Paul Harvey's “Ten Commandments for a Responsible Pet Owner”

Websleuths.com ^ | Jan 24 2010 | uncertain

[yorkie]

Thank you. They are adorable!

[Gator113]

I’ve seen that before. It was included in with paperwork package that came from my breeder when I bought my GSD.... all good advice.

I confess that I have done a much better job at keeping these Ten Commandments than I have with the ‘other’ one. ;>)

Now about cats.....

I have a GSD and he’s 18 months old. He is just an all out fun guy. He is good around other animals and he even tolerates my 26 chickens. We live in the sticks, near the top of a mountain on 5 acres.

We do not have a cat and I want one. However, I have no idea of what breed to buy.

To me, a cat is a cat is a cat, but I have likely been wrong on that. I need a cat that may adjust and live in harmony with the rest of my critters. I also like animals with a clearly present personality. Heck, chickens are dumb, but even some of my gils have distinct personalities.

So I ask anyone that reads this... any recommendations on a given breed of cat, or should I just head down to the pound and roll the dice?

[tsomer]

Yes, #10 absolutely.

Don’t be mad at your wife, she will never have the memory of that moment that you hold. I suspect for anyone who abandons a pet at that point, the memory will be a reproach. Momentary weakness can have a high cost.

When I had to put down the finest hound-dog in the entire universe, that final moment was easy— far easier than what I’d anticipated. I held her tight and promised to take her home. I did, and buried her in the back. My wife and my son were with her too.

Looking back the whole thing— the trip to the vet and back, digging the hole and putting her in it and covering her up— was one of the easiest and most natural things I’ve ever done. Worrying about it before was hard, doing the office was easy. Later it got difficult, but what a comfort to know you’ve done all you could to return the love given to you.

[Gator113]

I have always been a big dog guy. We had Dobermanns for 30 years, a Wiemeranier, a Chesapeake Bay retriever and now we gave a GSD.

Those Shiba Inu are so darn cute... I have never seen one. They remind me of a Fox.

Thanks for posting that.

[goat granny]

Hi Daffy, so sweet it was forwarded to many TY gg

[Joe Boucher]

LolaB,
I just called the wife and kid in to read it.

[Brytani]

I should not have read this - we have a 13yr old Rottie that’s going through liver failure and we’re doing everything to save her life.

Sigh.....

[Muzzle_em]

I have always had good luck with orange tabby cats.

[Daffynition]

Hi gg

Good. I'm glad. It's something to look at now and again to remind us of our responsibility to critters in our care.

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

Hug him once again for me!

[Gator113]

Thanks. I’ll start my research with that breed.

[Daffynition]

I am sorry for your losses. Our pets give so much and are often worthy of more attention than they receive. Some lives are too brief.

[Daffynition]

'Sniper, I'm surprised you haven't bought *Cat* her own camera ...the kind that hangs from the collar and records where she sees and where she goes. ;)

[Daffynition]

Bundles of love! They’re great!

[GOPJ]

Beautiful post. Thanks.

[Daffynition]

Gator I’m surprised a stray cat hasn’t found you! Maybe your GSD is a better watch dog than you know.

Adding a pet to an existing family can change the dynamics. Personally, I never had a stray cat I didn’t love. Once assimilated, they grieved when another pet died ... and hissed and spat for a few days when a new one came into the fold.

I’d go to the shelter and give someone a home. But that’s just me ...I’m a sap for sad eyes.

[Daffynition]

My deepest sympathies. It’s heart-wrenching. Just love her every day and give her a hug for me!

Having been through the events as you describe many, many times ...I always say “never again” ....but I do!

[Daffynition]

That is OVERLOAD cute! Thanks for the link. Beautiful!

[Gator113]

“I’m a sap for sad eyes.”

LOL... So am I. My wife, also an animal lover, trembles at the thought of me going to a shelter for fear that I will bring home everything with a heartbeat. ;>)

Actually, the only stray cat in my neighborhood at the moment is a mommy Cougar and she won’t let me call her mine.

Having found a cat that I kinda liked on the net, starting at $1500, plus shipping.. Ouch. It is most likely that I will simply adopt some poor little female. I would get a male, but I think they spray and I don’t want to deal with that if I can help it.