Why am I the only one in my family who NEEDS animals?

[barbieszoo]

I grew up an only child and my animals (cat, dogs, horses, chickens, chinchilla, parakeet, and fish) were my family just like my parents were. My entire life, I have surrounded myself with animals, and to me they are vital to life being good. They are always on my mind, in my prayers, and in my heart. I would literally languish and be miserable beyond belief if I had to live a life without my animals all around me. My husband and kids, however, view the animals as "mom's animals". They're kind of like background landscape to them. I honestly think they would be just fine if tomorrow they were told that from then on there would be no animals at our house. They might protest briefly and ask why, but then they would go on with life as usual, with their friends, video games, tv, and toys. I have tried to get them to participate in feeding, brushing, walking, playing with our dogs, horse, and cats, but they just don't enjoy it. They are gentle to the animals but largely ignore them. I have raised the kids (14, 7 and 4) from birth to respect and be kind to animals, and have modeled how to love them. I can only hope that someday they will appreciate that animals are more than just "part of the surroundings" and "what mom's into". So many of the BYC folks seem to be animal fanatics, that I thought I'd ask about others' experiences with this. I'm going to get 2 little chickens soon and would love to include the kids in their care, but I'm pretty sure that I'll be the only one who spends time with them. (Which I can't wait to do, but would love some company in this.)

 

[PineappleMama]

Just like you aren't keen on their video games they aren't keen on your interest... that's pretty normal.

They've got siblings, friends, lots of other things to make their life full... they just don't have that same emptiness that you had as a child... that's not a bad thing at all, you and your SO have given them a loving and full life... but be sure and remember that when you start from different places it's not surprising if you wind up in different places.

 

[turney31]

I can't even to begin to think of life without animals.

 

[allanimals21]

Its kind of the same here. I think my family enjoys animals. It just seems like you said that if they weren't here no one would really notice but me.

 

[Slinkytoys]

I house sat for a friend of mine. It was sooooo weird to walk into the house after work and hear the clock ticking. The faucet drip. The refrigerator kick on. Had to call her and tell her I just couldn't stay there without one of my house pets to stay with me!! To me, a house just isn't a home without my animals. So, you're not alone. Some kids will come around when they are on their own, they will end up with a pet for their own children. Just wait and see.

Slinky

 

[sheila3935]

I have always loved and had animals. Poor hubby didnt have any animals til he was out on his own, his father would allow filthy animals in his house ( neat freak) We tend to go crazy with our animals. Our kids have always enjioyed the animals but as teenagers it was always up to me to make sure they had what they needed. For example. my son at age 14 came home with a dog he said the boy down the street was abusing him so he took him. "mom I will buy his food and take care of him if you let me keep him". Well that lasted all of 2 seconds. We still have Buster even though we dont have Bobby anymore at home. Right now we have 4 dogs 10 rats (DD's) 1 hampster 1 boa consrtictor (DH's) 2 cockatiels 28 chickens 2 ducks and a turtle and 4 eggs in the incubator. I do believe we are animal horders.

Wish we lived on a farm cause I would love to have a horse, goats and a cow.

 

[txcarl1258]

Don't feel bad, some people just don't see our obsessions. Every body I work with thinks that I am crazy that I have chickens and I actually eat the eggs. I guess they think they are "poison" or something!

I "inherited" my obsession from my mom, though I am not sure where I got the chicken fever. My DW is into animals as well and it isn't always a good thing. She tries to bring EVERYTHING home. Now we are trying to keep our "hobby" at a manageable level with the baby coming.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

I am the only one here who cares for or likes the animals being around. If the chickens or ducks suddenly dissappeared the only one who would really care would be me. Life is not life without animals!

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I was raised with a lot of pets with my 3 siblings. I'm the only one that really has a deep love and respect for them. They've all had pets but they're not really that devoted to them.

I have two adult sons. Neither has the desire to have a pet. I have three younger children 9, 6 & 5. My six year old has told me that we have too many pets (gets it from his Dad)
but the other two seem to enjoy them. They go out of their way to care for them and interact with them.

I just think some people are wired to connect more with animals than others. I also think that some people aren't self sacrificing and when they've experienced the amount of
time and money it goes into owning a pet they decide it's not for them. That doesn't make them less compassionate people though.

I couldn't imagine my life without my pets. I currently live with 5 dogs, 1 cat, 1 horse, 1 pony, 1 macaw, 2 desert tortoises, 1 rooster and 18 hens. Life if GOOD!!

 

[justbugged]

My first thought was that you marry what you are familiar with. And that is true for everyone. You married a guy just like your parents. He puts up with your animals, but doesn't feel the need to love them like you do.

The kid thing is a kid thing, getting kids to take responsibility can be a long ongoing project. In the end it is more than worth, all the times you have had to repeat the same thing over and over again.

At my house DH is always huffing and puffing every time I get followed home by something.(For me it is both animals and plants.)But it rarely is very long before he gets attached, and then I can't re-home it if I need too. Right now he is sulking because a bunny came home with me. But I got him to change his mind about helping me build a bunny hutch. So I am going to see if I can't build a hutch.

I have 6 dogs, 5 cats,19 or 10 chickens, 12 finches, and a 75 gallon fish tank that has a 19" fire eel in it, plus a bunch o really cool fresh water fish. I almost forgot the hummingbird. Larry scares me.