What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Saskia Quinn — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:24:15 GMT

[quote user="Claire BearRVN"]

[quote user="SaskiaVN"]

[/quote]

Have you still got your goats Paula?

[/quote]

Hi Claire,

Indeed I have!! They dont miss a bat lol!! The minute I open the front door, they start chatting over to me!! Buffy (the big kid) can do magic tricks - she can have a mouthful of hay, head looking the other way, and still hear me coming and talk to me lol!!

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

loobylou — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:59:28 GMT

I currently have -

Jack- my rescue black lab cross who is a big wuss and loves sunday morning lie ins snuggled up in bed!

Tibbles- my ancient (17 1/2 years) fluffy cat who really doesn't have much going for him these days but has been my best friend since I was 9!

Simba and Kiara- 10 yr old tabby sisters who HATE each other. Were originally called Cow and Chicken and I rehomed them from my brother in law when he had to move.

Tropical fish tank- have 5 or 6 varied fishies in a newly decorated tank.

I was very lucky when growing up that we always had lots of pets, at the highest we had 17-
Jill, beautiful old lady border collie who I grew up with and was devastated when she was pts at 17 yrs old, Mr Tibbles, my old man cat who is still with me, 2 hamsters, evil dusty and spot who lived to 3 and 1/2 despite going into hibernation about 3 times, 2 budgies, sunny and sonic, 3 cockatiels, cant remember names, 6 guinea pigs, mummy, daddy (who should have been mummy also!) and 4 little piglets, 2 rabbits, bugs and snuffles, who is to blame for me being a vn after having a particularly nasty tooth root abcess and having to be bathed etc and a frog who lived in an old baby bath in the garden!!

I have so many animals on my wish list that I don't think i would ever fit them all in. Would love to be owned one day by- a cornish or devon rex, a bengal, a boxer, a beagle, a german short haired pointer, a big hairy lurcher, donkeys, sheep, goats- the list is endless!!

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Stephanie Barnard-Horne RVN CertFN MBVNA — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:11:28 GMT

I was fortunate to grow up with a lot of pets. In the 90's my mother used to rehome animals that were abandoned due to the Los Angeles Rodney King riots. We would drive around on weekends picking up stray cats and dropping canned food off at the basement of a church that was set up as a refuge.

We had 10 cats and several kittens in our house at one point. There were two twin kittens... black as night...that both had six toes on each front paw. They could throw pencils and balls. Now older and wiser I think they would have made an amazing genetic study. I've never seen anything like it since. One very old chiwawa on end of life care...he had tumors and could eat nothing but cooked mince. We called him Little Old Man. A retriever named Wendy who was a guide dog for my brother. A very stubborn Lhasa Apso named Snickers and a trusty old hamster name Sammy. He used to sneak out in the middle of the night and stuff his cheeks with cat food and then hide it in the corner of his cage. It took me a good long while to figure out how he could get through a locked door too seal the food and not get eaten by the very territorial cat living on the other side.

In Alabama I had two twin pygmy goats named Fudge and Brownie that I hand reared one summer. Fudge got very sick. Try taking a goat with diarrhoea to the vets 2 hours away in the back of a minivan. Fun times. She was a fighter and survived into adulthood. She was very tame.

In the UK I had two Indian Runner ducks named Ebony and Ivory which I took in as very young ducklings. They slept under my chin till they were old enough to live outside. They used to follow me everywhere. Amazing little creatures. I would go to the shops and they would wait for me in the river happily socializing with the other wild ducks until I came out and called their names. When they got fully grown and I had taught them how to fly I took them to a bird sanctuary to live out the rest of their days.

Currently my partner and I have four very lovely...very cheeky Chinchillas named Kappa, Pandora, Tengu and Baku and two cats that my Mum has adopted. Renee is 13 now and her son is about 10.

In the future if I can find the land I would love to have ducks again. Sheep, chickens, horses, and goats. My other half would like to have a pair of alsatians.

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Jenny Cook RVN — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:13:40 GMT

Ive grown up owning rabbits...

The ones i remember where:

Ebony: A black lop, died when he was 8 years old, father to Sue and Louise's litters.
Sue: black and white lop, 2 litters of kits by ebony, died when 6 yrs old.
Louise: A grey lop, one litter by ebony, died when 5 yrs old.

As u can tell, none of them were neutered back then, oopsy.

Have had numerous hamsters while growing up.
Have NEVER owned a cat.

The animals i have now are:

Roary: 5 year old lionhead, lives indoors, sweetest little thing ever, he is a dinky little lionhead lol

Harley: 2 year old lionhead, lives outdoors, a big ball of fluff and is quite timid with family but is fine with me.

Louie: 18month old Collie X... a little terror, and will get his nose and mouth into anything to try and eat it... a FB waiting to happen i think, eekk

Lizzie and Darcy: 2 red rumped parakeets, noisy little buggers at times!!

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Ju_xx — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:50:26 GMT

Ive had several goldfish.

My first proper pet was a dutch bunny who sadly died January :( he was 10.

I also have a yellow lab now who is 7 in June she was my first dog.

Future pets i would like:

I love hungarian vizsla's, german short hairs, more labs (!), I love any gundog actually lol!

Would like more bunnies

I'm more of a dog person but i;m sure I would take in a waif and stray kitty from work if needed :)

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Claire Cameron — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:23:30 GMT

[quote user="SaskiaVN"]

This is great - an opportunity to show my pets off lol!!

I have a German SH Pointer called Rosie, she is 14 years old now.

2 greyhounds - Saskia (my first ever greyhound) & Ranger

2 Lurchers - Daisy & Josie - Josie has only 3 legs

Shiloh - a little terrier black and tan and full of attitude lol!!

All my dogs were rescued.

I have 3 ducks - Lucy, Spike & Bolt, 2 goats - Bella & Buffy, 1 budgie - Charlie, 1 rabbit - Tabitha - she must be at least 8 years old by now and is a house rabbit. I have learned the hard way not to leave anything lying on the floor lol!! She was also a rescue.

2 cats - Maisie & Tiger-Lily - both rescues.

When the times comes around again, I am going to have a greyhound, a German Shepherd, a Labrador & another German SH Pointer, and a collie.

Someday, I would love to add to my current collection by getting a sheep and some chickens. My sister has horses so I can satisify my horse needs by just visiting hers lol!!

I often wonder how I find the time to work with my little small animal farm!

[/quote]

Have you still got your goats Paula?

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Saskia Quinn — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:12:41 GMT

This is great - an opportunity to show my pets off lol!!

I have a German SH Pointer called Rosie, she is 14 years old now.

2 greyhounds - Saskia (my first ever greyhound) & Ranger

2 Lurchers - Daisy & Josie - Josie has only 3 legs

Shiloh - a little terrier black and tan and full of attitude lol!!

All my dogs were rescued.

2 cats - Maisie & Tiger-Lily - both rescues.

When the times comes around again, I am going to have a greyhound, a German Shepherd, a Labrador & another German SH Pointer, and a collie.

Someday, I would love to add to my current collection by getting a sheep and some chickens. My sister has horses so I can satisify my horse needs by just visiting hers lol!!

I often wonder how I find the time to work with my little small animal farm!

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

funkyfish — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:47:05 GMT

We have 2 dogs- a GSPxlurcher (more GSP like) and a 4th hand colliex?lurcher-hoping to be our agility star, first show in 2 weeks!

4 cats- DSH (2nd hand), an enormous DLH, persian (2nd hand) has multiple allergies etc, La Perm (2nd hand) multiple allergies.

Gerbil with half a tail (2nd hand), Piranha with 1 eye (2nd hand), 2 Land snails (2nd hand), tank of tropical fish- Black and red eye Tetras 2x glass catfish all 2nd hand.

Have had many 2nd hand bunnies with bad teeth/abscesses etc and got them to do well- it can be managed! One was on Pet rescue with me many years ago- my claim to fame!

Had African Pygmy Dormice- loved them they were amazing, but didn't sex them when I bought them and ended up with a breeding colony I didn't have the space/time to manage correctly, managed to gave them to a loverly lady with a mini zoo of 2nd hand exotics- a 1st class home, was sad to see them go :0(

had too many piggies/hamsters/rats to count.

Would like a 2nd hand tea cup or white fluffy pooch to to agility with for fun, a 'Toller, lg. Munsterlander, Auzzie or Spinone.

would love to have space for a bungalow style (i.e. home from home) kennels and out door space to fix up and rehome dogs and run dog training/behaviour concentrating on reactive/agrgessive dogs to stop so many being PTSd

Think thats it!

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Lolita — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:41:01 GMT

Oh I am very boring altogether...I have one dog and two cats, the dog I hand reared from birth, & the two cats are strays that heard there was good feeding going on a my house, so they decided to stay! I would love a goat though, would love to have a bigger brood, but as I work full time its not possible

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Steph Worsley — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:27:40 GMT

Ok when I was growing up we had:

many g-pigs: venus and jupiter, hg, mars, unch, kiri, tiri, dina, marmalade, buster, gus,

2 rabbits, smokey and bracken

1 rat roger

3 hamsters, syrup, hunter and the beast

loads of fish!

my parents have 2 cats tara and smudge

I have 2 cats meg and tux, (i did have Poly as well until recently)

i also currently have: 2 whites tree frogs dave and dee

2 red eye tree frogs splat and splot

4 bumblebee dart frogs

1 blue dart frog

1 amazon milk frog

(parents also have a bearded dragon)

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Maria Soan — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:14:40 GMT

I have three Tortie girls, all rescue, the latest one was taken by a client off of a group of youths who were holding her by her back legs and hitting her against a tree.... I just HAD to take her home to be with my other two... She is a little different and has funny moments but considering what she went through she is a little love...

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Nessie_W — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:33:17 GMT

In the past, I've had four gerbils, four rats, a mouse and two bunnies; all buried in my dad's back garden, like a little pet cemetery.

My first dog was an adorable beagle cross called Sadie, she died aged 15 and was just the best family pet. I acquired a GSD called Xemo during a relationship, and we added another GSD to the family called Jodie. The relationship broke down and the dogs were split; Jodie was my little angel, I lost her to heart failure in 2008 and my heart is still broken (I can't actually believe 18 months has passed by, it's still raw!)

I now have a golden retriever by the name of Baileys who I bought from a private home a month after losing Jodie. She was 12months old when I had her and was billy bonkers. She's calmed down (a bit now) and is a big character. She's soft hearted and silly and helping to heal my heart.

I have two guinea pigs; Sprout and Snail. They are coronets and always get their hair in a mess. Thank goodness for clippers! The tortoise I grew up with is still living in my dads garden when not hibernating in the ancient cheese box in his garage. The tortise is older than me. In my kitchen lives a badly behaved goldfish in a tank big enough for many more- but he kills other fish!

I would love to add-

A German Shepherd, a second goldie, a couple of goats and a shed full of guinea pigs. This would involve winning the lottery

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Jane Rowe — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:19:10 GMT

Katie, you are so lucky to have 2 GSPs!!! They're mental, I love them!

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Jane Rowe — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:17:07 GMT

I'm new here.. this is my first post..

Currently I have...

2 dogs (my baby boys, lol) - a 3 year old German Pointer cross called Ben and a Pointer x Springer called Curley who is 10.

2 male chipmunks - Zoomer, who suspect is just reaching puberty/maturity now and the other one is older and he's called Rolo. I think he could be the younger ones father or older brother.

9 gerbils - long story as to how I ended up with 9.. basically I got the original 2 (Bert, who is a lilac/white/grey-ish colour and Ernie, who is black) and then decided I wanted another male but the pet shop employees where I bought the new one didn't separate them correctly so I ended up getting a female. Then about 2 - 3 months later I realised 'he' was pregnant and had 6 babies - 5 females and one male. The male is housed with the original two, the mother (Lulu) is with 2 of her daughters (Molly and Polly) and the other three are in their own cage. The other 3 are indestinguishable from one another so they don't have names!

My Dad keeps budgies as well but I'm not that interested in them for some reason.

In the past I have had..

A turtle/terrapin - actually not sure which, it was a long time ago. His name was Donatello! When he died I buried him in a butter container!

A German Pointer cross called Toby and another Pointer x Springer called Curley (the one I have now is name after him because they were so alike in appearance!) RIP Curley and Toby.

Numerous goldfish who kept floating to the top of the bowl for a reason I never discovered.

I think I even had frogs at one stage.

When I was about 2 I had a pet Daddy Long Legs called Fred and he lived in my room!

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Kathryn Welsh — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:56:51 GMT

Personally I have a 2yr old rescue lab x pointer but my mum (where i'm currently lving) has....

2 GSD's and a Border collie cross, 2 house cats, several chickens and then at one yard we have

2 semi-feral yard cats (not at all feral really!) and 10 miniature shetlands (run as 2 herds - one stallion and four mares in each)

at other yard we have one very feral yard cat and 5 miniature shetlands!!

Believe it or not wehave cut down on pony numbers - did have about 26!! And I have a heavyweight cob out on loan!!

So live in a bit of a mad house with my dog being here as well - she has sent the other 3 dogs into puppy mode!!

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Katie Drew — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:53:03 GMT

I have two German shorthaired pointers (soon to be 3!!) I love that breed. I also own 8 G.pigs. I have 1 moggie cat. I would love to have a small farm with a few rescue donkeys aswell!!!

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Claire Cameron — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:23:53 GMT

[quote user="Polly Player"]

Did your fear of biting hamsters come from working in practice!

[/quote]

Mine did. WAY too many bitten fingers

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Vicky RVN — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:53:31 GMT

It came from going to Sparsholt college, were they are not handled enough, and when they are they are scruffed and handled badly (poor critters ) so they will all hang off your fingers!

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Polly P — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:51:00 GMT

Did your fear of biting hamsters come from working in practice!

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Vicky RVN — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:47:51 GMT

My first pet was Scamp, a keeshond x collie. He was already in the family when i was born, he was PTS when i was in the start of junior school. Have had fish for years now (in pond, tropical and cold water in tanks). Took a female hamster home from pet shop i worked in...named her Hammy, she was an adult that came in with a delivery of babies, everyone overlooked her but she was the friendliest thing ever. She loved to run around the room and would come running up to you to climb on you Wouldn't have one again though...am too scared of them biting me! Got Daisy and Poppy the guinea pigs from the shop i worked in. Then added Smudge to them. Smudge and Poppy are now RIP, Daisy now has Snowdrop for a companion! Then there is Jack...you all know about that soppy staffie i'm sure!

My 'wish list':

More guinea pigs (with no hutch, a childrens play house instead
A bigger fish pond
Ducks
Chickens
Tortoise
Dogs
Cats
2 goats
2 pigs
2 donkeys
2 sheep

I'm sure i could add more...this is my 'in my dreams' list, when i marry a very rich man so can just look after my own rescued animals rather than work

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:43:03 GMT

Animals while growing up were , GSD's, JRT, x breeds,ferrets,and my grandad had a haulage business, there were lots of cats there that hung around usually in the offices.

My first pet as an adult, was my cat Alf, then my 1st rottie, jade, then charlie, then poppy, winema, rigsby, circe,ruby(all Rottweilers)Bubble the JRT, and Honey the X breed rescue.

My cats- Alf, lewis, tootsie, oscar,cleo, mcewan,Janis, Jack, and Salem and the ones I still have are Sassie, Belle(my prof pic), Aimee, and Tommy.and a male entire feral who visits every year around the breeding season, he lives in my garden from march untill october... he arrived again last week... my daughters call him Harvey.

My rabbits, were Elmer and Flopsy, Flopsy died 2 weeks ago aged 11. Elmer was 10 when he died.

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Doolally — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:12:33 GMT

I've got a gorgeous moggy who lives with my mum...he came into work as a bald and scabby stray, and now he's a beautiful long haired grey with white feet and a white bib.

At home I've got 2 Selkirk Rex, a black smoke boy and a tortie girl.

And I've got a Jack Russell who is so much fun

AND a arab x pony who i've had for 10years....

.....hence why I am broke

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Mandy James — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:52:09 GMT

I currently have two mogs, black & white Tuxedo's, Itchy & Scratchy. They are almost 11yrs old. They are non stop talkers & the funniest cats I've ever owned. Very clever furry people!!!

I've had a German Sheherd, Collie, Jack Russel plus a few cross breeds.

Mice, rats when growing up.

I aspire to owning chickens & some Donkeys. One day!

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Sal the 1st — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:35:39 GMT

officially I have 2 cats - jasper a handsome if psychotic black and white DSH and Morris a blue bengal with attitude. Things usually work out as long as I dont forget my place in the pecking order.

I also have Phil the pheasant and his missus - who sleeps on the wheelie bin at night.

Fat Albert and Hercules the wood pigeons - who will insist on sitting on the bloody chimney and waking me up every morning as soon as it is light

the TWEETS - a pair of collared doves who live on the security light

a wren living in the postbox

and another wren who lives in the garage - and when the wrens meet it is murder! very territorial and they hate each other

Re: What pets do you keep yourself, or would like?

Claire Cameron — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:55:45 GMT

I have 2 westies (well behaved...most of the time)

and 4 cats, 2 DSH ex-feral rescues, one siamese/persian cross and a Sphynx

I grew up with cats, we never didn't have a cat in the house, I got my first dog, Jack - westie when I was 16 then got Millie a couple of years later and they're inseperable.

I got Zippy my persian/siamese cross after I lost my cat Poppy after an RTA (# pelvis and dislocated tail) I then rescued two feral kitties (Boris and Mable) 2 years ago from a local client who always trapped/neutered ferals and fed them. I'm still in contact with her and remain friends with her, she's a wonderful lady. and I recently got Piglet my rescue Sphynx

I have had rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, hissing cockroaches, lizards, fish (tropical and goldfish), all sorts in my time