of Assisi is her patron saint and her parents were married by a Franciscan priest, Ninja really digs the Jesuit education philosophy and flies the colors of a different St. Francis. While her dad's conflicting allegiances make her a UC sports fan, during basketball season she has been known to poop in the yard of houses sporting a Dayton Flyers flag or bumper sticker.