Is it possible to love an animal?

4/17/2010 | Krankor

[Krankor]

Is it possible to actually "love" an animal- like a cat or dog? Any Freepers love their pet? How about those with non-traditional pets? Anyone love their cow, horse, snake or pig?

[Ditter]

I agree. I have the ashes of 4 dogs waiting on the bookshelf to be buried with me. I love my dogs (my kids and grandkids are loved too).

[rintense]

Mine: Belgian Sheepdogs

My jock:

My princess:

[Ditter]

You just gave the best reason I have ever heard to dump a husband.

[rintense]

I hope he's an ex for the very reason you gave. Bastard.

My mom also put down my childhood dog without every telling me she was going to do it. He wasn't even ill. I came home from school one day and he was gone. I never forgave her.

[Mr Rogers]

“True love entails extending one’s ego boundaries in an effort to affect spiritual growth in one’s self or another.”

I would probably disagree, if I had any idea of what that means...

[Daffynition]

I found this story this morning, but was unable to post it due to copyright rules.

Call it devotion, loyalty or habit ... I call it love.

[granite]

ping

[vetvetdoug]

I am pragmatic about the issue. I raised a foal and spent hundreds of hours with her training her, feeding her, keeping her groomed, and saw to her health. In return, she gave me her trust and affection...her willingness to be with me and stay with me through some circumstances that any other horse would have bolted and left the area. For 26 years she was the constant..thru two marriages and other personal tragedies...and when I lost her last week I was devastated. Yes I loved her...not in the sense of marriage but in the sense of caring for another and the the friendship she afforded.

I see clients that love their animals every day and also see clients at the other end of the spectrum that feel animals are just a possession. It takes a good person with a good basic heart to love an animal.

[Sarajevo]

I have slept with 2 of my horses in the same stall.

At least you had some room. These two stooges and 10 others think the bed belongs to them.

[Ditter]

What a great story! I know my Jack Russels love me but after a week without food they would probably eat me.

[Cyber Liberty]

I was never the alpha in our house, my husband was; however, I freely order the dog around and as expected, he obeys. That would never work with a real man.

Reminds me of an expression: "If you get to thinking you're a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else's dog around." ~Will Rogers

[Canedawg]

I’m quite sure this is my “Photo of the Day”.

:-)

[Daisyjane69]

And I never forgave him.

To this very day.

He’s an “ex” for a million reasons. But that was the one that hurt the most, and illustrated why I knew I was better off without him in my life.

From here on out, I plan to take my chances.

[freekitty]

First of all that is not love. It’s perversion.

[Judith Anne]

I do call the dogs my “furkids.” I guess you could say I love them, but it’s definitely different than the love I have for human family and friends. It’s just that the mastiff and my husband were so close, the dog is a link to him...

[Jeff Chandler]

It means being open to God’s grace.

Man is the only earthly creature made in God’s image.

I have never been without at least one dog in my life, and I have had as many as three at a time not counting puppies. They are incredible companions and great bulwarks against loneliness, cynicism, and depression. They amuse me and comfort me. But if you have ever come close to losing a child or a grandchild, then you know that dogs are just animals.

[lonestar]

I’m very fond of my dogs, but I wouldn’t lay my life down for them.

But they would die for you.

That's why I love dogs.

[lonestar]

That is precious!

[LongElegantLegs]

They would die for my neighbor just as easily if he took care of them, or my worst enemy. Their willingness to put themselves in harm’s way has nothing to do with me personally; it’s animal instinct, and while I appreciate the benefits of it, I don’t feel the need to reciprocate.

[RedWhiteBlue]

Today Yorkzilla discovered toilet paper: