IF I DIDN'T HAVE A DOG OR CAT


I could walk around the yard barefoot.

My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.
All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair.

When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like a kennel.

When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without
wading through fuzzy bodies who beat me there.

I could sit on the couch and my bed the way I wanted, without taking into consideration
how much space several fur bodies would need to get comfortable.

I would have money, and no guilt to go on a real vacation.

I would not be on a first-name basis with 6 veterinarians,
as I put their yet unborn grand-kids through college.

The most used words in my vocabulary would not be:
out, sit, down, come, no, stay, and leave it ALONE.

My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.

I would not talk 'baby talk'. 'Eat your din din'. 'Yummy yummy for the tummy'...

My house would not look like a day care center, toys everywhere.

My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and an extra leash.

I would no longer have to spell the words B-A-L-L,, W-A-L-K,,
T-R-E-A-T,, O-U-T,, G-O,, R-I-D-E,, C-O-O-K-I-E

I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.

I would not look strangely at people who think having
ONE dog/cat ties them down too much.

I'd look forward to spring and the rainy season instead of dreading 'mud' season.

I would not have to answer the question...
'Why do you have so many animals?'
from people who will never have the joy in their lives of knowing
they are loved unconditionally by someone as close to an ANGEL
as they will ever get.

How EMPTY my life would be!!!

"Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad."

Hmmm. I have a 4 and a 7 year old....have lots of the same things.

lol I have a 70lb black lab that sheds when I wear white, and 70lb akita that sheds white and tan when I wear black, and the I have my 12lb toy poodle who thinks she the queen of the house. All inside dogs and the two big ones are scared of thunder so they become lap dogs when it storms

Love it! We have six dogs and five cats, and can relate to everything in the original post, lol.

We have two white Jack Russell terriers. We had 3 but our beloved Katy Sue passed away from a grandmal seizure last week. Now we are adopting a black/white Boston terrier. Can't hardly wait. I don't like the empty nest feeling.

I love it. That says it exactly. No one meets me at the door with such utter joy like my dog. And my cats are my cuddle buddies. What would I do without them.

I loved it! I may only have one but she's spoiled rotten!!

I could sleep as late as I wanted without my cat deciding that 6 am on a Sunday is late enough....

(but my life would be a lot more boring without my cats)

Tell it like it is!

Thanks for posting this. Just today I received a letter from my landlord telling us to get rid of the dog or else. We had Cow for years and he knew it. Little that he knows I know my rights and wrote him a letter that will leave him wishing he never said that. If he is ready for court, so am I and with the upper hand. I love Cow too much. He is our babysitter, blood sugar meter for DH, bed warmer and our baby.

I can relate! 5 cats and 2 dogs and more love than I deserve :)

if you didn't have a dog or cat, you would miss moments like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SZJ6...ayer_embedded#!

(puppy sleeping on an ac vent)

Life would be so empty without my fur babies.

Don't have either and love it.

If I didn't have my dogs, I would be MISERABLE to live with. Even my non-animal hubby has finally figured out my house will NEVER be without my dog. My girls are black and white, so it doesn't matter what I wear. I simply consider hair an accessory, gifted to me by my dearest friend.

I can't imagine what our home would be like without our many fur babies and a few feathered friends too!

I resemble that story! My dogs are my kids.

A house without a furbaby is not a home!

I have a 20lb cat that is part Maine Coon. I love Chief Red Cloud

life would not be the same without my little darling.

I literally don't know what life would be like without a dog or a cat. Or any animal, for that matter. My first cat was 2 months older than me, and my mom has always had cats since. My father has dogs. My stepfather had dogs, cats. My grandparents had a menagerie of critters...goats, sheep, cats, dogs, ducks, geese, rabbits...you name it. And, all were pets.

IF I DIDN'T HAVE A DOG OR CAT

I would not have a confidential confidant who listens to my deepest, darkest secrets and loves me in spite of them.

I would not have an in-house comedian who makes me laugh out loud.

I would not be greeted at the door with a wagging tail and a squeaky toy.

I would not have a non-electric security system.

I would have to stop sewing to fix dinner and I would have to listen to "Not this again!".

My life would definitely be lacking in their precious companionship.

my furbabies can spell..unfortunately.
i will always have a dog or 2.

even though this weekend i had to pass on a trip with my brother to his new place on Lake Huron. no furbaby sitter available. it is a part of my life, and i chose it. i love my dogs..

I would have more money, Doty my cat is always at the vets, damage from the bad cat food. But she is worth it. DEB

With six cats, I'm always sweeping up the feline tumbleweeds. The love and affection far outweighs the workload!

:lol: :lol: :lol: can just imagine those two big dogs on your lap

We use to have a cat, indoor and outdoor. My neighbor didn't like cats, so she did something with him. :cry: We also had two black labs. They were great dogs, lived a wonderful life. Miss them dearly, but I don't miss all the hair flying around the house. Would love to have a kitten but the other half doesn't want anything to do with animals. Still waiting for grand-babies. Maybe one of these days, not holding our breath on that one.

Love the orig. post 2 dogs and 1 cat there the babies wouldn't give them up for a millon dollars.

So sorry to hear of your loss I know the feeling because I lost my "Patchy" girl on December 1 she was 17 yrs old and looked much like your avatar minus the glasses. We then lost our little girl "MiMi" the 1st of April wha was 13 yrs old had only "Beany Boy" left and he hunted and hunted for the others so we rescued "Hobo" who is a rather large Jack Russell and he fit right in and is loved and spoiled as much as the others were.

All of the above for me :-) I have 2 Lab Retreivers and 3 cats and love them all.
My oldest dog is presently at the vet going through a battery of tests and x-rays and today getting a biopsy so we are keeping our fingers crossed. This one is my guard dog not that she is mean but will warn you of anything unusual and she is wise and highly intelligent with lots of personality she is my most dearest friend :-)

I could not be happy w/o pets- no way!!
My adage is " Pets are the family you choose" LOL
They absolutely complete my life!! :D:D

I only have 1 dog and 1 cat but everything you said fits so much. My Sasha is a 9 month old choc lab/doberman and she is so loving. She wants to give hugs and kisses all the time. She thinks she is a lap dog. My Harley is a 2 year old Egyptian Mau cat. He is loving most of the time but once in a while he litterly attacks me. I have more scares from his scratching or biting. We even had to have him declawed because of it. Both animals are house pets and even though I don't have carpet I have to vacuum several times a week. Tried it only once a week and just about plugged the vaccuum with fur. Despite all this I wouln't part with either one of them.

Our 14 year old lab/chow mix, Red, does the same thing in my sewing room. When it starts getting too hot in there, I can look down and he's sleeping on the register and doesn't want to move.

Life is so empty without a fur baby. Really miss mine. One day I will have another. Have three grand dogs though.

My sentiments exactly - so grateful I have been blessed with such loving Angels.

You have it all right. That is the way it has been at my house for 40 years and it will be for many more. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I have 9 cats. I have a plaque that says,"Every life should have 9 cats" Not sure they meant all at once. I have a very patient dog, 2 parrots and a bevy of fish. In my house if you find pet hair in your food it costs extra. I cannot walk out of the house without feathers in my hair and fur on my clothes. I have a friend that carries a lint brush just for me.

Loved your essay and we pet lovers know just how true this all is! It applies to children too! Well... up until the teen years at least. :?

I would be miserable without my 2 dogs and 2 cats. I'd rather have bare floors. I create more messes than my critters they never spill their first cup of tea or carry in as much mud as I do and I think I shed as much as they do.. no matter what ya still gotta clean house (occassionally)