Pets?

[CameronFrye]

Does having a pet help?

What have your experiences been with pets?

I'm thinking of adopting a dog from my local shelter. I think having something positive to direct my energy towards as well as having something care about me would be helpful.

 

[edu0z]

The kind of love a dog is willing to give and receive, that sincere appreciation and no ulterior motives... loyalty... it's something that no human is able to offer, that's why I love dogs

 

[Foresight]

I always recommend pets based on energy levels. Dogs are a handful but are very quirky and fun. If you have chronic health issues or low energy due to mental illness I recommend cats over dogs. A gentle cat is an incredible emotional support animal. My pets have kept me alive over the years so if you're in recovery it's definitely something to consider. It's a long term commitment.

 

[Smart No More]

Yeah. If you're genuinely caring you will definitely get something from having a pet. It takes some responsibility though so be prepared for that.

 

[Pluto]

Pets are often considered very beneficial for mental health.

Still, I have a bunch of weird reasons for not getting one. I don't imagine I would cope at all when the pet finally passes on. And yet, in apparent contradiction, I also fear being stuck if I wanted to CTB. Also because I'm a vegetarian I'd feel uncomfortable buying pet food; this isn't an issue for parrots but they often outlive their owners and are a whole new level of demanding. So my solution is to pet other people's pets when I get a chance. :D

 

[JustAMatterOfTime]

Yes, animals get me a lot more than people do, companionship without language required, no judging.

 

[LivideLamb]

My pets have always helped me. It feels like they always give you love, whatever you do. I guess that thinking "your dog won't understand if you ctb" helps in some way.

 

[Nolan96]

The paradox is that struggling people often find emotional comfort and meaning in their lives from pets or from children, but it's morally questionable to get pets or children if you're in a dire mental state where you might not be the best (or most permanent) caretaker.

I have no pets, but my parents' dogs mean so much to me. I love them.

 

[Ethereal Knight]

The kind of love a dog is willing to give and receive, that sincere appreciation and no ulterior motives... loyalty... it's something that no human is able to offer, that's why I love dogs

plus, walking is very healthy.

and depending on the dog size, walking is a must.

the medium and big size dogs especially, they pretty much cannot be physically and mentally healthy without going for regular walks and have a nice level of physical activity, exploration and socialization.

these walks can benefit the owner just as much as the pet. highly recommended.

 

[StarryStarry]

I have one 12 year old cat named Sweet Pea. We've been together for 12 years. She has loved me unconditionally and been there through good times and bad. She knows when I'm having a bad day and she will come lay in my lap. I'm so lucky to have her in my life. If I didn't have her, I would already be dead. Once she goes I will go after her. She is my reason for living.

 

[LoneMisery]

You dont always have to get a puppy. Finding an older dog whos probably potty trained will make that step easier.
Believe it or not theyre just as depressed and sad and lonely as we are and you would make the biggest impact in their lives as i hope it does for you.
I have one goal its to find my own place and im going to adopt the oldest dogs from the shelter. I want at least 4 or 5 lol. Golden retrievers are great friends. As so any dog is

 

[trianglesplayhouse]

This is a clear invitation for me to share pictures of mine

1st, cat, Patsy:
Childhood pet, she is turning 10 this year. Very interesting personality. Has developed a catnip addiction in the past year. Also, very hairy and sheds it everywhere, surprisingly large amount of hair for such a small thing. Is extremely skinny for some reason.

2nd, fox dog, Coco:
Was supposed to be a pomeranian but ended up not being one thankfully. Very annoying likes to bark at every dog he sees. Very playful too. Bit of a bastard and is annoyed by everything.



3rd, dog, Bobby:
Best dog ever. Cuddly, smart and rather quiet. Pretty dependant on our attention and is jealous of Coco. But they get along decently.

 

[Ethereal Knight]

You dont always have to get a puppy.

I respectfully disagree. I experienced a bad situation regarding this. my father adopted an old dog, and this is the only dog ever in my life that I found impossible to teach how to walk by my side without them constantly pulling the leash all the time and with all their strength. all the other dogs learned pretty well, while this one just couldn't learn. my wrists hurt so much when I try to walk with her, and she even prefers to strangulate and suffocate herself rather than stop pulling. going for a walk with her is a nightmare, stressful and physically painful. this is bad for hee too: if medium/big dogs don't walk, they become stressed and depressed. I told my father: never bring an old dog home again. I'm sorry. but being able to teach this, and other stuff like what's the right place in the home to poop (and by the way, she's the only one that poops everywhere instead of on the right place. all the others learned well and were puppies when they were adopted), is so essential that you need to know how to teach this and you need to do it when the dog is very young.

 

[Smart No More]

Is there a right place in the home for a dog to poop?

You don't always have to get a puppy. Just because one experience with an older dog doesn't go well doesn't mean all will. Also only getting puppies or kittens feeds the system of breading and ultimately killing of unwanted pets. It's a very cruel system and it's selfish. People call themselves animal lovers when in many cases they don't really understand how to love, they just like to think of themselves (and for others to think of them) as animal lovers.

If you have a problem case you should consult a specialist.

 

[Sherri]

Helps me a lot, just make sure you have the love to give to have to a pet, the time and the money. My cat surely makes me happy and knows when I'm down, and no, I'm not imagining things. I also love dogs, but having one in an apartment is just wrong. I have neighbours with 2 German shepherds stuck in a flat alone all day while they work. Cats are a bit more independent, not mine though, behaves like a dog.

 

[Judah]

I love Persian cats, they are my favourites, if I see one without an owner, I will definitely adopt it, in the past I have feared 2 poodles, they both died of old age, but they were great friends

 

[Ratcycling]

I got my first trio of pet rats after I got out of the hospital for the first time when I was 17. They kept me going through some of the hardest times in my life, and my one boy lived to be 3, which is very old for a rat. He passed three weeks after I moved into the house I live in now, we had moved around together to four different homes in two years and all of them were either toxic environments or insecure housing. It was like he held on until I was living somewhere safe to pass away.

I had rats constantly from 17-22, at one point I had 14, which was way too much. But I mean, they kept me busy, I didnt have much time to think about how awful things were with 14 rats to take care of. And there was lots of cuddles and unconditional love any time I wanted it.

After that, I took a break from rats for 3 years, but then last year around this time I was just so depressed. I was spending days at a time not leaving my room and crying, seriously suicidal, and so lonely. I knew that they had helped in the past, so I went and found 3 boys.

The 3 of them are the only thing that keeps me here some days. They stop me from actually leaving this world because I can't imagine anyone else taking care of them. A lot of people think rats are scary or gross, but in my experience they are funny, affectionate, clever little animals. I never have to wonder if my rats love me even when I wonder if anyone else does. Anytime I go to their cage they come right up to me and let me pick them up, they groom my hands and face, snuggle into the crook of my neck, just sit there and let me pet them from nose to tail.

I'm a huge believer in animal therapy. If you have the means and the will to take care of a pet despite your struggles with mental illness, they can absolutely help make life a little brighter.

 

[Foresight]

@Ratcycling Yes, a fellow rattie owner! We have 6 right now. Our highest group was 19!! Four cages. Crazy but such a loving memory. My husband was collecting them like pokemon and I did all the very hard work for them.

I love rats so much. Such big personalities in tiny bodies that fit in your hand. I highly recommend a trio to anyone open to them and able to home them. They can be an expensive pet to care for though.

 

[Smart No More]

@Ratcycling Yes, a fellow rattie owner! We have 6 right now. Our highest group was 19!! Four cages. Crazy but such a loving memory. My husband was collecting them like pokemon and I did all the very hard work for them.

I love rats so much. Such big personalities in tiny bodies that fit in your hand. I highly recommend a trio to anyone open to them and able to home them. They can be an expensive pet to care for though.

What is it that's expensive about them? Vetinary bills or feeding? I was considering getting some and putting them in an enclosure with two way mirror so my cat could see them and be entertained by them but not actually be seen by the rats and therefore not stress them out and traumatise them. I got sick a ehile back and have had to keep my cat indoors and I feel terrible about her lack of stimulation due to my issues. She loved our daily walks and would hunt down mice and rats in the grounds we live on. Never killed them though. But yeah probably traumatised a few. In nature I figure I have no say but I wouldn't want to do that to domestic ones.

 

[Foresight]

Yea, you're right that in nature we don't have any control. I don't recommend using domestic rats as stimulation for cats in any capacity. The rats will sense the cat even without sight. They're very intelligent prey animals. I have two cats and I try not to let them into a room I use exclusively for the rats. If the cat sneaks in you notice behavioral differences even if the cat is far away and out of sight. Rats need a lot of stimulation themselves. They need a lot of attention and care, so the basis of getting one for a cat is probably not a good set up.

Rats are expensive because they need expansive and stimulating environments with lots of items, they need rotating bedding (we primarily use fleece), they're prone to needing vet care, and their food is pricey. Clean up is time consuming as well. I recommend them with caution considering the responsibility.

 

[Smart No More]

Okay, thank you for that. I've taken it on board and won't go down that route.

I have lots of wand toys etc for the cat but it's no substitute for the life she/we used to have when we'd go out walking each day. She's a really intelligent cat and needs more stimulation than most. It's a crappy situation and I'm not sure how to tackle it. I've tried a lot of things but she still signals wanting to go out and cries at the window sometimes. I feel cruel. It's just not an option anymore. We had such a good thing before this.