Talking about pets.

[Diatriber79]

Hi Harry

Great idea you had here, glad I found your post when I finally got to get back on here. Like you I have a bird [2], cockatiels called Darcy & Benny, they're about 5 & 4-5. Benny was the newer addition & ended up swanning around like the mortgage holder & being aggressive to poor Darcy so now they have separate 'houses' LOL. I tried a cat but my allergies didn't love it as much as I did so I'm trying to be grateful [& am grateful] for the little guys [actually when getting their nails cut the vet asked if I wanted to dna test their sad little excess droplets of blo#d & when I received the results discovered they're both actually girls but calling them boys has kind of stuck!]. When my depression was particularly sinking/bad over past few months I would feel motivated to get up for them to care for them & keep them company & they have been my motivator so I can totally understand what everyone is saying about pets, absolute lifesavers. LAM particularly would understand that. Regarding rescues I wish my allergies & budget would allow me to just go & round up every single animal in the shelters! My fantasy is to have a massive tract of land & pay quality people CEO type salaries to look after all the abandoned animals, like disneyland for pets. I'm kind of glad mine are noisy but nowhere as noisy as Jasper probably is though 🙂

[Alessandra1992]

That is one gorgeous parrot! Is Jasper a bit of a chatterbox Harry?

[Harry]

Hey Alessandra1992

Jasper dosent talk as such, but having said that he is rarely quiet. The only time he isn't making a noise of some sort is when he is eating and sleeping........even when he is sleeping he sometimes makes lil "dreaming" noises.

When he is in full voice it is painful and can be heard a long distance away even with the noise of the city around. I never have to worry about blocked ears......just the odd bleed hehehehehehe!

[kristin]

Hi Harry,

I think both the general mascot idea, and specificly penguins, is a great idea! Some other things about penguins: they tend to live in fairly extreme climate conditions, are incredible survivors. and they are also very vulnerable to climate change - something I'm sure we can all relate to with the change in climate locally after the change of govt! 🙂

Best regards,

Kristin

[kristin]

Hi Harry, 

Such a great idea to start this thread, thanks.

We have a cat who adopted us when we moved out from the city 8 years ago, and he has been training his new slaves diligently ever since. He is Smooch (by name and nature!). I'll try uploading a couple of photos. As you can see he's very elegant (not!) 🙂

When we first moved here my son was in mid-primary school. He was really missing his friends and finding it hard starting at a new school for 2nd semester. One day he was sitting on his bed having a cry and Smooch climbed onto his lap and put his paws on my son's shoulders and licked his face. My son described it as being given a reassuring cuddle.

Smooch loves joining us for prayer times and brings a great sense of humour to our gospel readings - he always wants to know where the fish leftovers got to, as all he sees are loaves on Sundays... no fishes! He also enjoys buzzing along when we are singing, and no bedtime lullaby for my 6yo is complete without his harmonies.

Cheers, Kristin

[Neb]

Lam, I am sorry that you have lost a son. Mum has to, while he was overseas. It was ghastly and it is 10 years ago, but my eyes are starting to water....

I have a much cherished cat MissDaisyMae who has condescended to accept my hospitality. She is a domestic short hair beautifully marked tabby. We live backing onto a public domain so she knows quite a number of cats, none of whom appear feral....they are all sleek. I suspect that while they come and check her food plates, she is doing the same. She occasionally brings me a rat, thankfully not in pieces. She also brings in toys like a piece of mulch bark to play with or a milk bottle ring. She lets me sleep in her bed, but prefers it if I have the edge and she can hog all of the electric blanket.

[Loopy]

Sandy, better late than never, what about dolphins, human like, mind readers caring, intelligent and nurchering  along with supurb mammals.

loopy.

[Neb]

I think MissDaisyMae eats better than I do! Anyone given those cat treats....my sweetheart has a fetish for them to the exclusion of her other food, are they addictive or just cat junk food?

One of my friends is a bat lady nursing orphaned bats and possums....bats are really cool dudes but not good pets as they are scratchy with their wing grippy thingies ....it is a human trait that we seem to love having critters amongst us eh?

[Neb]

Help, I am pinned to the bed by the cat...shucks!

[Loopy]

Neb, I am so tempted to say, "you idiot", then I saw the cat, I really thought you were talking about a female companion and why would anyone complain about that, unless it was Phillis Diller. Sorry, idiot in this case is a term of endearment. Before I saw the cat I was in the bloody deep hole, now, I have been blasted into space. Thank you so much.

loopy.