Friday Fun

(Link at left)
Furry Friday ("Furry" has taken on a whole new connotation for me recently...one that makes me chuckle while warily watching from a distance)

1. When you were growing up, were pets part of your family? If so, what kind?

When I was very young, we had a parakeet named Peppy. Not sure what happened to him, but when I was 10, my parents got me a dog at the same time I turned into a 'latchkey kid' (before the term was coined). Tippi was for protection while I was home alone. He was pretty good at being a burglar alarm, but he was a lot of fun for me. My dad always said we couldn't get a cat because they are only good for mouse-catching and drowning (hey, he was a great guy the rest of the time!), and he would never admit how much he loved Tippi though it was obvious he doted on him.

2. If you have a pet (or 2 or 3 or 4!), do you tend to spoil it (or them) rotten?

No, I'm much more of a feed them, clean up after them pet owner. I do love dogs; they love you no matter what.

3. What is your feeling on pets in clothes? Cute, practical, or too Paris Hilton for you?

STOO-PID! What absolutely kills me is people who cut all the hair off their animal...and then put clothes on it. WTF?? God gave animals fur for a reason, and since He didn't include opposable thumbs, presumably that means He didn't want them wearing clothes (let's not get any more theological than that, ok?). The only reason dressing animals makes sense is if you have one of those nearly-hairless dogs and you live in a very cold climate.

Would this be a good place to mention that I used to dress my dog in my clothes when I was a kid? :-)

4. If you don’t have any, would you want one? And if so, what kind of pet?

I'd love a dog. I'm enjoying the guinea pig, though, which is sort of surprising. I've come to appreciate the joy of cat ownership. Maybe a hedgehog is in my future....

5. Do you have any favorite pet, current or in the past?

That's a bit like picking your favorite kid, isn't it? I loved Tippi to death; he was a great dog. The dog we got when we bought our first house simply had the best personality of just about any animal I've known. Cinnamon was caused an awful lot of worry and pain, but he has a special place in my heart since he was born here in this house. Buddy makes me laugh and is absolutely EASY to deal with; and he smells nice. No kidding! Who'd've thought?