I grew up with pets, worked on a farm for years in college, I let me kids have pets when they were little, I don't hate animals. However, I will not have a pet any longer. I don't want to clean up after them, I don't want pet hair in my home and I don't want the extra responsibility.
On MM1 and the spin off boards I have seen many people mention that they make people take their shoes off when they come into their home. Yet these same people who require guests to remove their shoes have dogs, uh dogs don't wear shoes so when they come in the home they are tracking the dirt into the house. The other day a friend was visiting with her (damn) dog. DH could not understand why I would not let the dog on the couch yet he won't let the kids put their feet on the couch...uh same thing kid shoes.. dog feet (well there is dog's arse as well).
So the other day a friend wanted me to pick up her German Shepard and drive the dog to meet her about 15 miles away. The dog is a German Shephar- mix and I have a sedan with cloth seats. I said I am sorry but I am not going to put this huge dog in my Altima for about 15 reason but one of them is because it is dirty. I explained to the frined because I don't have a SUV or a place to put the dog that would be equivalent to a trunk (i.e. space that people don't have to sit on) I would not put the dog in my car. She seemed to think that was odd. Would she let me kids ride in her car and put their feet up on the car seats?
I am not a neat freak by any means but I want to avoid cleaning as much as possible. I am I the only person out there that feels this way about dogs and cleanliness?
-- Edited by Forty-two on Sunday 25th of November 2012 09:02:38 AM
You're right, pets are messy little creatures. Even if they just had a bath, most of them shed like crazy. For some of us the hair, slobber and untidiness is worth it. I think pets make a house "homier" if that's a word, but not everyone has to feel that way. I do think there is something a little bit odd about people who just don't like animals, though.
If a pet is allowed to visit a pet free house, he should be happy he got in the door and stay on the floor!
And what about a car?! I am not going to let a big old slobbery German Shepard in my car with his dirty feet and shedding fur. I think my friend was asking too much of me.
Well, surely it was a pretty good friend to ask you to go get her dog? I totally get that you wouldn't want him in your car and you were justified in saying no. Unless it was an emergency & she is a close friend that is a pretty big favor to ask of a person who doesn't own her own dog and has a nice car. For instance, if she is a good friend and the dog was getting released from the hospital on a Saturday morning and she couldn't get there in time to pick him up and it would save the cost of two overnight stays it might be something to consider doing. Other than that I wouldn't ask a friend to pick up my dog somewhere.
I understand, Forty-two. If you don't keep animals, then having the filth/smell of animals in your home or car can be a big deal even if you like animals. Whereas if you live with an animal (non human) already it doesn't make much difference to have additional animals in the household.
I actually tell people they should keep their shoes on because I have dogs. I sweep and mop my floors every day, but they shed 24/7.
It would never occur to me to have someone who doesn't normally haul their own dogs around in their car to pick up mine. Really though, I've never asked anyone to pick up mine. I've picked up and delivered other dogs for people, but they go in the back of the Jeep, normally.
And Nann if I had an SUV it would not have been a big deal but I have a sedan so I would have had to vacuum the car after transporting the dog since he would have had to be in the back seat.
And Nann if I had an SUV it would not have been a big deal but I have a sedan so I would have had to vacuum the car after transporting the dog since he would have had to be in the back seat.
Exactly! At least in my jeep they would go in the cargo hold. I can't imagine asking someone who doesn't normally haul dogs to haul mine..even if they had an suv. But you don't even have that! Cloth seats!
Yes, pets are very messy. I have 3 dogs and 2 cats that inhabit the house with us and I know the house gets much dirtier because of them. Just really glad that the horses don't want to come inside too.
I do have two cars and one of them the dogs are NEVER allowed to ride in.
I could see if you were BFF's and like another poster said, an emergency. then I wold throw an old blanket or something over my seat and take the dog. But not a good friend and a non emergency? It would never occur to me to ask something like that of someone if I had a dog.
