Pets and you

[Bo]

I have pets on my mind lately and I wondered how you guys treat your pets , from personal experience I have learned that we can learn lots of lessons while having a pet.

we have a cute cat and he was lost one day for 3 days because he jumped from our balcony, and I felt completely broken and destroyed, but then when we found him later I realized the feeling of loss and it's understanding , the feeling of when you lose someone who you truly love for example, people can talk like ''ye I know what you mean'' but never have the experience of it, and it feels like your whole stomach turns upside down and you can explode from the inside like any second(this was before I even knew you guys or this forum, it was last year)

My cat has jumped 3 times from our balcony and now the door is locked for him, and sometimes he sits in front of the balcony door waiting for us to open it for him, but we won't and I feel very bad then for keeping him so locked, but we love him so much that we don't want him to hurt himself, or loose him, but then I ask myself who are we to choose for pets? and it's a difficult topic pets, because if you let your pet free, you will fear that he won't come back, or that he will hurt himself or something like that.

I give lot of attention to my cat, I even learned my cat hide and seek =D give him lots of free love whenever he wants it but yet I feel something is wrong to this kind of reality.


How do you deal with your pets? post your experience and idea's about our 2nd density friends here.

 

[salleles]

Adam, I recognize every single letter of your post. I've had the same experiences and the same feelings with my cat, although he never got lost for more than 24 hours.

Deciding what is good or not good for animals/pets is often, but not always a STS-driven problem. Consider this: would you feel uncomfortable if some 4D dude treated you the same way you treat your cat? Would you feel enslaved or imprisoned?

On a more practical level, you might try to cover your balcony's 'weak spots' with chicken wire (kippengaas), so he can go outside -which is indeed important- but won't be able to jump off. My cat got used to it very quickly.

 

[Bo]

Adam, I recognize every single letter of your post. I've had the same experiences and the same feelings with my cat, although he never got lost for more than 24 hours.

Deciding what is good or not good for animals/pets is often, but not always a STS-driven problem. Consider this: would you feel uncomfortable if some 4D dude treated you the same way you treat your cat? Would you feel enslaved or imprisoned?

I think I would feel imprisoned, lets assume some 4d entity traps me in one city only and giving me love and food etc , but not letting me discover the world beyond the city, because it fears I will get lost or something.

On a more practical level, you might try to cover your balcony's 'weak spots' with chicken wire (kippengaas), so he can go outside -which is indeed important- but won't be able to jump off. My cat got used to it very quickly.

ye I was thinking about that for a while as well, but didn't knew the name for it in dutch hehe , thnx for that.



But 2nd density don't even know what STO is or STS, so I think if one really takes care of their cat or dog and gives them enough love it would not be really something toward STS or so it seems, because you are protecting him against the cruel world outside, I mean a parent won't let his kid play out of her sight, because otherwise they might get lost.

if the cat would be conscious of the danger of jumping from the balcony can kill him or make him go lost he wouldn't do it I think , I mean I can understand it, you see some big birds flapping their wings down there and you want to jump down no matter if it's even 9 billion miles and put your teeth in them.

Q: (L) Do whales form long-lasting bonds and feel love?
A: Yes.
Q: (L) Do dogs feel love?
A: Dogs feel need as love.

does the same goes for cat? that they feel need as love, I think it would make sense, they are somehow lazy 2nd density beings and only purr at you if they are hungry =D

 

[Laura]

We have humanimal, Sebastian, pictured below:

He has a cat, Penelope:

We LOVE Sebastian and are fond of Penelope... We just aren't cat people.

Sebastian is the apple of our eye and the adored companion and guardian of 10 people. He has his dinner cooked for him every evening because we do not give him evil, processed dog foods. There is a list on the refrigerator of foods that are bad for doggies so no one will make any mistakes. He gets bathed and brushed fairly regulary, and trimmed. As you can see, in the photo above, his back feathers have been trimmed up.

Sebastian also plays soccer and chases frisbies. The house is full of his (and Penelope's) toys. He likes stuffed animals that make noises. He never tears them up, he just squeezes them so they do whatever they do. He was never, ever, a bad boy in his life except when he jumped off the roof one day to protect our daughter from a stray cat. Nothing was broken, but we kept him sedated for several weeks after because when he got agitated, he had mini-seizures. He's fine now.

Sebastian understands many words and has important jobs. He goes with Ark to lock the gate every night and to unlock it in the morning. If Ark is late, Sebastian comes to get him.

There is a particular stuffed cat in my bedroom that Sebastian really wants but he knows he is not allowed to have it. He comes in periodically to check it out, picks it up and moves it somewhere else, possibly thinking that I won't notice and he can come back and get it later because he knows he can't walk by me with it in his mouth. He thinks that ALL stuffed toys ought to be his!

Sebastian doesn't take to strangers very fast. Even people he knows, because they do not live in the house, are always suspect. For him, the world is divided into sheep and wolves. All of us here in the house are his sheep, and he guards us zealously. All people outside the house are wolves until proven otherwise. And then, he only tolerates them.

As for Penelope... well, she hunts. And she digs up my plants out of the pots. And she does her business in my garden. She also climbs on the kitchen counter and steals food. She's sly and devious. Sebastian would NEVER do that. If she weren't a good ratter, I would find it hard to put up with the messes she makes.

Like I said, we just aren't cat people.

 

[Jacques]

There is a list on the refrigerator of foods that are bad for doggies so no one will make any mistakes.

Hi Laura,

Would it be possible to have a copy of the list, please?

My daughter has a little dog and i would appreciate very much to know what are those bad foods.

 

[mudrabbit]

My pets are so spoiled.

Abby was rescued while still very young. It was suggested I put her down, but didn't. Nine years later she is the sweetest kitty I've ever known.

Her companion and mine is Amos. A Lab/dalmation mix, and quite a brute at one year and 90 lbs. He's all bark and no bite when people walk by, and he howls and moans when sirens sound. So far, the guy that mows my lawn and the postman are allowed, but he has a hard time with anyone else. And because of his size, no one else tries.

Abby uses him as her defense. She goes outside the yard, and if chased, runs straight back to Amos. I've seen a few Toms make it past the fence, only to find themselves up against the garage wall.

They both sleep with me, which is why I keep a large bed...otherwise I'd be on the floor!

 

[Kel]

My two cats are free. They live outdoors and seem to be extremely happy and very healthy. My hubby is allergic to cats, so that has helped me with my decision to have outdoor cats, but also, we have 10 acres now and have always had at least a yard. My large male kitty has "chosen" to live with us for about 9years. He has always lived outside and has survived 4 moves--always living outside and free.

Friends and family who have indoor cats seem to always have problems: their cats have many health problems, behavior problems, besides smell and dirty problems. I think it's sick when people declaw their cats. I wouldn't have pets if I couldn't give them their freedom. My chickens are even free-range--they just get penned up at night.

I love animals, but keep myself restricted to what I can handle. I just found a new home for my two goats because I couldn't bear to keep them penned up--after 3 years of letting them be free during the day and putting up with them eating flowers, shrubs, wiring, and kids toys, I decided to let them go.

I don't have a dog right now because I'm not ready for the time and energy commitment required. Besides, a dog would probably chase my free chickens. However, dogs seem to take better to less freedom as long as you are giving them their exercise and enough attention.

Although every cat is different, generally, I think they are very independant and need their freedom.

FWIW

 

[Meg]

I have a Lionhead goldfish. (Osiris) I have been reading Wave 3 and sometimes I read it out loud just for my favorite 2D pet. Hopefully, he'll learn something for his transition into 3D whenever that may be. I don't pet him often and he won't chase frisbies just yet. I'm working on it.

 

[Russ]

This thread reminds me of this: http://www.xkcd.com/c231.html ;D

 

[Laura]

I have a Lionhead goldfish. (Osiris) I have been reading Wave 3 and sometimes I read it out loud just for my favorite 2D pet. Hopefully, he'll learn something for his transition into 3D whenever that may be. I don't pet him often and he won't chase frisbies just yet. I'm working on it.

LOL!

Reminds me of when our youngest daughter, at about the age of three, decided that our really big fantails were bored and lonely and would like to play Barbies with her. She took them out of the tank and dressed them in barbie clothes... and was devastated that they did not survive. Her older siblings were not very understanding about it and there was some rancor that she "killed" their beautiful fish.

 

[stardust]

Let me present my little team :

Wapita : a female we've found at a farm where there were nearly 50 semi-wild cats. 2 weeks after our coming, we've learned that all the cats were poisoned by a guy who couldn't bear all these cats running everywhere...
She was terrified and have crying during 3 days until I sing sweet song and caress her with my hair.
She's still quite wild with strangers, very independant but she has periods of great tenderness when she can make you "kisses" for hours.

Kitty : an other female. One day a seller come home and said to us that just before coming he have seen a very little cat lost on the edge of the road not far from our house. He tried to take it but failed: the cat run to hide in the high herbs . It was a very cold day (-5°C) and the young cat was promised to death if we don't make anything. So I take a little food and go there. The poor beast was crying so sadly and desesperatly. A little white ball in the winter wind... It run away from me but I call it sweetly with holding the food. In 3 second the cat has plunged the head in the food and let me take it without cease to eat. It begin to hum in the car. At home, the little female don't cease to hum and follow us everywhere we go or do.
Today she's the more lascive cat I've ever known. She love we caress her on the belly , eat and sleep. We call her "the decadent roman".

Harsisi (the father) and Al Ghezal (his son): 2 Azawakhs - the dogs of the Touaregs, considered as horse (and they walk like horses): these dogs are the only who can go under the "tent" ( the other are considered as impure in the musulman religion) . They are treated in their origin country as precious companions. Nowadays, the Touaregs tribes are not alowed by the gouvernment to possess guns so these dogs are the only chance to get meat and protect the tribes from predators.
They are courageous, very fast, attached to the family but also independant. If they are not sociabilised soon in their youth, they can stay wild and listen nothing.

Harsisi makes all to respect his nickname of "prince of the desert" : very long sunbathes, poses like a enigmous sphinx monitoring his territory, "don't touch me if you don't know me", "oh please let me stay on the sofa", and "wake up it's late and I'm hungry..."

Al Ghezal ("Gégé" for the friends) : wants always playing and running after the cats. Steals all he can catch : I don't count all the pens he's stolen and destroyed, as well as underwears, papers which smell food and what he loves the more : to put his nose in your pockets or bags to stole the kleenex ( I always don't know why !).
Don't like strangers in his home, especially when they're not sat down quietly. But when he like you, it's for life never mind if he don't see you very much.
He likes make a sleep lowered on you, too.


All this little community is very interesting to observe and I'm very attached to all of them. One of the things they learned me : patience and diplomacy.

 

[Z...]

Harsisi (the father) and Al Ghezal (his son): 2 Azawakhs - the dogs of the Touaregs, considered as horse (and they walk like horses): these dogs are the only who can go under the "tent" ( the other are considered as impure in the musulman religion) . They are treated in their origin country as precious companions. Nowadays, the Touaregs tribes are not alowed by the gouvernment to possess guns so these dogs are the only chance to get meat and protect the tribes from predators.
They are courageous, very fast, attached to the family but also independant. If they are not sociabilised soon in their youth, they can stay wild and listen nothing.

Harsisi makes all to respect his nickname of "prince of the desert" : very long sunbathes, poses like a enigmous sphinx monitoring his territory, "don't touch me if you don't know me", "oh please let me stay on the sofa", and "wake up it's late and I'm hungry..."

Wow,
This is my favorite of all dog breeds, I ve only seen only one in my whole life
and indeed this breed is prince among all dogs, if great dane is the king ( and I would add Irish wolfhound as a king too, bit rugged but still a king)

 

[Z...]

And behold - the king!
with a heart of a lion yet gentle as a breeze

This is the tallest of all breeds, when standing upright on their hind legs they easily hug 6ft tall men. And this is how these dogs show their affection - they hug you.
Its origins are shrouded in mystery same as origins of Celts who are believed to have introduced Irish Wolfhound to Europe. It is considered to be one of the most ancient breed that hasn't changed for thousands of years.

The Celts of the European continent are credited with the origins of the Irish Wolfhound. It is thought that the continental Celts brought their hound to Ireland sometime between 2500 B.C. and 1500 B.C. The Celts used these animals as dogs of war. The dog's great size made it possible for the dog to pull a mounted horseman off his horse during battle. The Irish Wolfhounds were revered for their courage and admired for their beauty. This breed of dog also was used for hunting, chasing and killing of wild game such as the stag and wolves. As a note of interest, the Irish stag that the Wolfhound hunted stood six feet at the shoulder. Unfortunately, the Irish stag is no longer in existence, having been hunted to extinction by the late 1700's.

Unfortunately very short life expectancy - only 8-10 years.

I think nothing sums it better then this when it comes to men's best friend:

Epitaph To a Dog

Near this spot
Are deposited the Remains
Of one
Who possessed Beauty
Without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
And all the Virtues of Man
Without his Vices.

The Price, which would be unmeaning flattery
If inscribed over Human Ashes,
Is but a just tribute to the Memory of
“Boatswain,� a Dog
Who was born at Newfoundland,
May, 1803,
And died in Newstead Abbey,
Nov. 18, 1808.

When some proud son of man returns to earth,
Unknown by glory, but upheld by birth,
The sculptor’s art exhausts the pomp of woe,
And stories urns record that rests below.
When all is done, upon the tomb is seen,
Not what he was, but what he should have been.
But the poor dog, in life the firmest friend,
The first to welcome, foremost to defend,
Whose honest heart is still his master’s own,
Who labors, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,
Unhonored falls, unnoticed all his worth,
Denied in heaven the soul he held on earth –
While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven,
And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven.

Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour,
Debased by slavery, or corrupt by power –
Who knows thee well must quit thee with disgust,
Degraded mass of animated dust!
Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat,
Thy smiles hypocrisy, thy words deceit!
By nature vile, ennoble but by name,
Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame.
Ye, who perchance behold this simple urn,
Pass on – it honors none you wish to mourn.
To mark a friend’s remains these stones arise;
I never knew but one – and here he lies.

- Lord Byron’s tribute to “Boatswain" on a monument in the garden of Newstead Abbey.

 

[Nienna]

Thank you for that, Deckard. It's beautiful.

 

[stardust]

I have a funny photo of an Irish Wolfhound (the tallest) and a Little Italian Hound - I'm not sure of the english name-(the smallest)

Irish Wolfhounds were use by the Romans in arenas against lions ... to tell how they're strong. And yes, they're very kind.

Unfortunately very short life expectancy - only 8-10 years.

As the most of very tall dogs...

This is my favorite of all dog breeds, I ve only seen only one in my whole life

My veterian is found of, too ;) but my dogs are not found of their doctor ! He says he could make an anatomia lesson on them, as you see all the musculature ( I see them as the Massaï people). Fortunaly for them, they 're never ill... the first one for Harsisi (9 years old) was because of opened windows when driving. He coughed some days and I take care of him with eucalyptus oil diffused in the air near him and vit.C supplements.


For Deckard, a very nice photo of a daughter of Harsisi: