Spouses and Animals

[welasharon]

THe pig got me.....


Ha ha! I love it! I am the animal nut here too. My husband mostly tolerates them but he would rather not have so many be in the house. I used to be the crazy cat lady but they contracted feline leukemia and the numbers have dwindled (you never count more than thirty cats) to eight cats...four in and four outside and two dogs. I am getting tired of the mess and hair in the house myself. Chickens however....don't shed!!!!!!!!!!!!!Surely he's got to love that! Right! I have to have animals though. It's part of who I am.
sharon

 

[CoyoteMagic]

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My husband will even repeat what I've said from the time we were first married. "You can have my husband, but you can't have my dog"

 

[Catstar68]

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My 2 male co-workers keep telling me that their wives want to have chickens but they are dead against it. . Both couples have land, cats and dogs and kids. Here is an actual conversation we had: (mind you, these are medical research post-docs)

Me: So let her have a few chickens, the kids will love them, it will be educational!
Chris: I just don't think it's a good idea.
Nick: Yeah, let mine have chickens and the next thing you know she'll want something else. Something that might require a barn or something.
Chris; Yeah, don't you know that chickens are the gateway animal...next thing you know goats will start showing up.

Sadly, I could not refute his logic.

 

[awesomefowl]

how true!

 

[TigerLilly]

Mine was never an animal person...not sure he is now, but at least he's very tolerant!
I used to ask & get told "NO." I'd get whatever it was anyway & be extra sweet until he couln't be mad anymore.
Then, I'd have the kids ask Daddy, "Can we get a (insert animal species here), please, Daddy, please?"
He'd grumble, but it's harder to say no to them than to me.
I've had a raccoon, a squirrell, about 80 rabbit breeders, a breeding colony of ferrets & guinea pigs, goats, zebu, dogs, a cat & of course numerous snakes & other assorted reptiles. I've even 'boarded' a goat (before I had any) & a skunk--for friends that needed a sitter.
It has gotten to the point that he doesn't even expect me to ask anymore, he just wants to know how soon I need the cage (etc) built!
With 1 small dog & a cat in the house, he does draw the line there (although he really isn't against another dog--but only ONE more). Being that he's been put through a LOT with my animals over the years, I give him that one. (When I got the cat, I managed to hide her for about 6 wks...he is less a cat person than he is any other type of animal).
I count my blessings every day!

 

[cozycritters]

I still haven't figured out the right way to do things with animals and my DH-- he knows that I love animals and, with having a social phobia and hyper thyroid issues that animals help me decompress. My dream is to have a homestead and help do education with elementary schools etc. Heritage breeds, my loom, making cheese-- it's my passion. I love him and he's great for me and understanding my limitations (like that I hardly drive or leave the house) and he's a wonderful father to our three boys (6,4,1)

BUT he is my roadblock on this dream. For whatever reason he (passively) makes it impossible. I can't go behind his back, it makes things difficult, so I feel a little stuck... LOL!

I have said, "you know, this is my dream. This is what I'm working for and fighting for.' and he just smiles and nods, and... says No or doesn't say anything at all.

For those with supportive spouses, I hope you are grateful for them! I am very much the 'supportive of everything you do, actively supportive' and it's hard that it sometimes can be one sided.

I love my DH btw, he just doesn't GET IT

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

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[Chickerdoodle13]

I've had a similar problem with my parents. I usually just come home with the animal and emphasize how cute it is. Much easier to ask for forgiveness than permission in my case!

 

[justbugged]

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This is my theory in life. At least my DH travels so I can usually sneak the critter in before he knows. DH just struggles with the critters that he falls in love with which are most of them. He loves going and getting a couple of fresh eggs out of the coop when he is home.

 

[Mattemma]

I promised my dh I would get no more pets. I can't help but look on craigs and want to take in all the free/low cost animals.