NationStates Jolt Archive

Here's the place to tell us about your pet(s). Pics are encouraged if you have them. Zooke is short for Zookeeper, so you know I'm gonna have a few furry faced friends. It's a long list, so let's get started.

Dolly is a 17 year old Pomeranian. She's almost totally deaf, has cataracts, and no teeth, but she's still a beauty queen.

Cowboy is some kind of little wired haired mutt. One of those dogs that's so ugly they're cute. He's about 9 and just kinda lays around.

Pedie is a stray we took in 3 years ago. He's a one-eyed chihuahua & pug mix so he looks like a little rottweiler. He has a nasty disposition and bites us on a regular basis. He also snorts and snores constantly. How could you not love a little guy like this?

Sophie is a 2 year old Schiperke. She has the energy level of a gerbil on speed. She is all about play.

Jack is some kind of husky/shepard/?? mix that we took in a couple of months ago. He too is all about play and highly energetic, so he's our Sophie sitter. He ate the couch yesterday, so his status is kind of shakey right now.

Angel is our cat. She's fat and a cat. What else can I say?

Zoe is the cat that moved into one of our bathrooms when the weather got cold. She is "that cat in the bathroom". I guess if she doesn't move out when it warms up we'll claim her as part of the family.

That's it for now...stay tuned in case another stray shows up. Now, how about your little friends?

Well, here when I'm away at school, I have two mice

There's Athena http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/vajaradakini/IMG_0071.jpg

and Artemis http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/vajaradakini/IMG_0178.jpg

When I go home, I have a kitty named Cali http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/vajaradakini/IMG_0004.jpg

And a dog named Surprise (pronounced the french way) a bunny named Buttons aka Retardo aka Snoopy (Retardo was the original name as one ear was up and the other ear went down, then when the other ear went down too, the name got changed to Buttons and it earned the nickname Snoopy because it's a black and white rabbit that always sits on top of its pink house.) As well as a plethora of fishes.

Oh, and my littlest sister has a hamster. She always changes its name so I can't remember it.

60 or so fish in two largish tanks (I want to get a 12 footer fish tank to replace the kitchen wall) full of guppies (which we're breeding), Tetras (neons, cardinals, diamond, rummy-nosed, congo), ghost knife, catfish, angel fish, gourami, rainbow fish (hurray for the natives, I'm planning on getting a few gudgeons next time I'm down south), a goby and a snail. What else can I add? I'm thinking of turtles (expensive and hard to care for) or yabbies or something else if I can think of it. Ideas?

60 or so fish in two largish tanks (I want to get a 12 footer fish tank to replace the kitchen wall) full of guppies (which we're breeding), Tetras (neons, cardinals, diamond, rummy-nosed, congo), ghost knife, catfish, angel fish, gourami, rainbow fish (hurray for the natives, I'm planning on getting a few gudgeons next time I'm down south), a goby and a snail. What else can I add? I'm thinking of turtles (expensive and hard to care for) or yabbies or something else if I can think of it. Ideas?

I've always loved angel fish. Have you ever tried a salt water tank?

Sparky is wonderful ( pet Komodo dragon ) though when he bit me I had to have my leg amputated due to the bacteria. I thought giving him listerine would be helpful. I also have a hard time with my other pets. I had 3 dogs all have left and 6 cats they apparently left also. But life is good with Sparky.

Sparky is wonderful ( pet Komodo dragon ) though when he bit me I had to have my leg amputated due to the bacteria. I thought giving him listerine would be helpful. I also have a hard time with my other pets. I had 3 dogs all have left and 6 cats they apparently left also. But life is good with Sparky.

do you know Johnny Wadd?

do you know Johnny Wadd?


No. Is he an expert in Komodo dragons? The guy who sold it to me told me it wouldn't get any bigger than an iguana :eek:

No. Is he an expert in Komodo dragons? The guy who sold it to me told me it wouldn't get any bigger than an iguana :eek:

No, you two just seem to have a similar trait.

We've got Lizzy, a stray tabby we took in.

When she came to us, she was a lovely, lissome little thing. Then she started eating and now, four months later, she's the proverbial tub of lard. Her idea of exercise is to look round the garden door when I open it for her, look up at me (politely) like I've just gone insane and then sit down until I close the door again.

Her predecessor, Taz, was the opposite - if he couldn't fuck it, he'd fight it. Which was an unfortunate philosophy when applied one day to a speeding car, hence Lizzie coming into our lives.

I got my horse Rubby and my two best cocks, Red and Lucky. I had another one till last Sunday but he was killed in the Sunday cockfight. I lost $10 on that fight, and to top it off, he was my best bird! :(

I have WAY too many cats. Especially for my little apartment.

Bubba- World biggest momma's boy. He whines pathetically any time he can't get in my lap, and digs his claws in if you try to move him. And wakes me up in the wee hours to play fetch with his furry mouse.

D.D.- my own bathroom cat. She's Bubba's sister, but prefers living in the bathroom. Anytime anyone goes into the bathroom they are required to pet her. She insists.

Squeakers- Raving lunatic on speed. He thinks he must go every place. He has literally climbed on the ceiling. If he hasn't been there, he must go immediately. Fast. With deleterious effects on the house.

Twitchy- Squeaker's brother. Not as psycho, but he thinks he's the king of the house. Bubba disagrees.

Butch- Lots of extra toes, and the size of a bobcat. My favorite mutant.

Dunkin'- So named because when we found him he was getting dunked in the pool by one of the local feral cats. Poor little Dunkin' was in the pool and his much larger attacker wouldn't let him out. He's a quiet shy little fellow.

Maggie- Had a broken pelvis when we found her. From being a pathetic starving little foundling, she certainly has an attitude now. She'll spit at you if you try to kiss her.

Lucy- My brother's cat. He's in the army, so I'm catsitting for a few years. Bubba hates her, and tries to make her life miserable. He's doing a good job. She and Squeakers get along famously though. But Squeakers likes everybody.

When me and my boyfriend broke up, he claimed custody of Tiny. I am bitter, because Tiny loved me over everyone else, even him. Grrr.

I think I am going to get a kitty when I move this spring.

I used to have a rat, then it got an enoumous tumor and croaked. Then I got another rat, and it got an enormous tumor and croaked. This has gone on for about 4 or 5 rats. I havent got a new one in a couple of years, I think I'll wait till they cure rat cancer.

I got my horse Rubby and my two best cocks, Red and Lucky. I had another one till last Sunday but he was killed in the Sunday cockfight. I lost $10 on that fight, and to top it off, he was my best bird! :(

Ugh. The only place I know of in the US where it's still legal is Louisiana. Even backwards Oklahoma outlawed it recently. How can you call something a pet then involve it in a fight to the death. Not a lot will make me violent, but that's reprehensible. IMO you are scum. :gundge:

I got my horse Rubby and my two best cocks, Red and Lucky. I had another one till last Sunday but he was killed in the Sunday cockfight. I lost $10 on that fight, and to top it off, he was my best bird! :(

Are you kidding? Do you really cock fight????? :(

When me and my boyfriend broke up, he claimed custody of Tiny. I am bitter, because Tiny loved me over everyone else, even him. Grrr.

I think I am going to get a kitty when I move this spring.

You need Jack!! I suggest you only have very old disposable furniture, though.

Ugh. The only place I know of in the US where it's still legal is Louisiana. Even backwards Oklahoma outlawed it recently. How can you call something a pet then involve it in a fight to the death. Not a lot will make me violent, but that's reprehensible. IMO you are scum. :gundge:
No one stops us in Idaho. IMO you are intolerant of my culture and customs.

Are you kidding? Do you really cock fight????? :(
Yeah we don't have much else to do out here :p

No one stops us in Idaho. IMO you are intolerant of my culture and customs.


I'm also intolerant of lynching. Your point?

I'm also intolerant of lynching. Your point?
Cockfighting is not killing people. I don't see anything wrong with it. It's the bird's natural instinct to kill its rivals anyway.

No one stops us in Idaho. IMO you are intolerant of my culture and customs.

I live in Arkansas, so I'm familiar with the barbaric sport of cock fighting. Rates right up there with dog fighting and child molesting. I'm sorry, but I just don't have any respect for someone who thinks watching a couple of roosters rip each other to pieces is a social event.

do you know Johnny Wadd?


lol......that was just funny to me.


I have 4 adorable sweet dogs. Sam, Libby, Goatee,and Gordo. All black Dachshund/Mini-Lab mixed. I should take pics and post em. They are so loving.

I have a English Springer Spaniel named Chance that is 1 3/4 years old.

No one stops us in Idaho. IMO you are intolerant of my culture and customs.
It's animal cruelty. If someone isn't intolerant of this, I think there's something wrong with them.

It's animal cruelty. If someone isn't intolerant of this, I think there's something wrong with them.


Not that I support cock fighting because I do not but, let me get this straight logically, if the cocks are in the barn yard and fight and one dies is this animal cruelty? Or is it only if you put them in an arena and speed up the process of what will happen naturally anyways?

Is it animal cruelty when camera crews show animals fighting to the death and they could interfere and save the animals life?

Will you claim that that is nature and man should not interfere?

So then if the cocks find each other in the barnyard and kill each other it is ok?

I don't deliberately place two animals that will fight together, then place bets on which one will die and call it fun.

Not that I support cock fighting because I do not but, let me get this straight logically, if the cocks are in the barn yard and fight and one dies is this animal cruelty? Or is it only if you put them in an arena and speed up the process of what will happen naturally anyways?

Is it animal cruelty when camera crews show animals fighting to the death and they could interfere and save the animals life?

Will you claim that that is nature and man should not interfere?

So then if the cocks find each other in the barnyard and kill each other it is ok?

I think it changes when you attach metal claws to the cocks..

I don't deliberately place two animals that will fight together, then place bets on which one will die and call it fun.

Me either I abhor violence. It would not be fun to watch any creatures do this.

I think it changes when you attach metal claws to the cocks..


Metal claws???? Do they want one to die? OR do they pull them apart if one starts to win?

I only have five cats at the moment, and my room mate two, so they are practically mine. All are resuces, ( I've been doing cat resuce for about 30 years ) and all of them are unadoptable due to medical needs.

Ashley, who is 25 this year is my roomies. She is doing great for a cat as old as she is.

Now for "My Three Sons" as they are called, three very large tuxedo cats built and furred like Maine Coon cats...

Poot, my 'grumpy old man', he only has one good eye and acts as judge, jury and executioner - he'll run over and swat the others when they do no-no's like scratching on the furniture rather than their scratching post ( even before I can yell at them )

Scamper, aka Monster Paws. - He's huge, weighs in at 20+ lbs of muscle. He is my philosophical cat, takes every thing in stride.

Mr. Soft as Silk at nearly 10 years has a coat even softer than a kittens. He is a total coward - any sudden movement or sudden sound and he is running for cover. He loves being cuddled, but he will leave claw marks when he dashes for 'safety' .

Sheba Blind Kitty was born with out eyes, but you'd never know it to see her at any distance. She runs and plays, leaps and generally keeps up with the others.

Sheila came from the stables, she like Ashley is the roomies, and is as small and tidy a cat as any old lady might want.

Our newest is the Skitter Critter, he's only about 8 months old and is already huge. His mother left him on our patio late last summer.

I have three cats Benno, Ivy, and J.R. I'm worried about J.R. He is 10 months old and he weighs 10 lbs. It gets worse then that because he is shaped like a pear. My mother only feeds him dried cat food. We've tried putting it up after he's done eating vbcause he will go in the bag for more, but now he has learned to climb up on the cupboards. What should we do?

put the food in a tin or a large container. cats may be able to get into bags, but they lack thumbs to open containers and the like.

i have a 155 pound fawn great dane. his name is Thor, but we call him Thy Dogue. he is my best friend, and the only thing that can stir up true emotion in me.

Metal claws???? Do they want one to die? OR do they pull them apart if one starts to win?

That's the whole idea. It's no fun unless it's bloody and uber violent. :headbang:

we used to put the food in a container and then hide it in cupboards or on top of them, but he got into the cupboards because the latches need to be tightened and when we put it up he would climb up and knock the container down.

keep the container on the floor and get one with a lid that shuts tight.

either that or hide the food in a closet and keep the door shut. cats can't open doors... well, most of them can't.

Jeb- 3 yr old English Fox Hound-Retriever mix. Looks like he has retriever in his blood to me, others say they see pit bull.

Either way he's a sweet, smart, fit, determined, energetic, hazel-eyed, short haired, medium size tan/goldish (with white spot on his head and white underbelly) dog.

He lives in my big fenced in back yard untied. Rarely barks unless he sees something that he doesn't think is right. Sometimes the other dogs around here start barking and after a while he lets them know who's boss. After a few roofs I tell him to shut up and he does. So he's not terribly hard headed.. but I still can't let him out of the lot without him taking off to the houses behind my house to visit the other dogs.

Edit: I let him in when it gets real cold outside. Never had to house train him. He just knew.

keep the container on the floor and get one with a lid that shuts tight.

either that or hide the food in a closet and keep the door shut. cats can't open doors... well, most of them can't.

I wish someone would tell Butch that. He opens my roll top bread box so he can shred the bread. He likes that even more than shredding paper towels.

i have a 155 pound fawn great dane. his name is Thor, but we call him Thy Dogue. he is my best friend, and the only thing that can stir up true emotion in me.

You're dog sounds really cute. I used to work at an animal shelter where I took care of a pit bull named Thor. He was a very beautiful dog. :)

I wish someone would tell Butch that. He opens my roll top bread box so he can shred the bread. He likes that even more than shredding paper towels.

He wouldn't understand. I don't think he has cats. They will do whatever it takes to get what they want, even if they don't have thumbs. :)

The vets I worked for in the past, and the resuce groups I worrk with now have always recommended what are called the 'premium' foods. - Eukanuba, Walthams Science Diet, Iams, etc - they really are better - because the protien in them is higher quality, and there is less filler - so you feed less, the cat or dog gets more nutrition, and they produce less stool and are less inclinded to over eat.

What I do is put my dry cat food in air tight containers. The recommended daily feeding amounts on the bags are spot on for Walthams Science Diet, Eukanuba, and Iams ( the three I use exclusively )- just put out the proper amount for your cats size, and once thats eaten, well...I know they can look just so pitiful...just breaks your heart, doesn't it?

I free feed, there is dry food out all the time, but none of mine have a 'compulsive over eating' problem.

When you are trying to help a cat lose or manage weight you never just want to suddenly cut down the amount of food they are getting - reduction in quantity needs to be done slowly as cats are susceptable to fatty liver syndrome, and it's often fatal.

Always discuss weight loss/management with your vet.

My cat is a fatass and she waits patiently for her food. She even does a little song and dance for it when it's time to feed her.

We just have a container with a simple snap latch on the floor with her food in it.

Of course she munches on the dog's food...

My cats do what I call the 'water dance' - when they go to drink they do a little front paw pat and shuffle two to four times with each paw before beginning to drink.

It's hard to describe but hysterically funny to watch.

My cats do what I call the 'water dance' - when they go to drink they do a little front paw pat and shuffle two to four times with each paw before beginning to drink.

It's hard to describe but hysterically funny to watch.

They're probably checking the water level. Cats have very poor close vision, and can't see a damn thing when it's right under their nose. Hunting relies more on distant vision and the ability to detect movement.

yeah, mine will test the water with her paw and then start to drink.

When it's near her feeding time, she'll fluff up her tail and let out a series of really loud purr-meows (that's the best way I can think of describing it... somewhere between a purr and a meow)

I know cat vision,- they aren't pawing the water, but the floor of the water bowls ( or which ever of my several table fountains they have decided to drink from )

If one of the others tries to come up on Scamper while he is drinking he will splash them with water until they back off and let him finish at his leisure.

Cats are hilarious. Catwatching is one of my favorite sports.

Cats are hilarious. Catwatching is one of my favorite sports.
I think it's best when they attack a tiny dust speck that you can't see. So they're batting furiously at the air..

Or when they're racing around the house like they're being chased by all the demons in hell. And nobody else is there.

I've always loved angel fish. Have you ever tried a salt water tank?

Hahahahaha, no. So much extra work to get the water conditions right!

Sheba Blind Kitty chases 'fairys' - she will run around the living room, leaping in the air and pouncing on what whe has brought down...a great huntress is she!

I have Ben, a rescued Border Collie who has the most placid nature in the world, despite having been beaten and starved by his origonal owner.

I also have two cats, Molly and Holly (Mother and daughter) who take turns to curl around my neck and shoulders when I am sitting in front of my computer.
Ben and Holly play catch with each other for hours, they have a little ball that they pass to each other and often sleep together (though not in the biblical sense).

Pets are cool and much better than people (except of course for my own wife and kids ;) )

My cat washes herself with soap. Seriously! Sometimes, when I'm in the shower, she will sit on the toilet seat and watch. Occasionally, she will step partially onto the edge of the tub, lick the bar of soap and start to wash. I watched her wash for about fifteen minutes. Every few minutes, she would lick the soap again and keep washing. I only wish I had a camcorder.

Here is the Funny Cats Video (http://www.holylemon.com/funnycats.html)

I miss my fishtank...I hope the fish are happy...well...the parrot cichlid can die, he wasn't mine, I didn't want him, and he doesn't like me. Agressive thing it is too.
All 'cos my dad has marine now :(

Oh...Basil...yea, I wonder if he still says "*meh name removed* dinner!" when the oven alarm goes off? Who knows...probably still biting fingers and saying 'hello' to the telephone and 'oh sugar, sugar, sugar!' when he drops something...not when he breaks his toys though...that would happen too often. Bet he's missing the drinks I used to spoon to him...even the alcohol. Is alcohol bad for African Greys in strict moderation?

Not that I support cock fighting because I do not but, let me get this straight logically, if the cocks are in the barn yard and fight and one dies is this animal cruelty? Or is it only if you put them in an arena and speed up the process of what will happen naturally anyways?

Is it animal cruelty when camera crews show animals fighting to the death and they could interfere and save the animals life?

Will you claim that that is nature and man should not interfere?

So then if the cocks find each other in the barnyard and kill each other it is ok?

If you have barnyard chickens, you know to keep your roosters separate or you have their spurs removed. Just as you have to use care and separate unneutered males of most species. If you have roosters, or the males of any species, fighting, you need to take steps to keep them separate. The videos you see of animals in the wild killing each other or other species is called survival. Not to say that when I watch one of those I don't want to drive the lion off and take the baby gazelle back to its mother. But, in the wild, survival depends on eating and male dominance.

Cock fighting, and dog fighting, is another thing entirely. These animals are teased and trained to be aggressive. The roosters' combs are trimmed (without anesthesia) and the feathers are ripped out of their heads and chests. Razor sharp spurs are attached to their feet to allow for severe wounds. Dogs that have been used for fighting can only be put down because they are too aggressive to be socialized into a home as a pet. To train these animals they tie up a much smaller dog, usually a half grown pup, and encourage them to attack it. This builds up an aggressive nature, gives the fighting dog self-assurance, and incites a blood-lust. They are kept hungry as this also makes them more aggressive and combative.

Bet he's missing the drinks I used to spoon to him...even the alcohol. Is alcohol bad for African Greys in strict moderation?

Alcohol in any amount is bad for animals. Their metabolism and physiology is different from ours. The aspirin a day that does us so much good, will destroy a dog's liver. Chocolate encases their hearts in globs of fat. Alcohol does massive brain damage. I don't know what alcohol will do to a bird, but as delicate as they are, I would imagine it could cause significant damage.