What do pets mean to you?

For me, pets are family. They are as precious to me as my own brothers and sisters. Pets provide unconditional love and dogged loyalty. I own a bird and a dog. My bird is a bit more cold but has made amazing strides in the past 2 months. My dog can be snippy and testy, but at the end of the day he curls up next to me in bed and snoozes away.

What do pets mean to you? Are they entertainment? Are they family? Are they just fluffy friends to hang around with?

I see my cats as both family and friends (and sometimes a bit of entertainment, I admit it). I care about them and protect them, as with any family member (maybe even more so with them, since they can't feed and protect themselves). Since they both have very distinct personalities, we don't always get along perfectly, but we work it out, like any good friends would. They're also always there to comfort me. And their shenanigans often give me a good laugh. It's really the perfect relationship.

I think I have a bias but cats and dogs are considered as family but other pets are just pets. This doesn't mean that we don't take care of other pets as well but I think other pets are rather "impersonal" in nature. I don't talk to my fish or birds or hamster. I can't cuddle them and baby them like I do with my cats and dogs. I used to have chickens and since they would let me cuddle them, they were considered as family. They all died of old age. Not a single one was eaten.

My Yorkies are my babies! I love them like they are part of the family! They are definitely spoiled! It is amazing how attached you can become to a pet. My Yorkies are so loyal, loving and always happy to see me. I can leave for 30 mins to run an errand and when I come back, you would think that I have been gone for days! They are jumping all over me and licking me all over my face, so happy and excited that I am home! They are my little shadows! They definitely are good company and have made my life happier!

My pets are my babies and families and I cant imagine my life without them! I have to see them first thing in the morning and last thing before going to bed. The fact that these wordless dumb creatures can trust us humans so blindly and love us so loyally just makes my heart melt! Losing them would be as bad as losing the closest of close family!

I like Renee's comment about pets being family and friends. I agree! In my best human relationships the care giving, love and support goes both ways, and it works that way with my girls (two cats) too. I've been loving one since she was a kitten, and she's been loving me back for a long time. She's been there when times were tough mentally and emotionally. She's not always the easiest friend to care for, because she has her own moods and sometimes that means she's stand-offish or seemingly mean. But I've come to understand her and give and accept love in ways that work for her, just as she has for me. Even though occasionally she'll get ornery and swat me, I still feel that she is my most precious, beautiful friend and I'm so grateful to have her in my life. She's a treasure. Even though she's 15 I'm still "learning" her, and learning from her. So many life lessons inherent in our relationship!

The newer addition to my family is completely different in temperament and I love her as well. She's kind and cuddly, curious and bold. And, even though I've known her for only a few years, she's still my sweetheart. She also gives me love, comfort and support in ways that work for her and, in turn, I put up with her sneezing on me all the time!

Yeah, I believe a pet is like a child, especially with my dog. I try to research everything about proper care, give her the healthiest food, brush her teeth, etc. to give her the best care possible. I decided to take on her life, so to speak, so I want to provide for her the best I can. I'm always disturbed by people who can just give their pets away, especially to shelters. But that being said, I did actually give away my turtle. I felt as though I did it because it was what was best for him though. Turtles aren't dependent on humans like dogs are, they're basically wild animals imprisoned by us instead, in my opinion. My turtle got bigger and bigger, and I kept getting a bigger tank for him and I ultimately just felt like I was caging a poor animal who needed more space. Luckily we found a nice family in Florida wanting turtles for a pond in their yard, which is now where he lives and I can't help but think he's much happier. I believe part of caring for an animal is doing what's best for it, and I believe I did the right thing with the turtle and his quality of life has surely improved. I think about him from time to time, I wish I could know how he's doing, how big he is now, etc.

I think pets are definitely family, or at least they should be. I hate it when people get animals and treat them like novelty toys. It breaks my heart. Unfortunately I'm pretty much the only person (besides my boyfriend) that I know that thinks like that. A friend of mine recently told me about some people she knew that suddenly moved away and the landlord of their old house finally (after several months) got around to going in the house to clean things up and found a bunch of dead cats they had left behind. My friend acted like it was not that big a deal. I was shocked. I never had much respect for those people anyway (based on what I know about them) but if I ever had an ounce of respect for them it's gone now.

The way I see it is that pets don't ask to be your pet...or anyone's pet. If you decide to get one you have the responsibility of giving it the best life possible. I'll even admit I probably don't do as much as I should for my dog but I certainly try. She is happy, healthy and loved and she knows it. And she is my best friend because I honestly believe that no one will ever love you as much as a dog will.

My dogs are certainly my kids. I refer to them as my fur kids. I wouldnt be here if it wasnt for them, I have had a pretty rough few years and they have got me through it. They know when I am upset and they like to cuddle up to me. They are wonderful and I cant understand people who are cruel to animals.
Sometimes I prefer the company of my fur kids to humans

Both of my cats, living and passed, are my babies. They are very sensitive animals. They love me uncontionally and I love them unconditionally. I consider them my fur kids. They got me through some very rought times. I consider them my fur kids. I prefer them over some of the human relationships that I had.

Our family is pretty dysfunctional and tends to fight and argue a lot. We are often at each others throats when we are all in the house together, especially around the holidays. I would say our pets, especially the three dogs we had, were peacemakers and mediators. They would take our attention away from fighting with each other and getting angry with each other - instead we would focus on them and play with them, and relax.