Pets help you feel good

My spaniel an aggravation today. I was repotting a houseplant on the patio & assembled everything, got a trowel of compost & in that second the pot had disappeared, just managed not to empty it on the floor. The dog was in the middle of the lawn, I assume pleased with himself, but all I could see was a flowerpot with spaniel ears looking at me.He thinks it's so funny, by the time I'd recovered it a 5 minute job took quarter of an hour. He no longer chews things but he does love to thieve.

Absolutely adore/d all our pets, most especially our numerous dogs.

Love my pets, couldn't be without them, such great characters

We used to have a small tortoiseshell back in the 80s. She was very affectionate. She slept on our bed often between my legs and I tried very hard not to move. She also liked to sleep on my shoulder. If I was lucky enough to get breakfast in bed she always like a tiny piece of toast and marmalade.

She was called Dinah after Alice Through the Looking Glass - hence my nom de plume!

I now live in a retirement flat where I can’t have a cat, and I miss having one more than I miss my human family! I had cats all my life from the age of eight, but even before I came here I no longer had a cat, because I was afraid it would outlive me. My last two cats lived to the age of almost twenty, and I am 84.

I am always puzzled by people saying that cats aren’t affectionate. Every cat I’ve ever had has been very cuddly.

I’ve never been interested in dogs, though.

I do agree with you, except on days like yesterday, when I came home to find blood stains and the stomach of a mouse on the tiled hall floor!

Certainly, it is wise of the cat not to eat the entire alimentary canal of the mouse, but could she (or he) depending on whose lunch it was not have eaten the critter outside?

I mean it was not caught indoors and I have told the little madam repeatedly that I do not want her bring the mice in to play with or eat, so I suspect it was the remains of Trubel's lunch not Tigger's I was left to deal with.

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I thought you all might like to know we caught the rat.
Large plastic box with lid, tissue paper from shoe box and a handful of Alpen. For a way to access the box we made a ramp from a cat scratching mat that the cat won't use (he prefers the carpet, I don't).
The rat found his way in and we put the lid on the box.
Son in law and grandson arrived on route to a walk so they took it away to release it far from the house.
I have ordered 2 humane traps in readiness for the next time.

I love my dog but she is a rescue and reactive so it is a barrier to making friendships on walks as I mainly avoid everyone including my neighbours who most probably think i am an anti social cow

MiniMoon Good luck with that. We used to live in an 18thC cottage in Suffolk that had ivy growing up the wall. this enable a rat to enter the kitchen the tube from the extractor fan. We didn't know this was happening. One evening, quite late I went into the kitchen and saw it so called my DH. He changed it around with a broom and it jumped into a large pot standing on the floor. He bashed the pot until it broke and managed to kill it. It was horrible.

I always think when I see them flattened on the road that they look like Nosferatu in the 1912 film.

My cat isn't making me feel good at present. He brought in a live baby rat! He released it into our living room and now it is hiding somewhere. I have opened the patio door but it hasn't run out. I'm now trying to devise a plan for trapping it.

When my Mum went into a home I took on her Westie whom mum called Petal. She was the best trained dog we've ever had. I don't know how Mum did it because she was already suffering from Alzheimers.

I used to take her with me when I was "rattling" a tin for Save the Children. Many people came up to me, even crossing the road, to talk to Hattie (name change) but not many put money in the tin. I also used to take her to visit Mum when she was in the home. Most of the ladies wanted to talk to and pet Hattie because they'd had dogs in their former lives.

Albertina

Animal collecting used to be a thing with some vets / vet nurses when unwanted animals were brought in. I knew of one who had 5 cats & dogs and a goat, all unwanted pets. I took on 2 dogs & later an a cat who we thought needed her leg amputated, but in the end we managed to save it. A lot of people wouldn't take their pets to dogs homes due to worries about mistreatment so brought them in to be put to sleep. I think now this happens less as animal charities have a better name & higher profile, but it did put you under a lot of pressure to offer to take them on yourself.

My dear little dog was put to sleep at home on May 8th. I had him for 5 years. He had lots of problems, but he finally got the life he deserved when he came to live with me. There's a huge hole in my life. He was such fun.

I will be getting another dog later in the year and that's a lovely thought.

Poss you have my deepest sympathy. I believe that “animal collecting” - it’s a bit like hoarding is a recognised behavioural disorder.
Try and enlist some help, contact your doctor. Explain what’s going on to them.

The picture above is of my doggie, don't know how it jumped up onto Truffles post!

Truffle43

I have balance problems and sometimes do not feel like leaving the house. No matter how I feel I must take my dog out for her walks and I am always so glad that I do . I meet lots of lovely people who stop and chat we usually find something to laugh about. I see things that I wouldn’t see like squirrels birds and sometimes the odd field mouse and while outside I appreciate the sense of well being that I feel and know without my furry friend I would miss so much. Does anyone else feel like this?

Yes Truffle exactly what you have said. It's my little furbaby's 7th birthday today and I love him with all of my heart! I got him when he was 2yrs old, a rescue, I do wonder what happened to him before I got him!

Poss

I have to go against the grain at the moment, I'm afraid, due to living in a rural farmhouse with a large dog and 3 cats that have access 24/7 to most of our home. My husband thinks it's fine to not groom, bath or walk the dog, and until recently some cats were having kittens.
I am overwhelmed, with the dirt and things the dog brings in - bones, dead things from the property etc.
Now he wants another dog and it is a daily pressure, with me being shown pictures from rescue groups etc
I can't handle the dirt, animal hair, vomit, pee and poop any longer from what he owns already.
I like animals, but I don't want to own any.
I care for these ones but don't enjoy it. My health is poor and unfortunately the animals make things more difficult.
My husband is a dreamer; he thinks it's some sort of wonderful when he sees me sitting on the couch with three cats sitting on me but the reality is he's not doing what's needed to keep things hygienic in our home.
Not the animals fault and I care for them properly, and do love them,but if I had a choice I'd have an animal free home.

Sounds like you need to give your DH a good talking to.He should be shouldering the dog duties if he likes them so much.
Stand firm!
We haven’t replaced any pets once they died and tho I miss an animal around the house must say it stays much cleaner and no awful pong of pet food and clearing up messes.
I think if ever I live on my own I may change my mind.

Even though I grew up with cats, I would find owning a pet stressful and worrying, which is the main reason why I don't.

As for meeting people on walks. I am a regular walker and end up talking to everyone just because I am not walking a dog. People keep asking me where my dog is and looking around for it, and then chatting.

Mind you having been attacked by one dog walker's animals a couple of years ago I am very careful what dogs I go near. Both dogs were wearing muzzles, otherwise I could have been badly mauled, as it was I was left with a badly bruised arm.

Oh of course we have never been without cats and dogs and never will be they bring such pride and joy to enrich our lives. Nothing better than shutting your door and cuddling up to your pets. They see you through the good and bad times and love you unconditionally. Obv each to their own but I can’t really understand people that aren’t animal lovers. They miss out on so much

The best antidepressant!

Sorry, small typo - my blood pressure

For some months I've been monitoring m blood pressure. When I've been with DD2 and her dogs my BP is always normal or even below normal.

I completely agree, I adore my dog. Taking her out for a walk helps my mental health, I have bad anxiety and she makes it easier for me to leave the house and be social. Plus she gives me so much love and comfort. She sleeps on our bed with us and is the centre of the family, we plan day s out with her in mind. We also had a cat but she died a couple of years ago, I would love another one as I've always loved cats too.