Question:
I hear all these stories of "I bought one but then ended up with 30" lol.. and I feel like I am falling into it too!
I started with one degu.. then three, then two hamsters, now two chins.. and even though I don't have the chins right now I can't stop myself from browing around and seeing all the other beautiful animals that are for sale.. I also browse around rescue sites and classifieds and things and always feel that pull towards animals that need homes or are being "gotten rid of"
if you have this "addiction" how do you curb it. every time I get a chance I am up in my pet room and playing with my girls or my hams and I love them to death but I think I might be over feeding them and making them fat because I use treats to entice them in and out of their cage (yet bad me I know)
I guess I could use the dust bath more but then they'd be having dust baths constantly!
I think I need a Pets Anonymous


Answer:
Originally Posted by muskokanmom
"I bought one but then ended up with 30"
I know how you feel We started out with one rabbit a few years ago, and because of his soft fur, we decided that we would try and get a female And now, we have 7 rabbits with the hopes of getting another one soon
For me, it's so "easy" not to keep getting more and more, because I'm in school and really can't afford to. It's hard to spend time with them because they're at TIm's parents' place (though I do visit and feed almost every day, and when kits are due, twice a day or more). So, I know that until I can find a way to keep them where I'm living (which most likely won't happen, unless I move somewhere else and I can bring them with me... again, which probably won't happen until I'm married or something else life changing happens), that the few that we have right now are going to have to last .
But it's not just rabbits, I really want gliders, and hope to get some soon, but again, have to have money and space, and right now, that's just not happening.
Perhaps you could set up a "budget"? Not so much a monetary budget as a pet allowance budget . For instance, make yourself a deal that you won't get another pet until you're done classes (for instance). Allow for say a pet a year, or every two years or something like that. As well, maybe you should try fostering instead? Our local shelters ask for people to foster special needs pets until they can find a permanent home, or even just pets that have been in the shelter for a while. I believe that you get some help in terms of feeding and meeting the pet's needs, but then, you would be helping out your shelter. Plus, if the pet's needs don't seem that much after you've fostered for a little while, then maybe you would consider adopting .
I really don't know how to help you too much in your situation, as if you're anything like me, you can think up a million and one reasons why you should get that chinchilla right now, or that sugar glider, etc.
Good luck (maybe we should start a Pets Anonymous thread?? )


Answer:
lol well luckily i'm not too tempted right now lol because I have so much to do to get ready for the two chins I am taking in. and I also know that after that I will probably be so full that I won't have room for anymore.
and I will also be reading up for a year to learn lots about breeding and when and if I ever do breed I will probably just stick to maybe keeping a kit every couple years.. and I will only be breeding once a year if I do at all.


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Sounds like you've got your "addiction" well under control


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I don't control my addiction...my husband does


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Since I have to build new cages for any new additions, that kind of limits what I can bring in- if I don't have empty cages ready, I will not bring a new one home!


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Mine is by budget. If I can't afford to keep it I don't get it. Space is also an issue as I am in a 2 bdrm small apt. I would love to get a large dog, but it's just not possible right now. I have room for my one more chin I'm allowed (when I find her) and possibly one of her offspring, but then I'm full! My sweety is also a good regulator for me. My reality check when I am blinded by cuteness!


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I am the type of person that would feel completely overwhelmed with too many different species of pets. I have my hands full with only 9 chinchillas and I plan on adopting one more. I think once I reach number 10, I will be set for quite some time. Eventually, Dave and I want to have 2 dogs which would make me completely content. I honestly couldn't handle any more pets than that. I like to make sure I have enough funds for emergencies and material things, i.e., spoiling them to death. Not to mention I am a major clean freak and couldn't imagine having a houseful of animals messing up my house.
I love animals and enjoy having pets but I certainly know my boundaries.


Answer:
Oh My, Denise, you would go bananas in my house!! LOL
As of right now we have 20 Chins (3 will be leaving this week...and at least 4 new ones coming home this weekend with me), 4 Cats, a dog and one fish.
I spend a *lot* of my free time with the animals, but I would never complain. If it weren't for Tim saying 'no' I would probably have double that. I really would love to get another dog but Tim says I can't until we are out of my Granny's place...not that we don't have the room though....


Answer:
Lixx, I agree with you, my budget keeps me in check about how many animals I acquire. Plus the fact that for the next few years I will be moving around and eventually settling down in the US so I won't be able to have many pets until I actually get settled down and financially stable. So for the next few years, all I can do is enjoy other people's pet pictures and their stories before getting to the point where I can share my own