Having an animal companion animal

@amiablePeace77

As it happens, I have a 10-month mutt adopted in late December before he became a rescue animal. I needed the companionship and he needed a doting mistress. He has the looks of a beagle without being one. Very lithe, runs well, sociable with everyone (probably because I am :D), does not bark much. We train a lot together. Since he's been here, I notice that I laugh a lot more. We have a second appointment with his vet in early February for vaccination and spaying and with the local dog whisperer this coming week. He gets along with the other two dogs and the multiple cats on the property. He is called "Shin", pronounced like Shiiiiin.

@amiablePeace77

These are my little ones. They give me so much joy. When I am home they are my constant companions.

@amiablePeace77 I have my sweet kitty, Jade! She's in my profile picture and she really is the sweetest little thing. She doesn't like to be picked up, but she loves pets! She likes treats, but she gets picky and will only eat certain kinds at certain times 😂 She's too much! What about you Ami?

@amiablePeace77. Therapy cat a sweetheart every day.

I wish I could. I'm "dog people" & have been for years but as you said, to own a pet takes sufficient energy, money & a sense of commitment. Energy is the one thing I don't have enough of, especially for any dog above the toy breeds in height & weight. You have to give them plenty of training (at least in the basic commands), & they always need daily exercise. I would have problems fulfilling these demands from a dog. Would have to figure out how to pay for the food bill, as well as the eventual vet visits as (s)he ages. Also, I have allergies & so would have to vacuum my place obsessively so the hair wouldn't accumulate--on top of the requirements for a daily run, learning to sit/stay/come here, etc.

I do own a hamster!Her name is Coco:)

She will be in july already 2.

Shes magical,wonderful and everything to me

She makes me happy daily even tho shes an energic type of pet where she always runs around the house bc we do have play time around 9-10 pm when she wakes up eats drinks then gives me signs of wanting to go and have fun.Shes so close to me,she knows when she does something bad and I actually appreciate this.She ruined so many clothes that I owned,the curtain,my pillows and an blanket I do take care of her very well and try to teach her that she isnt doing great even tho shes an rodent (I dont know if I spelt it correctly) she doesent do this în the present.Shes living a healthy live and I let her do her things around the house like dig in mud from an plant?(it is cleant and doesent harm her) go behind the storage and maybe hide behind the curtain go ahead she even has her secret playroom under my bed:) she has put so much food there over the week :)

I love her shes an blessing from God

I have a service dog. Her name is Piper, and she's a 4lb Yorkie. She's 3 now, and when I got her I was on the tail end of an abusive relationship. He kept saying I couldn't have a dog, but at that point...I needed her. I went ahead with all the paperwork, and disappointments, as I got attached and hopeful only to have the dog fall through. Finally everything turned out, but I had one more obstacle. Going to get her. She was 6 hours away, and I have a phobia about long distances. My bf said he didn't want her, or think I should have her, and refused to go with me. My son was 16 at the time, and said... we'll go ourselves, Mom. It will be fine. I'll be the navigator, and we'll go on an adventure! You have money, cell phone, road side assistance, me, and a reliable car. You can take your medication with you, and we'll take as many breaks as you need. And thats what we did. He enjoyed the sights, and we made many stops for my anxiety. But we made it. And made it home, with our 2lb miracle. Thankfully, the relationship is over, but she's been with me throughout this healing process. She can detect panic attacks coming, and provides pressure on my chest, grounds me by licking the inside of my forearms. She knows the sign for anxious, can get my medication, phone and even water in an emergency. She has been my traveling companion, and got me through train/subways in Ny and a cross country plane ride to visit my mother, as well as local car rides. She was there through the end of that relationship (I know it doesn't make sense, but trauma bonds don't, and for once, it didn't require hospitalization) and my first real experience with dissociation (still processing). She carries so much for me on those tiny 4lb shoulders, and she loves and protects me fiercely. I've never experienced a bond like this with an animal before (not my first dog or pet), but she is a blessing to me, and I can't imagine life without her. <3

I have 2 dogs and 3 cats and they are seriously the best thing ❤️ I absolutely love animals and truly believe they can sense things no one else can and are there for you when you need them the most

@amiablePeace77

I can't see this thread so someone may have already said this: people require interactions.

A pet is a friend, a companion. And once you're together no matter how bad things get you'll never, ever, feel entirely alone.

More generally you'll have concrete, constant knowledge that your friend is there even when you don't know where, exactly. They do things on their own; one loved it when I put up a bird feeder and would watch kitty TV for hours. No matter how dignified cats are cats: they'll do something odd or silly. They'll twine around your legs, they'll yell in your ear to get you up to feed them, the two of you will have to work out using a computer. Whatever's going on you'll be coming home to someone. (One of my cats recognized my footsteps the moment I entered out building.) And there's settling down together. They give you physical contact, solid and warm and soothing. On the arm of your chair watching TV, a weight on your blankets or trying to take over your pillow, on the sofa in the next room so you can stroke them as you go by. You love them, they love you, and you're both there. Simple as that. Some people don't get along with cats, some have just never met one. It's worth finding out which you are.

[Still a dog might be right for you. A person and a cat are individual who need each other, a dog needs you. And they'll get you out and moving if that's a bit difficult, being out might help you meet people. They'll sit at your feet or next to you, puppies who've grown into big dogs will try sit in your lap. I love them but 'borrow' them from other people.]

I've spent all my life with cats. Sometimes they've been pound-kitties, sometime retired purebreds. The year or two I didn't were very lonely, searching the animal shelters until I just the right cat and I found each other.

And this had been my mothers' desk. Mom would have loved the way it became totally mine: Kira explored every bit of it, even trying to fit into places she simply couldn't.

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@amiablePeace77 I have my hamster cage all set up but its so hard to find adoptable rescue hamster because they live for such a small time period. I would buy one but that would be me putting money into the harm of hamsters as a whole. Been in a constant back and forth fight of yes the Hamster I buy would have an inarguably better life by far but then money to mass breeding.