How has having a pet helped you in your life-physically, mentally and spiritually? Anyone have any pet that has helped them let us know.

When I was a child, my family moved from Maine to Pennsylvania (I was in the 3rd grade). I lost all of my friends and I was in a strange state. I had a cat named Daisy, and I loved her to pieces, she was what kept me happy and focused and I did well. I was straight "A's" and in the highest academic classes of this new school. Suddenly Daisy died of a urinary tract infection .. not uncommon for cats... about 9 months after this move. My life crashed... I went into serious depression, ended up in special helps sections.. no one addressed my problems... it was like no one even noticed. My cat's death affected me for years... it seems a minor issue, but you have to remember, my family moved probably 12 times in 18 years.. many times to totally different states and school. At any rate, pets can provide profound impacts, positive and negative, in your life.

i feel the same way about my dog. I don't know what I would do if I lost her she follows me everywhere and they can be your best friend.

My little Silky Terrier, Tobi, keeps me amused. We have rabbits around here, and every morning and evening Tobi has to have the front door open (screen locked) so he can "look for the bunny." All you have to say is, "Tobi, I see the bunny," and he'll bolt and launch himself at the screen door. If you point the other way, he'll rush to the window. And if he sees it, he goes crazy, barking, whining, bouncing around, wanting to go outside and get it. He only weighs 15 pounds but he has pulled me off my feet chasing the bunny. And I swear the bunny knows it, because it will come right up to the patio and sit there while he's at the screen door freaking out. He makes me laugh.

My cats are friends to me. They climb into my lap and take naps with me. Gremlin nudges my hand to get me to pet him, reassuring me that he likes me.
They don't care how I look, what I'm wearing, if I'm having a bad-hair day! Just so I feed them! (They do have their price!)

Twice I've had a poodle. They were part of the family, always there, always letting me know they cared, always loving me.

Too bad we can't always say the same for humans...

I could never imagine life without pets. My dog is such a baby. Hes my lil baby boy. (actually a medium sized dog, an australian shepard). I carry him around the house and pick him up like a baby. He and I are so close, I think I would fall to pieces if he died or went away. my mother and I saved my cat (Princess Salem Bonney Binx) and she has feline lukiemia (sp?), so I know that I dont have much time left with her. I cant imagine what would happen to me without her. So, I guess Im saying that my pets have all had a profound impact on me and I couldnt be who I was without knowing them.

PS-In case dogspit happens to read this-I also have a little parakeet, his name is Baby Blue. And despite our HATE/love relationship, I do NOT eat bird. He is a little stinker, but I still love him and I almost had to give him away once, I cried for about 4 days until my mother agreed to let me keep him.

[This message was edited by BlueJewel06 on 08-04-02 at 04:03 PM.]