Our pets provide us with great joy.

My pets are a source of great joy, and amusement. Especially the cat.

They're always up to some kind of silly antics, which make everyone in our family laugh. I can't imagine living in a home without some kind of animal in it.

I agree. My beagle is so much fun & nice to have around. He improves my home life so much I moved him from Texas to Holland with me via cruise liner since he couldn't fly.

I'm a recent convert, too (one year next weekend) and I never ever suspected something as small as a cat could provide so much happiness. I'm so grateful to my cat that sometimes I think I'm her pet and not the other way around. And I used to be one of those people who ridiculed pet owners!

my girls make me happier... but lately they are making us miserable because we are taking care of an abandoned siamese cats who was pregnant and now we have 6 cats at our (small) home. They just learned how to walk and are running all over the place and we're pretty busy cleaning the space they're confined to (the bathroom in the hall). Plus our two ladies have been cranky and annoyed by the new one and we've been trying to pay extra attention to them so that they don't feel left out. Luckly we've already found a new home for the kitties and as soon as they stop breastfeeding they'll be out tot heir new homes!

In my experience, most dogs have a sense of humor and a number of habits and tricks up their sleeves. I'm not so fond of small, "cute" dogs, preferring the big, houndy guys, and most of all I love border collies--their wolf-crouch and their amazing intelligence. So I wind up rescuing Wolsey, a Cairn terrier who's as dumb as a bag of hammers. His best trick is sleeping on my bed in such a way that unless you can actually see his nose, you can't tell which end is which. Naturally, I love him with all my heart.

I used to be one of those people that loved big dogs and thought the little ones weren't "real dogs". Boy was I wrong. First I broght Max into my life, he was an older Peek-a-Poo (11) when I adopted him, but he had the spirit of a puppy and was just so full of love. It just about killed me when he passed. After a long break I fell in love again and adopted Maggie. She is half Lassa and half some unknow terrier. She is so loving and has a wicked sharp little mind and sense of fun. She amuses me and snuggles with me, she is always happy to see me. She (and Max before her) has enriched my life to a very large extent. I could not imagine not having a dog in my life.

I was petting my dog last night and watching as fur flew off of him and I didn't care one bit. He makes me overwhelmingly happy even when he is a handful.

I have always had pets, dogs, cats, and birds mostly. For the past 6 years I have had 2 cockatiels. They have their own little personalities, are surprisingly social, and are full of antics that crack me up. They add immeasurable joy to my life.

I thank my boyfriend everyday for bringing Jack, our one-year-old Bombay, into our lives. I'm happy to spend an hour lying on the floor watching him play with his "mice." As one of my good friends said the other day, "It's better than Cable."

my whole childhood we had cats (a whole litter! one lived to be 23 and was like a sister to me hehe!) and my whole adultlife i had pets - birds, snakes, iguanas, chinchillas.....but those all had to go (to happy homes, of course!) when i succumbed to the need for a feline familiar.

i just love cats. now i have two and have not been able to spend that year in europe (ha!) or leave on a whim (double ha!), but they bring me soooo much happiness. they annoy the crap outta me, too, but when it's come down to it... it's pure friggin' love from these guys.

totally a return on investment, in case you needed to hear that ;)

Yes, the extra work is absolutely worth it!

I have twins...pug and cat (both brindle, around the same size). They are both hilarious and make me laugh all the time, so I make sure that they are happy too.

Our cats are the funniest freaks. My husband and I laugh and coo at them every day. Yes, they equal happiness!!!!

My Dog brings so much joy into my life, I can't imagine how I got through each day before she came into my life- there is easily one or two, true laugh out loud moments each day.

I met a whole bunch of human friends through her, and lost weight through exercise by walking her.

Pets are truly happiness!

Cooper is definitely one of the biggest joys in my life. Not only is he really fun and funny- he fascinates me with his brilliance!

I never had a dog before, but I totally lucked out with this guy. He is well-trained, gets along with other dogs and humans, and just has a great temperament. I don't understand how anyone would leave a dog like him at the shelter (because they realized he was 'too much work'!- that was there excuse)- but I am certainly grateful to them that I got him after.

Although my dog has changed my life in the way that I have to pre-plan everything I do, get up earlier in the morning when I want to sleep in, pick up poop when I'd rather leave it on the ground, have to come home first after work before going out again and at times keeping me slaved to the house more than I like all of that is insignificant to the fact that having him around really makes my days so much brighter - even when I'm in a bad mood.

someone's annoyed by pet month?! impossible!

Three dogs!

We only meant to have two, a boy and a girl, but then our third was a surprise.

HAHAHA!

We wouldn't have it any other way.

Not only does my own dog add to my happiness but so do all the pets I come across each and every day.

My Kitty is hilarious. He tears through my rooms about twice a day growling loudly like a tiger. I see an orange blur streak by then hide under a blanket. Or hide under the couch or a paper bag. Soooo Funny!!!!!

As I wandered around the house this morning picking up ball of fluff after ball of fluff - the carnage of a gutted stuffed toy - I realized that as much of a mess as my two golden retrievers make, I love them to pieces and they have added so much to my life. The dirt, the flying fur, the destroyed toys, the dug up patches in the garden - it's all completely worth it when one of them wanders over and plops down on my lap for a cuddle. All 70 pounds of him.

There is nothing like the exuberant antics that make up my dog and cats' greeting after a long day at the office. Or their morning ritual to help the alarm clock get me out of bed. Their own growing relationship cracks me up at least once a day (envision the dog herding the cat- in slow-mo around the living room). So, I will continue to clean hair, the liter box, slep out in the rain, and clean all of their other messes again and again. Those annoyed, are missing out on so much more than one month can cover and convey.

I suppose that all of these sentiments must be something like what parents feel about their kids? I'm still in practice mode with the cat, but it gives me hope for the future...

I would love, love, love to have a dog---it doesn't even have to be a big one. Unfortunately, our landlord doesn't allow pets--which seems to be the case for many renters.

Does anyone have any tips for broaching the pet discussion with landlords?

La Lou,

I've never rented an apartment (I rented a house for 2 years) but from what I've heard from friends most apartment building landlords are strict about their no-pet rules and are not likely to change. On the other hand, if you're renting a house or something similar it may be possible for the landlord to change his/her mind. The house I rented was owned by a lovely woman and she said she didn't allow pets, but once she met my boyfriend's dog she decided she liked us and the dog and allowed us all to move in.

I suggest you ask the landlord...you have nothing to lose!

I love having my cats and wouldn't trade them for anything. When I had emergency eye surgery the doctor said I was really calm - I was thinking of how loud my kitty's purr when I'm home.
They snore too which is hilarious.

Funny how I was so reluctant to adopt a cat at first, and now I can't imagine life without her. She is so bratty - chewing on plastic bags, escaping out the front door, getting into everything, coating my apartment in fur - but I love her! She just purrs constantly. I love that sound.

I miss my little one. She would carry little stuffed animals around in her mouth and leave them at my bedroom door! She purred like a diesel engine when you scratched her belly.

I generally like most other people's pets, too.

Check out my little angel! Her name is Nancye and she is the cutest French Bulldog.

http://flickr.com/photos/chadjackson/tags/nancye/

How can you not laugh at this little girl?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spins_lps/2797826296/

I had dogs growing up (my parents currently have 3) and I wanted to get one of my own, but I waited several years until I bought a house with a yard to adopt one. Owen is has a great personality -- there's no way you can be unhappy for long around him.

My cat snores too! Super loud! It always cracks me up.

I would love to have a dog, but I too rent and have a landlord that is firmly anti-dog. And even more of an issue is my fiance, who is extremely, extremely allergic. It makes me so sad, because I love dogs so much! If anyone has any recommendations of how to negotiate the allergy issue, it would be most appreciated...

I think AT should add a section just for pets!!

I am super allergic to cats and dogs -- but still have them in my life. For as much as I'm allergic -- I love them infinitely more.

If your fiance is up for it, allergy shots have worked wonders for me. It is time consuming (the process takes about three years) but it works. I didn't realize I could live a day without sneezing.

It could also be costly -- even with insurance, because of the co-pay.

But worth it, worth it, worth it!

lovelovelovelove my pet.
maybe i'm pathetic, but my pet is a hamster. he's fat and loves to chew on stuff: adorable of course. very friendly, cuddly, and quiet. he doesn't need to be walked or groomed or trained. we've named his home 'pork palace'.
we love dogs too and want to get one someday, when there's more space.
pathetic? probably. but happy? absolutely

About the landlords and pets thingie. I am a landlord, and I was not open to pets initially. (was not a pet-owner then) I would ask my landlord if I can give a pet deposit. I think if he/she knows you will not be damaging the property, he will be better about it.

About allergies- my dog is a non-shedder, and supposedly hypo-allergenic. We have tested it with a few friends who have allergies from dogs, and they have been OK.

Every every every day, my dogs make my life better.

Anyone who thinks money can't buy love never owned a dog.

I had a hampster when I was little and was so sad when she died on me. I fed her in the morning before I went to school and she was still sleeping in her bed and I didn't think much about it but when I got home she's still in bed? I made my mom check on her cause I didn't want to see her that way if she was gone and then here comes my mom with the horrid news! Trust me I know they can make you happy. I grew up with all types of animals and currently have a dog, bunny, and turtle. I love them all especially my Snuggle muffin doggie! For those of you that think that bunnies aren't fun or lovable OMG get a dwarf bunny. They are so funny!