If You Were Seeking a Romantic Partner...

fureverywhere

fureverywhere

beloved friend who will always be with us in spiri
Location
Northern NJ, USA
I just had this thought from reading the Cat People/Dog People thread. For those of you who are single or even if you hypothetically found yourself single again...would that special someone have to share your feelings about pets? I'll give you an example.

My husband's family always had a dog in the house. Actually a series of dogs one at a time. They were fed and let out of the house several times a day, but probably not much more. The last one they had when I met him was tweaky from being tripped over. She also only learned leash training in her later years.

Mostly she was ordered under the coffee table and that's where she spent her days. Everyone in the house was busy with their own stuff...poor Jackie was kind of a living door stop. Eventually I was the one who took her to her last vet appointment when her kidneys gave out from old age.

Hubby met me in 1986. I was a single Mom of a son and three cats. He warmed up to all of us quickly. He'd come in bearing his mother's cookies, a toy for my son and kitty yummies. He never had a cat but he was happy to pet them and play with them because he knew I loved them.

When I brought up adopting a dog many years later he must have had flashbacks of poor Jackie.
The dog will not sleep in the bedroom
Okay the dog will sleep on her own bed on the floor in the bedroom
Okay the dog will sleep on your feet, not mine
Then came Callie...I could hear whispering in the dark " Man I love you and don't mind sharing the pillow, but please get those claws out of my back okay?".

He also would say officially he can't stand cats. But I'll let you guess who throws the biggest bag of cat treats in the grocery cart every week, who brings food to work every night to feed the feral felines, who will be watching TV with a dog in his lap and a cat on his shoulder...

If I ever found myself single again there would be two tests for true love...being able to soundly sleep with furry creatures and someone brave enough to kiss Callie on his big drooly lips...then yes I would marry them:D
 

Not sure if I'd ever want to marry anyone again, but if I was in any kind of relationship he would have to be an animal lover and treat my furkids with TLC just like I do. My husband cares for our cat and dog just as good as I do, they sleep in bed with us and are an important part of our family. If I ever have to go out of town for a week or so, I have no worries about them being treated with love and kindness. Somebody who steps on the pets, or orders them to stay under tables, etc. would be a no go for sure!
 
Exactly, we all have our standards. If I was on a date or in a just getting to know you kind of conversation...One crack about how they can't stand cats and/or dogs and that would be the end of it at that moment. I mean even allergies. Some people have them for real of course. Some folks just pretend I'm sure. Then again my best buddy is fiercely allergic to pet dander. If he puts his face into a furry back he goes red and his eyes and nose run all over.

But despite all the tissues and medications he needs...he has always had a dog and will save every creature from kittens and squirrels to deer and baby birds...the biggest heart ever for all critters.
 

Can tell a lot about a person, the way they react to animals and the way an animal reacts in return to them.

Had friends that were snowbirds (resided in Florida during the winter months) that use to visit in the summers. At that time, we had a German Shepherd, a Black Lab and a raccoon living with us. All rescue pets. He expected me to lock them in another room while they visited. His wife supposedly had allergies to all animals. I laughed, told him that was never going to happen. IF they wanted to visit us, she could eat allergy medication or not come at all, but I would never lock any of my pets in another room to appease them or anyone else!

They came to visit. He stayed more outside than in. She ate her allergy meds and enjoyed the heck out of her visit, especially with our pets. When I took my 4 kittens in, that was the last we saw them. LOL They've written and have sent cards, etc., but I'm at the point where I'm not invested in a friendship that is long distance anymore.

So, my answer would be, if a person I would ever get involved with wasn't an animal lover, that would be a deal breaker for me!

And, anyone that would make their dog stay underneath a coffee table, should have had that dog taken away from them. How sad I feel for the way that dog was mistreated.
 
And, anyone that would make their dog stay underneath a coffee table, should have had that dog taken away from them. How sad I feel for the way that dog was mistreated.

Me too, I mean the humans in that house didn't treat each other much better. At least poor Jackie could try to stay out of their way...did I mention my in-laws were not the easiest folks to get along with even at their best? When my husband still lived at home he worked all night and slept all day...his Dad had the same schedule. They probably barely knew there was a dog in the house. But people can change...Callie follows my husband everywhere. He even adjusts his walking and jumping so he doesn't knock Daddy over.

But isn't it interesting how our critters can read people far better than we can sometimes? I mean someone can fake smile and lie to a fellow human and get away with it. But creatures can see, hear and smell what we can't. If a human is secretly anxious their heart rate speeds up, their sweat smells different, there might be subtle facial changes, their voice pitch changes.

My husband has a distant friend. I guess except for the long rap sheet...oh and a long history of seriously hurting dogs...he really tries to be a nice guy now that he's grown old. Add to that his experience of being mauled by his own dogs several years ago...and yep he had it coming. When this guy stops by the house once in a great while Callie throws a fit.

I have never seen Callie react that strongly to anything. Anyone else from mail carrier to plumber is welcome to say hello. But this one guy and I think Callie has made his own judgment there. That is a person he has to guard his house from.
 
Yes fureverywhere, critters sure can read people well!

I took my lab back & forth to work with me every day for years. He never bothered a soul. One day, an elderly lady walked into my office while my lab was laying on a blanket next to my desk. She started speaking and he jumped to his feet and for the first time ever, I saw him growl, at her. I was gobsmacked! She spoke up right away and said that she doesn't like animals and my dog must have sensed it. Said her daughters dogs do that to her when she goes and visits with her, and she laughed.

It's said that if you can't love a dog like a family member, don't get one because they only know how to look at you as a pack member and to them, that is family!
 
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Another curiosity of critter behavior. I think part of it is greeting manners. Between strangers two cats will meet face to face. Tail and ears play into the exchange. Also gender, age, size and if the stranger is feral or socialized. Dogs as we know briefly look at a face but then a butt sniff gives them virtually everything else.

Cats and dogs will greet strange humans in much the same way. Some timid creatures will shy from me. I imagine between the scent of large dogs, multi-cats and rats it can be overwhelming. But an interesting question. What about humans who hate companion animals? My Dad has always hated dogs. Cats he might tolerate as attractive. But really his only "pet" is a carved bird statue in the living room.

But if he visits friends or walks in the park, dogs and cats will follow him like Dr. Doolittle. Cats will struggle to jump in his lap. Dogs will drool and grovel at his feet. Of course he makes a big show of escaping from them...filthy, hairy and ill behaved beasts...he can't stand any of them. Maybe they're trying to charm him?
 
I adore my babies and yes, I could never be involved with anyone who was not an animal lover. Sometimes I think that my kitties are the only reason I get up in the morning.
 
Sometimes I think that my kitties are the only reason I get up in the morning.

Isn't it wonderful how much our fur babies mean to us. I can't think of anyone else who I would hug adoringly after they've put their tongue up my nose...or waking to find them sleeping on your face. Before the dogs there was always a cat on my chest all night long. :love_heart:perfect unconditional love ya know?????:love_heart:
 
If I were single, a guy would have to be an animal lover. Someone who actually actively enjoys having a dog (or a cat, but I currently have a terrier who would not be good with cats). That means he would have to be interested enough in my dog to enjoy walking, training, playing with and to remember to check the water dish and to feed my dog when I was not home at feeding time. He would care about and love the dog, not just live in the same house with it without complaining. He would be a Dog Person, and hopefully just like all animals generally.
 
fureverywhere said:
Another curiosity of critter behavior. I think part of it is greeting manners. Between strangers two cats will meet face to face. Tail and ears play into the exchange. Also gender, age, size and if the stranger is feral or socialized. Dogs as we know briefly look at a face but then a butt sniff gives them virtually everything else.

Cats and dogs will greet strange humans in much the same way. Some timid creatures will shy from me. I imagine between the scent of large dogs, multi-cats and rats it can be overwhelming. But an interesting question. What about humans who hate companion animals? My Dad has always hated dogs. Cats he might tolerate as attractive. But really his only "pet" is a carved bird statue in the living room.

But if he visits friends or walks in the park, dogs and cats will follow him like Dr. Doolittle. Cats will struggle to jump in his lap. Dogs will drool and grovel at his feet. Of course he makes a big show of escaping from them...filthy, hairy and ill behaved beasts...he can't stand any of them. Maybe they're trying to charm him?
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Perhaps they enjoy tormenting him?
 
I would prefer moderation. Certainly not an animal hater, but I've never met one of those anyway. Some men claim to hate cats, but few really mean it, in my experience. It's just the "cool" thing to say. ;)
 
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