Opinion poll -- Are you a cat person or a dog person?

[Dana Grant]

We're babysitting two cats for about 3 weeks. I've never really been around cats before. I am just wondering what kind of pets you all have??? And why?

And post a picture of your pets!!! (I won't post mine, because if you've been on NazNet for any period of time, I'm sure you've seen pictures of our Ebony!!! LOL)

[Paul DeBaufer]

Dogs are okay, but I prefer cats mostly, they're not as needy.

[John Kennedy]

Have had both. When we married, my wife had a toy poodle. Several years later we took in a cat which disappeared a few years later. I had never really care about having a cat before that time, but found I liked them.

Then we adopted two abandoned kittens - they required bottle feeding so I would take them to school every day for awhile and the students would practically fight each other to get to feed the cats. When they died (the male was lukemic and had to be put down when it was 5 0r 6 and the female survived another 13 years.

We got a little mixed breed terrier from the animal shelter which lived about 12 years. When my son was about 8 or 9 we got a Boston Terrier puppy. We had Alex 13 year before he had to be put down. Alex was a member of the family in a way none of the others had ever been. When he died I simply didn't want another dog - the emotional investment was too much.

About 9 years after Alex passed, we acquired Bugsy from a Boston Terrier rescue group. He proceeded to walk in and take over the house - it's all my wife's fault - she spoils him outrageously. I'll try to post a picture of Bugsy all decked out in his green derby for St. Patrick's day (a grand day, indeed, for the Irish!).

Pets can carve out a real place in your heart. I must confess to having absolute contemp and loathing for people who mistreat animals. As far as I'm concerned, the world would be far better off without such people.

[Peggy Gray]

I chose "I like cats" because. although we also like dogs, we don't want one. So I guess we could be labeled "cat people". We have two Himalayan Persians: Cindy (whose 10th birthday is today) and her half-sister Peach, who will be 10 in a few days. We also have a "foster" cat, my daughter's fella Cooper.

My mom loved dogs. I mean, she LOVED dogs. She had a "dog collection" from childhood on that included figurines, stuffed animals, photos, jewelry, articles clipped out of magazines. When we'd be in the car and she spotted somebody's mutt sitting on its front lawn, she'd say, "Oh, look...there's a dog!" and she'd say "dog" the way I say "chocolate". She always wanted a Scottie, her favorite, but never got one.

My dad liked dogs (and vice versa) but he LOVED cats. There are photos of him holding cats from the time he was a toddler. My aunt and I laugh about how hard it is to find a picture of him without a cat in it! When Mom and Dad moved in with us back in 1998, he immediately became best friends with our cat Ivy. She would jump on his lap in the chair, but never jumped up on his bed. The day before he died, she jumped up on his bed and spent the whole day curled up next to his legs.

[Jim Franklin]

I have always preferred dogs. At my pre-school age there was a mutt named "Jiggs." After his demise my sister obtained "Pepper" of the feline persuasion. After her demise there was not another pet in our domesile until our sons were 7 and 2, "Rags" a long haired sheep dog until he had to be put down. Then Esther was given a cat and from her we had as many as 10 cats or kittens in our small 600 sq. ft. duplex and which she insisted on caring for. I began getting itchy and went to a dermotologist and was given tests to prove that I was allergic to cats and insisted he write that down on a prescription pad to prove to Esther that I was. It still took another 6 months before she gave away all of those cats. Then our older son brought a puppy over on Mother's day as a gift to Esther and she refused to accept "Bear." Now we have neighbors who have a couple of large dogs and a cat or two but one of their cats will hardly go into their yard and definitely not in their house. So this blond Siamese belongs to the neighborhood, mainly cared for by the Franklin's. About four years ago I noticed that he had a bloody scab by his left ear and so I treated it with peroxide and while doing so noticed he also had some bloody area under his jaw, I concluded that someone had shot him with a pellet gun for he struggles to get any kind of sound out of his throat. He seemed to take a liking to me because of my attention to his need. Now he has another bloody area on his right cheek which I think is the result of a fight, which I have been treating again with peroxide. So with my sympathetic amateur veternarian service I have gained some tolerance for this cat. The neighbors do not seem to care for him whatsoever. That's my story about pets in our household.

[Susan Unger]

I love cats. They are soft and noble. Dogs are always on jumping on me, begging me for their love. They don't realize it but putting the paws on my ticklish stomach and their face in my face does not make me love them. It has the opposite effect.

[Dana Grant]

I love cats. They are soft and noble. Dogs are always on jumping on me, begging me for their love. They don't realize it but putting the paws on my ticklish stomach and their face in my face does not make me love them. It has the opposite effect.

That's where training comes in, Susan. A well trained dog is a lovely member of the family. You would not be jumped on by our dog, and you would only be licked if you invited it.

Funny story -- our dog visited the nursing home every Wednesday morning for quite a long time. Lindsey (our daughter) would have her do tricks for them, and they'd just get to spend time with her, just petting her and petting her. Ebony loved it, of course.

My thing is that I HATE having a dog lick me. Some people think that's okay, but I wanted to train my dog NOT to lick people. So I worked with her and worked with her. THEN, when we started visiting the nursing home, what was the first thing people did? They'd hold their head over while sitting in their wheelchairs, wanting Ebony to lick them -- and of course she would oblige!!! ha ha ha She's big enough that all they had to do was tilt their head a little to the side, and she'd take that as an open invitation to lick them!!! ha ha ha

To this day, I can put my face right up to hers, and she will NOT lick me. But if someone else puts their face to hers, she takes that as an invitation to kiss them!!! However, if they say "NO LICKING" she will not lick them.

SO, it's all in the training. Yeah, it takes time, but why else do you have a dog other than to spend time with him??? So, every day, even though she's now 8 1/2 years old, we spend time working on her training. She has been my best trained dog, and I'll never have another unruly dog. I mean, all of my dogs have been trained in basic manners, but she is special...... A well trained dog is a joy to be around.......I'm sorry you've been exposed to the ones who weren't.......that's too bad.

This is not her best effort (she wanted more elk!!), but this gives you an idea of what we do every day -- we work on things like this.......



We also play hide-and-seek almost every evening!! I put her at a down-stay and then go to another part of the house, and she will find me!! Yeah, it's silly, but it keeps her brain active and young!!!

[Michael Flowers]

I have a cat (rescued her when I was 17 and didn't know any better), but definitely prefer dogs. My cat thinks she can go and do whatever she wants and doesn't take correction. I have discovered exactly why cats are evil! (jk)

[Diane Likens]

I love animals. Period. Our cat (whom I absolutely ADORED) passed away a few months ago.

Right now we're "down" to three dogs. Zeke and Lily are litter mate mutts who were born here and are now about 2 1/2. Pebbles is a jack russell mix who's about 7 or 8 -- we adopted her from neighbors when they moved from the woods to "in town". Zeke weighs in at 80 lbs where his sister is 65 lbs. Pebbles is about the size and weight of Zeke's head, but she thinks she's the big dog around here.

I'm still trying to convince Joe that we need a goat or two. I want some chickens, too. He's worried that they coyotes will become a "problem" which will make me insist on a donkey to protect the goats and chickens. He's probably right.

And a whole-hearted "amen" to you, John. Maltreatment of animals is completely unacceptable to me, too.

[Larry Parsons]

I believe dog are smart than cat's While in high school I had a paper route and every thurday and friday I would collect money from my customer one night our dog went with me to collect and evening one my customer ask if they could keep Ginger until I finish collecting. Next couple of day Ginger wouldn't eat her food. Next week Ginger went with me to collect when we got to house where stay while was collecting she went crazy she knew she was going to have steak that night. Today we have a dog and a cat that has grew up together and they get along fine my wife even thinks our dog is talking to the cat because he has diffrence barking sound that she belive the dog is saying somthing to to cat.
Thanks
Larry

[Susan Unger]

That's where training comes in, Susan. A well trained dog is a lovely member of the family. You would not be jumped on by our dog, and you would only be licked if you invited it.

That sounds like the dog for me then. With an exception of one person, none of the people whose dogs made me hate dogs believed in training. The one who did had a puppy that just hadn't gotten fully trained yet. Thanks for the explanation and loved your video.

[Dave McClung]

Isn't there another option? I don't like dogs and I dispise cats.

I have never eaten either one, so I can't speak as to the relative taste.

[Dave McClung]

Isn't there another option? I don't like dogs and I dispise cats.

I have never eaten either one, so I can't speak as to the relative taste.

That reminds me. A couple of years ago Chanshi Chanda from Africa came to visit us. While we were driving around it was time to eat lunch. I suggeted that we stop at the local Costco to get a hot dog. Chanshi looked at me in horror and proclaimed, "I don't eat dog!!!" Chanshi definitely isn't a dog person.

[Nelson Bradford]

I LOVE dogs and HATE cats.
I've never seen a cat that I trusted.
It's that simple.
-neb

[Diane Likens]

I believe dog are smart than cat's While in high school I had a paper route and every thurday and friday I would collect money from my customer one night our dog went with me to collect and evening one my customer ask if they could keep Ginger until I finish collecting. Next couple of day Ginger wouldn't eat her food. Next week Ginger went with me to collect when we got to house where stay while was collecting she went crazy she knew she was going to have steak that night. Today we have a dog and a cat that has grew up together and they get along fine my wife even thinks our dog is talking to the cat because he has diffrence barking sound that she belive the dog is saying somthing to to cat.
Thanks
Larry

If you'd told our cat Cee Cee that dogs are smarter than cats, he would have said in his own cat-way that HE doesn't eat dog doo, but the dogs were constantly trying to snack from his litter box. Then he'd have stuck his butt in the air and sauntered away, carrying his snooty attitude with him.

Man, I miss him!

[Gina Stevenson]

How'd that happen, Dave? Did you maybe never have one growing up?o

Diane, with ya on that animal thing, but don't trust cats after one fierce (sudden/surprising!) bite! Brushed against me wanting petting, so I did that for a couple minutes (his back--softly, not hard). Then suddenly he whipped around, chomped my arm really hard, then ran away, having apparently had enough. Man! Why didn't he just leave, instead of biting, then leaving!? My arm was huge, nearly twice its size, before it was over ... just cannot trust those felines now; will pet them only a few seconds, then quit before another does the same!
(was Siamese ... seems they have a reputation for being ornery, tho' the owner was "sooo surprised!" Thry indicated they were going to be careful when visitors were there after he did that to me.

After telling the "cat story," failed to mention: I LOVE DOGS!! Haven't been without one as much as with one, tho' Sasha has been gone a few years now. Ma's dog, Ginger, is friendly, so hangs w/me too.

Dana's right about training a dog. Sasha visited a nursing home, but not on a regular basis. The one we visited had a live-in dog already.

[Jim Chabot]

Dogs are the best animal ever. A few years back I heard of an American Indian tale, where it was said that God devised a separation between man and the animals. Just as he was doing this, the dog jumped over to the human side.

This little fellow is Caleb, we got him for our oldest son Joshua. He was a great little guy eager to meet anyone and everyone. Whenever we would go for walks his leash would drag on the ground because he would stay right at my side the whole time. Every night he would hop in bed with me and we would have a nice chat about how his day went.

When it was his time, the rest of the family was out. He was under the kitchen table, when I got up from eating he staggered out as if he was drunk and then collapsed. I sat with him for a few minutes but he never regained control. So off the the vet to get him some help, but he didn't make it. My best guess is that he had a stroke or an aneurism of some sort. My oldest boy was pretty broke up losing his best friend, my little guy and my wife cried for an hour or so. It was like losing a family member or a close friend, the house seemed to be missing something.



Within a week I had decided that this situation needed a remedy and it needed to be done pretty quick. About five years back, I had decided that when Caleb left us, we could move up to a regular collie. Good thing I didn't say anything then! So off we went searching. We found out that collies aren't all that plentiful, we found one about an hour away from us, she was a show dog that didn't make the grade. I learned a few things on that trip, I learned that show dogs don't stay in the house so there's no need to housebreak them. Then I learned that the training pretty much erases their personality. So no go on that one.

Then I found an add for collie puppies about four hours north of us, so I arranged to look at them on my way back from the Maine house. When I got out of the truck, the two older dogs were already up with their paws on my shoulders looking me in the eye. Apparently these were friendly dogs! So I looked the bunch of them over and decided upon the one that seemed to always be at my feet. As I paid for him, the lady said, "oh, that one likes to chase little boys and bite at their pantlegs." Ok, no problem, but then as I was leaving I heard her son say, "mom, you sold tuffy?" Tuffy, I thought, this one just might have a personality.

By the time I had gotten home I had decided to name him Moses, since Shadrach, Mishach, and Abednego seemed awkward even though our little guy is named Daniel. When I arrived and announced our newest family member, my wife objected to my naming the little beast. She said that Daniel should be able to name him. Daniel quickly came up with the name "Fang", to which my wife agreed that Moses was a nice name for a dog. So he is Moses, or Moe, and sometimes Noses .

[Dana Grant]

Isn't there another option? I don't like dogs and I dispise cats.

I have never eaten either one, so I can't speak as to the relative taste.

The option is that you don't have to have either one!!! And that's good, because people who don't like them shouldn't have them.

So, your option is to love the wildlife that you enjoy photographing -- and then share those beautiful photos with us!! ha

And with as much as you & Linda travel, it's probably good that you DON'T like pets!!! ha ha

[Dana Grant]

Jim, I grew up with collies -- our last one was Ginger. She was beautiful.

We also lost our little sheltie last February (2011) -- we miss her. She was 11 years old......

[Dana Grant]

My favorite dog of all time was our Great Dane, Samson......I want to have another one someday........

This is from December 1985 --

[Susan Unger]

Dana, seeing your son with the great dane reminded me of what I learned last week at the dog show. Apparently, the little dogs are the biters and yappers while the big ones are the gentle family dogs. I would have never guessed.

[Gina Stevenson]

Yeah, the bigger ones are usually the mellower, recalling many small yappers, including a pomeranian one g'ma had, a friend's chihuahua, and a current neighbor's chihuahua. Like a bigger dog, tho some/most rental places set a rather small weight limitation on a dog, or even do not allow them in favor of cats.

ETA: Was really glad we were allowed to get Sasha when in Phoenix! ,

[Dana Grant]

That is usually correct, Susan. However, we would NEVER leave a small child unattended with Ebony, even though she is the gentlest dog around with children. No dog should ever be left alone with a child. That's just common sense. As much as I trusted Samson around Tyler, I would never have left the room while they were both in it....you just never know, and it's best not to test that relationship!!!

[Dana Grant]

One more thing -- Great Danes make excellent apartment dogs, as well!!! they LOVE being lazy, and they don't need much room. they just want to be where you are (hmmmmm......that reminds me of a song....but I digress....). A walk around the block every couple of days, and some good exercise once a week is all they need. they're very lazy and docile.....LOL

Quite unlike the little Jack Russell Terrier who will get into a lot of trouble if he isn't exercised and mind challenged every single day!!!

I've always wondered why apartment dwellings have a weight limit on dogs -- some of the little ones are much more destructive than most of the big ones!!!

[Benjamin Burch]

I LOVE dogs and HATE cats.
I've never seen a cat that I trusted.
It's that simple.
-neb

Is this why?

[Dana Grant]

Is this why?

Love this!

[Kevin Rector]

This is our dog Luke (when he was a young). He just showed up at out house with another dog. We think he and the other dog were brought out into the country and dumped. One day, these two dogs were basically living under my parents RV trying to get some shade. We fed them and the other dog disappeared (it was very old and sickly looking so we think maybe he just went off to die). So I took him to the vet (and once I spent money on him and had him fixed he was mine) and we had a naming contest. The wife wanted to call him Cinco (as in, our fifth child) but my sons suggestion of naming him Luke Skywalker was drawn from the hat. We rarely reference his last name.

Luke is an amazingly good dog. He loves everyone. Mostly he wants to be petted.

[Gina Stevenson]

Oh, Ben! Not sure how you found that but in spite of its being nearly 1:30am, was lying here on the couch (advantage of a tablet over a PC, in spite of its several limitations) nearly ROFLOL, over & over.

Judt one thing wrong with the dog's diary ... he watches TV with "the people," it says, instead of "my" people.

Thanks again. Definitely passing this one on!

[Susan Unger]

One more thing -- Great Danes make excellent apartment dogs, as well!!! they LOVE being lazy, and they don't need much room. they just want to be where you are (hmmmmm......that reminds me of a song....but I digress....). A walk around the block every couple of days, and some good exercise once a week is all they need. they're very lazy and docile.....LOL

Quite unlike the little Jack Russell Terrier who will get into a lot of trouble if he isn't exercised and mind challenged every single day!!!

I've always wondered why apartment dwellings have a weight limit on dogs -- some of the little ones are much more destructive than most of the big ones!!!

Hmm...something to think about as I look around my apartment.

[Susan Unger]

Is this why?

Yeah, that was great! I loved the cat's comments.

[Susan Unger]

Oh, Ben! Not sure how you found that but in spite of its being nearly 1:30am, was lying here in the couch (advantage of a tablet over a PC, in spite of its several limitations) nearly ROFLOL, over & over.

Judt one thing wrong with the dog's diary ... he watches TV with "the people," it says, instead of "my" people.

Thanks again. Definitely passing this one on!

I agree - I was laughing pretty hard

[Gina Stevenson]

Yeah, that was great! I loved the cat's comments.

Yeah, my forwarding list will definitely include this one two-cat friend.

[Benjamin Burch]

I grew up with both, as evidenced by this picture. This picture is my little brother, Joey, holding our family cat Sweet Baby, and my dog Tucker saying "goodbye" to her. That was the night we put Sweet Baby down, December 2005, at age 14.

All three of them are now gone, so this is quite probably the most precious picture I own. We lost Joey in August of 2006 and Tucker in December of 2008. Here is one of Tucker and Joey when they were younger:



Here is one of me and Joey with Tucker when he was really little:



We had to put down a golden we'd had for about a year and a family in the church allowed me to have one of their litter for free, and I got first pick. So, I literally picked Tucker out of the litter within only days of his being born, and I would come visit him. I raised him all the way up, and here is a picture of me the night before we put him down. I flew home from ONU and slept on the living room floor with him that night.

[Benjamin Burch]

This is a great one. My whole family with all of our pets!!! 2004.

[Dana Grant]

Ok, so now I'm tearing up -- yes, pets are very special to those who love them. Thanks, Ben, for sharing that part of your life. I'm so sorry about your brother, as well. Wow.

[Hans Deventer]

We've never had a dog or a cat. But I got to know and love dogs at an early age. When we had moved in 1964, a new friend I found had a dog. It was a German shepherd and she was called "Britta". Lovely dog, not a trace of malice in her. So my first closer connection to a dog was a positive one.

I have learned that most of the time, I like the larger dogs better. It seems that quite a few small dogs feel the need to compensate for their size by barking a lot. Of course there are exceptions to any rule. I vividly remember "Summer", Dennis and Paula Karr's little dog. She was great fun.

Then, 6 years ago, our daughter and son in law got a Golden Retriever named Sarah. Again a dog without a trace of malice. We love her and consider her our "granddog".

As to cats, I have an allergy to them. Both literal and figurative. Don't like their character. Don't like them messing in other people's gardens. Don't like them killing birds for no good reason. I guess I've made my point by now


The only reason we don't have a dog is that I feel strongly about taking good care of a pet, once you have it. It's part of our creation responsibility. And I just don't like getting out in each and every kind of weather, having to arrange for care when we're gone etc.

[David Pettigrew]

Many of your stories are touching. I love animals, but I don't like pets. My wife and kids have two pet dogs. I have two responsibilities.

[Diane Likens]

Many of your stories are touching. I love animals, but I don't like pets. My wife and kids have two pet dogs. I have two responsibilities.

We refer to the dogs as our four-legged kids. We refer to ourselves as their two-paws. It works for all of us.

[Paul DeBaufer]

Is this why?

The really scary part is the cat and I think alike.Viva la revolucion!

[David Parker]

I used to have cats. Outdoor only. Loved it when they would hunt and bring back their trophies. But I only fed them every other day so they would eat their kills. They were always very healthy and interesting to watch. Kinda like watching a very small wild predetor. That all ended when I met my wife 20+ years ago. Like Hans, she is very allergic to cats and also really despises them.

We have had several different dogs over the last twenty years, including a breeding pair of pure bred Golden Retrievers. We got them for our kids for Christmas one year when they were puppies. Had several litters over the years and was a great experience for the children. They were their responsibility.

But no dogs ever were allowed inside our home! I drew the line there! I didn't want any animal living on my carpets, furniture, beds, etc. Yech!

That is until my wife brought home 'Samson' 9 years ago. He is a Long Hair Chihuahua and weighs all of 3.5 pounds fully grown. We love him. He is not a yapper or a biter. He just lives to cuddle with you. All he wants to do is curl up in your lap and be with you. He is exceptionally clean and easy to live with.

Here is a picture of him in our middle son's lap on a motorhome trip a couple of years ago and one of him at Christmas time.