Pets

Yeah it was a pretty serious bite. She has a scar on her lip because of it. Still, she every so often asks how the greyhound is doing and asks if we are going to get a new one, so she obviously still loves dogs. I agree that a little more time is probably for the best.

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We have a fishtank with various tropical fish and my daughter's dwarf hamster called Cutie.

The fish are okay, but the filter we changed to last year is noisy. When I started accepting that I was autisticw and realised why it bothered me so much, my husband tried to put a baffle on it too reduce the noise. 

The hamster is a character, she's trained us by gnawing on the bars at meal times to give her something to eat too as her cage is near the table. So when I'm making dinner I have to leave a little piece of veg to give her dinner too!

I have:
1 Cat - Winnie (11 years)
1 Leopard Gecko - Leo (12 years)
2 Corn Snakes - Inca (12 years) and Annie (approximately 4 years)
2 Gerbils - Toffee and Latte (18 months)
1 Dwarf Hamster - Gizmo (22 month)

Out of all of them though, my cat, Winnie is the one I secretly love the most. I have always had cats throughout my life and would never be without one. Before we got Winnie back in 2015, we went through a few years without one when we lost my tabby, Lucy back in 2008. 

The years without a cat were probably the worst for me - so I have always said, wherever I live, I will need a place that allows cats. 

I love dogs as well and know many where I work, but because my parents and I are always so busy, it would be very unfair on getting a dog as they are much more dependable on humans - whereas cats tend to be fine when left alone - as long as they get enough food, water, love, playtime and a nice bed - they are fine.

Most animals are good for children, providing they know how to care for the animal and the parents will need to step in if/when the child does either get tired of caring for the animal - so parents need to do the research too - especially for the more exotic pets like snakes and geckos.

Mweekie xx

Harper is in red and Herbert is the hansom lad in tartan 

Fearn's a lurcher or more technically a long dog, because she's a mix of sight hounds, greyhound, whippet and saluki. She's about knee high, with a brindled coat and can say hello, she's very protective of my Mum and has to see who's at the door before Mum does, obviously she's protective of me too, but she knows humans look after our pack elders.

I find cats to be very good listeners many seem to have the knack of purring in the right place, I used to have a study buddy called Sidney, he was my friends huge mackerell tabby, who'd sit on the desk whilst I was writing, I'd read bits out to him, and he'd comment or ignore it, he was usually right too!

Aww they’re adorable. What are there names?

1.  I have two rescues which honestly give me a reason to get up on a morning.

Aww that’s sad! How old is your daughter? Is she good with other people’s pets yet? Maybe leave it a couple of years and see how she gets on learning about the space. It sounds like it was quite a serious bite too and not a nibble 

That’s a good suggestion about the cats! Aww what kind of dog is fern? Yeah they are good conversation starters aren’t they actually and good company. What do you think of smaller pets like rats and hamsters and things? 

Ooo so I do have a sad story with this one.

We recently had a wonderful greyhound, but we adopted him before we had kids. He never got to really liking the kids, and a few years ago my Autistic child did not understand giving animals the space they need. I tried to stay vigilant, but still she managed to get bit by him. Thankfully we found a good place for him where he fits in nicely with other retired greyhounds. It was really sad to see him go, but it was what was best for both him and the kids.

So now we’re uncertain if we should be investing in a pet at this point. On one hand, our daughter has grown a lot since then and having a pet could teach her a lot about responsibility, but on the other hand I’m not certain if I can shake off the trauma I had dealing with that bite. The heartbreaking part is that all four of us in the family want another dog specifically.

I've always had pets, all the way through growing and through adulthood.

I think animals are good for children, they add anothe layer of love to the world, they're good teachers and protectors.

I currently have 2 cats, a dog and 2 chickens. The cats are good for my mental health, they give me someone to cuddle, I find the sound of purring comforting, they're funny to watch and play with. My dog, Fearn, is what I often refer to as my physio, I have to get up and take her walks, sometimes when I really don't want too, this is good for my physical health, it gets my body moving and stops me from stiffening up, I get to walk in the fresh air. Dogs are social creatures and I often get talking to people through our dogs, nothing deep or anything, but about our dogs, its small talk with a focus. I have met some people who have become riends through walking with dogs.