Question:
I am thinking of poor Brandy's situation, which as I understand it has her man wanting her to ditch her chins.
I realize that her life is very different from mine, kids involved etc, but it made me think, what would I do if bf told me to get rid of my pets?
I think I would tell him to take a hike, under my circumstances. I have sort of a "love me, love my pets" policy.
Where do the rest of you stand on this?
BTW as I said this thread is in NO WAY intended to put down Brandy. I think she is doing the best she can under the circumstances.
So what would each of you do if your significant other suddenly said, "pet X is bothering me, s/he has to go"?


Answer:
I don't think I would give my pets up for anyone and I would assume that someone who asks me to get rid of my pets didn't love me anymore (unless it was for allergies or something like that). If it was in the beginning of a relationsship I would just tell them to get lost.


Answer:
I have sort of a "love me, love my pets" policy.
That's EXACTLY how I feel!
I'm single at the moment but if & when I meet someone that might be considered 'long-term'.. that person will have to love my animals (all of them) as much as I do or I wouldn't even consider having a relationship with them.. I'm quite content being alone so if the woman didn't share my love of animals then I know I wouldn't be interested in them anyway...
and if it was an 'allergy' issue.. take meds or get out! (there's my insensitivity coming out again)


Answer:
Originally Posted by suzoo
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and if it was an 'allergy' issue.. take meds or get out! (there's my insensitivity coming out again)
You rock Suzoo!!!! I had 5 cats & insisted my ex take meds, so he did!!! I think someone who loves you will do that for you.


Answer:
Well, it depends on the situation. If I already had pets before starting a relationship with someone, then they should know what they are getting themselves into and not expect me to get rid of my pets which I had FIRST before I even met them.
But, since in my current relationship, I did not have pets before we decided to be in a committed long-term relationship, any pets that I intend to get in the future will be the result of a joint decision between the both of us. I am allergic to cats and I'm a dog person, Josh had two cats (they now live with his mom) before moving in with me and he's more of a cat person. He was leary of taking in Keesha & Ally but once he saw how great dogs can be, he loved them just as much as I did (maybe even more, lol). Even with the chins, he was leary as well, but he knew they made me happy and he'd help me with cage cleaning, cage modifications and always thought of them when we went to the petstore for treats
If Josh ever wants cats again, we'd have to compromise on the breed that is least likely to trigger allergies and also I'd have to actually find allergy medication that works, not this over the counter crap that doesn't help anything


Answer:
I also think when adopting an animal while in a relationship versus prior to being in a relationship, it should be discussed between 2 people to come to a mutual decision. I think if one person is opposed to it, you are putting that animal's future at risk. It doesn't make sense to adopt an animal where one person is totally opposed to it.
Dave already knows the animals are a top priority in our lives. Unless I had a terminal illness where I could not properly take care of them, there is no way my husband would demand that I get rid of my pets. I am not a child and therefore will not be told what I should or shouldn't do with my pets.


Answer:
I didn't have any pets before I met Jason so all of the pets that we have were adopted after a joint decision. The decision was not simply, "Can I have a cat?" but more like, "Should we get a cat?". Jason was the one who bought me Diego (he didn't know the trend it would start!). If I wanted a pet that he opposed, I probably wouldn't get it for the simple fact that if something were to happen to me (got sick, went away), I would feel bad having him care for a pet that he didn't really agree to. I don't really believe in the "your pets" and "my pets"...the pets are our pets.


Answer:
my hubby shares my love for our critters............lucy is his little critter and he has been caught on many occassions "baby" talking to her. She loves him and knows that he always has a yogurt drop stached in his pocket.....
he likes the chins as well but prefers the bunny as she is cuddlier and more interactive........


Answer:
Once in a argument jason told me to get rid of my pets, I told him he knew where teh door was, after the argument he apologized and realized that my pets stay weither he likes it or Not. He knew when he married me I planned on several animals. We agree that I am responsible for the pets care, cleaning, attention and all, I wanted them he didnt. The ONLY animal in the house he takes care of is Grizzly as he was a joint decision.
I dont pester him about his tesla coil parts all over the house, he dosent pester me about my critters. We compromise, he's the first one to ask while im out if they need food or toys but he dosent share a real intrest in them, he will help me when I need help if im sick or if I need something built as long as im helping he dosent mind doing it for me.
He loves me enough to know my animals are part of me and respects that, as I respect he likes animals but there not his thing.


Answer:
In my last relationship, the answer to this question was "They(the critters) were here before you, and they will be here after you are gone! Very prophet, too, since the main cause of our divorce was, according to him, I didn't have time for him because my heart was too much into my work, day and night if needed (I was running the shelter at the time, and would get emergency calls at all hours). In my current relationship, he buys them for me any time I have asked, and he loves them all as much as I do.