Humans kept animals as pets for thousands of years. We love their companionship, ability to reduce stress and protect us. This issue of Weekly Glee is dedicated to our furry friends!
Celestial Goldfish
Bianca S. says: “The Celestial goldfish is so called because their eyes are permanently fixed upwards, as if they’re always stargazing. Although lots of people think they are grotesque, I love this breed! I always seem to choose odd things; from my clothes, to my taste in food, and now to my pets, I always feel a kinship with the unusuals. I saw him at the store and knew immediately that he was the one. When I look down at him in his tank, his eyes seem so plaintive and pleading that I can’t help but squeal with delight! He’s got the “puppy dog eyes” down perfectly! Who knew a $7 goldfish could bring such joy?”
- For all your cute animal needs, go to CuteOverload.com. StuffOnMyCat.com is hilarious too!
- The fluffiest cat breed is the Persian, and the least hairy is the Sphynx (completely hairless!). Persians require daily grooming while Sphynxes can be often seen wearing clothes to stay warm. Some cats are born with extra toes and are called ‘Hemingway cats’ or Polydactyl (scroll down for pictures!).
Pets in history
- A dog was “King” of Norway for three years during the 11th century AD. The Norwegian king, angry that his subjects once deplored him, put the dog on the throne and demanded that it be treated like royalty.
- According to a legend, the dog Hachiko waited for his master every day in front of Shibuya Station in Japan, and continued to do so for years even after his master passed away. In honor of his loyalty a bronze stature of his likeness was erected at Shibuya Station. (via Arika)
- The Prophet Muhammad was definitely a cat guy. When his cat, Muezza, fell asleep on his sleeve, he cut the cloth rather than wake the cat — he couldn’t bear to disturb it. In ancient Egypt, if a house cat died, the owners shaved off their eyebrows as a sign of mourning.
Exotic Pets
Some people have a penchant for the unusual and are drawn to exotic pets. ‘Exotic’ here doesn’t necessarily mean from exotic continents but rather non-traditional pets, anything other than cats, dogs or horses.
Meet Ollie, the barn owl!
Jessica E. says: “My sweet baby Fennec Fox, Sophie, gives me and my boyfriend daily glee! She acts like a mix between a dog and a cat; bathing herself like a cat, and occasionally barking like a dog. She also likes to dig in everything she can get her paws on, and will gladly steal your food right out of your hand, like the fox she is. She is definitely a unique and wonderful animal!” More Sophie as she chases a button, burrows and gives kisses, on YouTube!
If you are considering an exotic pet, make sure they are legal in your area. Here’s how to find out.
Melissa’s bunny, Pixel
Melissa shares a few facts about bunnies:
- They are cuddlers. Ever hear about the pancake bunny? People thought that was cruel of his owner to do to put things on his head, but the truth is bunnies are natural cuddlers and will associate the light pressure on their head with cuddling. I’ve tested this on Pixel with tiny plush toys – she’ll stay put until the thing topples over!
- They make their nests with their own fur, so if you have a female bunny they tend to shed a LOT in the winter/spring transition.
- When bunnies are happy, they tend to binky. A binky is when the rabbit runs and then jumps into the air in a cute little twist. (Guinea-pigs do a similar thing and it’s called ‘popcorning’!).
- Bunnies can purr! It sounds kind of like their teeth are grinding, but when you pet a bunny the way they like it, it’s actually a purr.
- Bunnies can see almost 360 degrees around them, but they have a blind spot below their nose.
I posted this before, but it’s worth watching again & again & again!
- Who knew that baby rats could be so cute?! Mara says: “Illyria is my pet rat that I got as a Christmas present from my best friend 2 years ago. Rats have a really bad reputation for being dirty and unfriendly creatures, but over the past 6 years I’ve owned over 10 and they are the most intelligent and friendly animals! I trained Illyria to go for walks with me: she will sit in the hood of a sweatshirt and come along for the ride, occasionally poking her head out to squeak in my ear.”
Pet Ownership
Do you own your pets? Legally, absolutely. You are responsible for providing adequate care and if somebody chooses to steal your pet, you can run after them screaming, “Hey! That’s my cat you’ve got!” However, most people who truly love their animals hardly consider them property. They prefer to call themselves ‘guardians’, ‘caretakers’, or even insist that their pets own them! (If you have a cat, you’ll understand.)
Several communities have tried to change the general mindset regarding pets by passing “pet companionship laws.” San Francisco, CA, passed a law officially recognized “pet guardians” as opposed to “pet owners.” Similar laws are on the books in San Diego, CA, Berkeley, CA, and in the state of Rhode Island. In 1993, legislation was introduced in the State of Colorado which would recognize pets as companions, rather than property.
Speaking of responsible pet ownership: some have argued that dying your dog’s fur constitutes animal cruelty. What are your thoughts on that? In my opinion, if done right (i.e., your dog doesn’t object being bathed and fussed over), it can be a harmless way for you and your dog to have fun together! After all, you dye your hair, so why can’t Fluffy be pretty in pink? :) You can pick up a tub of non-toxic, semi-permanent dye formulated especially for pets for $25.
Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism means attributing human traits to animals. Every dog or cat lover I’ve ever met can’t help but comment on how surprisingly human-like their pets are! I am no exception to the rule and find it especially endearing when my cats behave like little persons (remember the Fruit Cat?). Do your pets act like humans sometimes??
Check out this kitty – he eats at the table just like a person!
“A dog with a tail wagging, a kitten purring and a bird chirping. What do these pets have in common? Very likely the fact that they communicate positive feelings in their owners. Indeed, pets seem to have the power of making people happy.” - Janet Farricelli on How Pets Make People Happy
Deerlings: have any additions to this issue? Post them in this thread!
Next week’s theme: SHOES.
Would you sell your soul for a pair of shoes? Own an unusual pair or extremely ugly that you’re still wondering why you have? What would your dream shoe look like, if you could design it? Send in your confessions to weeklyglee @ gmail.com!
I’m gonna have to say that dying a pet’s hair is probably some form of cruelty. It just doesn’t sit right with me. :\ I don’t believe that a sentient being can make that kind of decision, however aesthetic it may be, to another creature they respect as their equal.
Ellen Reply:
January 18, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Agreed.
Jennifer Reply:
January 19, 2010 at 12:26 am
Thirded.
Doe Deere Reply:
January 19, 2010 at 12:12 pm
I see what you mean. What about dog haircuts?
Euphoria Reply:
January 19, 2010 at 9:26 pm
That’s always been how I’ve looked at it. I think dying a pet’s fur with safe dyes is no different from other grooming. Some animals love the attention and some don’t. I think the only cruelty lies in forcing your pet to endure something it hates.
I took this same approach with my last cat who HATED baths but loved to swim with us in our non-chlorinated pool.
I think that if putting an animal in embarassing clothing and carting them around in the mall in a baby carriage isn’t cruelty, then neither is beautification.
Just have to say that Guinea Pigs purr too. I have 4 of them and when I have them in my lap cuddling with me they do purr. Not like a cat or rabbit. They are wonderful animals and bring me happiness every day. Perfect for apartment life too!
Doe Deere Reply:
January 19, 2010 at 12:19 pm
I know exactly what you mean! I’ve had 4 guinea pigs in my life and love them so, so much. They are such fragile, sweet creatures. Did you see G-Force? Adorable!!
Aww, thanks for this. I’m so sad because yesterday my little kitty snuck out to explore and I think she ran away a little too far and it started to rain. I hope to find her soon, I’ll keep searching.
Anyway, yay for those animals in history. I’ve always said animals are capable of having careers…many cats and dogs have been mayors and librarians!
I’ll add that if you ever consider adopting an animal – skip the petshop and go to a local shelter or a trustwhorty breeder. Also, ask around in case someone is searching for a family to adopt their own pet.
I have 2 himalayans (and used to have a fish – but she died a few days back.. :’(..)
both cats got difficults life (one neglected, the other used for repetitive breeding) http://twitpic.com/q1a2 here’s Moka
http://twitpic.com/rxkv and Précieuse (with my fish)
Both of them are cuddly, friendly, loving, little cats. I know I made the best choice I could when I gave those 2 a second chance!
Shelters are always looking for volunteers too – and cuddling on a weekly basis puppies and helping elderly cats to find a warm home is the best paycheck there is!!
I own two rabbits myself, I never knew their happy twitches actually had a name! When I first saw my rabbit do it I was terrified, I thought he’d hurt himself. My friend and I came to call them “happy seizures” because of how erratic the movements are.
I love bunnys so much! And cute overload is one of my favorite sites.
Aww your gold fish does have an adorable face! I have a hyperactive beagle called milo. When he’s in the park and dogs bully him, he hides next to us. Very sweet!
Pets are a wonderful thing! For someone who struggles with depression such as myself, they really are great companions and cheer me up :) They always seem to be able to sense when you’re not feeling well and come cuddle with you!
Doe Deere Reply:
January 19, 2010 at 12:21 pm
I agree. One of my cats is somehow capable for reflecting my emotions. When I’m happy, she is happy and relaxed. When I’m feeling anxious, she goes craaaazy. Talk about an incentive to stay calm!
Thanks so much for putting my baby Sophie in the blog! She is quite appreciative :D
I loved this one, everything was so cute! Weekly Glee is definitely one of my favorite things to look forward to now!
Also, I have a guinea pig too, named Voldemort, and he definitely popcorns a lot. When he does it, it’s often accompanied by a high pitched squeal, which is hilarious! Ah, animals are so entertaining :)
@Seth, I think it depends entirely on the animal and the owner. First, they use non-toxic vegetable dyes – no harm, no foul there. Nothing that smells or tastes bad. And some dogs really love being groomed and dressed.
In New Orleans, we have an entire Mardi Gras krewe for dogs – The Krewe of Barkus. Amazingly, thousands of dogs march in the parade and I’ve never seen a single fight break out! But once a year, you’ll see them dyed, dressed and primped to the nines! My Catahoula Leopard Dog was Dutchess of Barkus (royalty!) as a pup, and she absolutely adored the costuming. Forever afterward, every time I brought out a fancy collar or costume, she’d have fits to get into it and drag me out into the French Quarter to show off! She knew that an outfit meant mad attention from people on the street, and it was her favorite thing.
So its all in the dog’s personality. I have two now – one who loves to wear clothes and sweaters and one who doesn’t. To each dog his own, IMO :) They have a “style” just like we do.
Doe Deere Reply:
January 19, 2010 at 12:29 pm
With you 100%, it all depends on the personality of the pet. It sounds like your pup adored the costuming, so why not!
To me, ‘animal cruelty’ implies some sort of suffering. At best, you can say you’re being ‘inconsiderate’ since the dog cannot clearly communicate its consent, but cruelty? Nah.
I have 7 cats and a dog.
All of my cats are rescues except for my purebred Himalayan, but I also have 3 purebred Persians. They are so delightful, my favourite breed for sure!
My dog is also adpted, and she sports unnatural hair dye like myself! Currently her hair is pink, but it has also been purple and it was pink before that. Pink IS her favourite colour :)
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b147/Stormy_RD/IMG021.jpg
Manic Panic’s Ultra Violet
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b147/Stormy_RD/IMG_5202.jpg
Manic Panic’s Red Passion
Never before have I been so proud to call my self Norwegian.
Rickey Reply:
January 18, 2010 at 9:09 pm
I totally hear you.
There’s a story from Fort Benton Montana, where my dad’s from about a dog that did the same thing as the japanese dog, there’s a statue there too his name was Shep as in shepard. we have a border collie (Dallas), a cat (Cookies Kitty, my 2 year old named him), and a chameleon (Drachenstein, which is the name of a dragon in some german folk legend) they are so loving, especially my dog, he likes to hug and spoon me at night!
my cat is a polydactyl!! ahaha I never knew the “scientific” name I only ever refered to her paws as mittens. Her paws are the cutest thing hehe I doubt I’ll ever want to have another cat if it DOESNT have those little extra thumbs <3
Too cute for words!
I have an adorable “blue” ghost-striped polydactyl cat, his mom actually had two extra toes on all 4 paws, so she had a thumb on top of her thumb! He comes from a family of feral farm cats and all of them have extra digits.
I also rescued and adopted a few mustangs from different western states and trained them, I also had rescued racehorses and the bond I had between the mustangs weres so much stronger than the thoroughbreds, no offense to TB’s.
And just for some pet-glee, a picture of my baby, my weimeraner.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnyeatsbear/4091078779/
He likes snuggling under the curtains and it makes a bonnet around his head when he sits up.
This was adorable–thank you so much everybody who submitted and Doe for putting this together! And–for sure expect shoeness from me in the coming days. I think I’ve just passed the fifty mark (!!!!!)
Love,
Rickey
Rickey Reply:
January 18, 2010 at 9:09 pm
P.S.-I think I want a fennec fox. That was the cutest thing ever (maybe).
Jessica Lynn Reply:
January 20, 2010 at 12:41 am
they are wonderful! i totally recommend them as pets :)
i love my exotic pets (and my not-so-exotic one as well). my boyfriend and i have two chinchillas, fembot and bender (from futurama), and our three month old kitten, loki. :) i’ve always been a HUGE fan of having pets around, and i doubt i’ll be getting rid of any of my babies anytime soon. we are actually in the process of looking for a serval cat.
I do think that dyeing a pets fur is a bit much (along with dressing them up as well) they are animals at the end of the day and they should be left as nature intended. I’ve had dogs all my life and my grandfather used to breed German Shepherds, and I know for a fact that dogs don’t give a thing about their appearance, they are also colour-blind to top it off anyway!
I love animals, this post brought a well-needed smile to my face. Right now I have 4 dog, and I’ll never forget when the 2 females got pregnant at the same time! having 13 puppies chasing behind you is pure glee!!
I’ve got a sphynx cat! She’s very adorable. Though they seem to be portrayed as evil sometimes? – like in The Book of Eli or the music video for Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” – they have great personalities, they’re very friendly and energetic and supposedly intelligent – well, I’ve never seen any evidence of that in my cat. XP
Here’s a picture of her:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_An-olmHoOcw/SoTLZU3jDhI/AAAAAAAAAV8/mJtdO_FJkkE/s640/100_1877.JPG
Her name’s Persephone. ^.^
I have two dogs and a cat. One is exacly bought dog, but the other dog and the cat just found ther ways to me. They were bloth living in the streets.
Or the dog is exacly doing it nowadays too. She lives around my dance practice place, and comes to visit me everyday, and always waits outside the doors of the dance studio to be petted.
But since I know she has puppies somewhere, I can not take her with me living in my apartment before I know where the puppies are and can take them too.
I love pets but I live in a no pets allowed apartment :(
I do have a Quaker parrot though! (shhh)
Birds are surprisingly fun to be around. I got mine 3 months ago and he’s so funny. Has a mind of his own.
:D
I’ve had many animals throughout my life… the most recent ones I have to say have meant the most to me.. there is much more that I would like to share about one of my current canine companions.. it gets a little lengthy so I’ll share with your permission Doe. He was a rescued dog, and I’d like to share a bit about his life and what he’s gone through.
yayyy!! I am loving these glee posts. This one is crammed with so much cuteness and interesting stuff. THAT LITTLE BUNNY PIXEL, omgg. <333 sooo flippin cute with her little jumps! I also love fennec foxes (but I think it's slightly… weird to keep them as pets?) and GUINEA PIGS omg especially the ones with the crazy cowlick hair, haha! And their adorable little squeaky noises. Love.
Two more adorable bunny things:
THIS which has to be the cutest bunny ever..
Also, BUNNY SHOW JUMPING.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNPOdffkkLo
I know rabbits “hop”, but actually seeing them jump like this is so *squeetastic*! :D
That fish is just amazing!
I adore animals <3
Always had heaps of them :) At this moment I have two rats and a aquarium with 3 goldfishes and some shrimps.
Maybe it's unneccesairy, but I hope Bianca S. knows how much care goldfishes actually require. I keep mine in a well-filtered 48 gallons aquarium. Also, they get really unhappy alone.
This is why I am no fan of (very unusual) excotic pets. A lot of people don't know how to take proper care of their pets and animal supply stores will often not be honest. I guess that has very little to do with the exoticness, but rather with their owners though ;D
Bianca S. Reply:
February 6, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Hehe, yup I am aware of all the care goldies need. My boyfriend gets jealous, because I dote on the fish so much! He keeps saying “It’s just a goldfish!” …What will he think when he comes home and sees me making food for the fish, but none for us?! ;D
Make sure you check out stories of Tama the station master cat in Japan, she even has a train that was designed to look like her, and she wears a hat and greets the customers every day :D
I love my cats and dogs, but I have never feared for their saftey as much as I have for my little Ferret Dagger. He gets into so much trouble, its not worth the heart attacks when he gets out of your eye sight and finds “holes” in your ferret proofing. My co worker found him in her garage, because someone had thrown him out, probably due to the fact that they could not take care of him. He’s a sweet loving little animal that gives me kisses and has to wear a bell on his collar to let me know that he’s around. He does all sorts of tricks and steals anything he wants. He loves tennis bals and its amusing watching him “steal” them and trying to fit them under the couch. He also stole something from me that he shouldn’t have and when I went to get all the stuff from under the couch, it popped out right infront of my friends….bad ferret <3. I love him so much, hes an awkward creature with a tenacity that is bigger than him. I love my ferret so much!
I absolutely love this! Especially the part about pets Being companions, not just pieces of property! Of course I Like to think of my little hamster as more of my baby then my pet, I’m a ham-ham mom! :)
My ham-ham has a big personality for being so little, it’s hard for anyone not to love her!
I love my animals! I have 5 bunnies, 2 cats, 2 fish, and 2 dogs one we just got. Hes sooo cute!! And my bunnies don’t really purr one of them barks and i no it sounds weird but he really does. and then two of them buzz and I mean really buzz. Its funny. But there so cute. and they really are cuddlers.
I have two dogs and a cat, all girls :D
The oldest dog has a true personality of her own!! Her name is Lady and she gets really moody at times, kind of like me when I’m on my period lol
The other dog Chucha is the sweetest animal! She loves to cuddle with me on the couch and she gets scared really easy!
Now the kitty, Artemis, she’s a real character… She fights with her own reflection! And she likes mayo!
I had many pets thoughtout my entire almost 18 years… I had cats and dogs, but I also had bunnies, hamsters, lab rats, I had many turtles and tortoises! I also had a parrot, you know… the green ones that speak and repeat almost everything you say! She was HILARIOUS! Her name was Frida (Kahlo), and she used to say a bunch of things!
I love love love animals, there was a time when I considered to be a vet, but then I realized that if someone came to me with a badly treated dog (or any other animal) I would badly treat him/her!
Squeee!! I was so shocked to check your blog and find the photo I took of my sweet little goldfish, Aquarius Lump, at the top! He was the best fish ever, superfriendly and just really great to watch. He had a good life and is buried next to the sage bush in my garden.
Bianca S. Reply:
February 6, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Aww, that was your goldfish? Great photo of him! Aren’t Celestials the cutest? Aquarious Lump, such an awesome name :D
I love this post, Doe!
I’ve always been surrounded by animals [I live in the country] but guinea pigs are my absolute favourite.
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs265.snc1/9227_1241220797596_1441612075_687946_393951_n.jpg
This guy is a close second, tho =) His name is Rascal, and he lives in the woods behind my house, but he always comes to visit me. I first found him last May stealing from my dog’s food bowl outside, so i sat outside with him for a few hours feeding him from my hand and taking pictures. He is an absolute sweetheart.
Jessica Lynn Reply:
January 20, 2010 at 12:45 am
ahh foxie!! i love them. bordering on obsession lol
that’s my baby fennec fox in the blog, i’m so proud! we are looking to get a red fox like rascal to keep sophie company, too :)
Kuri Reply:
January 20, 2010 at 7:29 am
Your baby is adorable <3! My uncle always talks about getting a fennec fox, but I'm just fine with my wild boy. [I favourited that video of Sophie playing with the button. Soo cute!]
Wow, I never thought dying the dogs hair was even possible. I’m sure my girlfriend would want to try it out but I sure don’t want to be get caught bringing the dog with me. :D
My husband and I have 2 dogs and 1 cat. I just love their different personailities and they way they interact and play with each other.
The oldest one, Molly is a maltese x shihsu and black and white. She’s beautiful. She is brave and things she’s a cat. She jumps up on the couch and sometimes sneaks onto our bed in the middle of the night. She loves attention from people and whenever new people come over, she’s all over them. She could lick and lick and lick someone for an hour straight. She often hides under the bed if she doesn’t want to be put outside.
The next is our little boy Bauer, maltese x shihsu. He’s all white and he loves food! We have to stop him from eating Molly’s food. He’s also the wusiest(and the cutest) dog ever. Even though he’s capable, he’s too afraid to attempt jumping on and off the couch. He also does not understand much. If he does something bad and you yell or speak to him firmly, he stands there wagging his tail and then runs up to play. He is the most loving and loyal dog.
I got a little Burmese x Rag Doll kitten for Christmas. He’s got the softest white fur with bright blue eyes. We called him Casper. He thinks he rules the nest(as does Molly) and loves getting up to mischief in the middle of the night. Anything that is small, he bats around and plays with. I love it when he visits in the middle of the night purring away. He sleeps on the top of my pillow snuggled up to my head.
Often the dogs form a team to gang up on the cat. They have lots of fun rolling around on the ground and wrestling. And the Cat is often damp all ofer from Molly licking it. They’re all the best of friends and it’s so cute.
I love animals/pets.
Aw, Doe, why’d you have to post this? My parents are down south for the winter and they took the family dog with them (because both my younger brother and I have jobs and are in school, and during the day the dog just can’t be left alone in the house). So it’s been a VERY lonely past two months without our big goofy black Lab around.
We plan on going down to visit our parents around spring break, and I’ll have to have a video camera on hand when we show up, because I can only imagine our dog’s reaction when he sees us after so long. I miss him so much.
Oh, and for the record, I don’t see much of a problem with dying your pets’ hair, as long as it’s a vegetable- or water-based dye and it’s done safely.
I do believe that some of the biggest misunderstandings and “notions” surrounding the anthropomorphism issue is more than whether or not people are over-estimating their animals – it’s more about the human race in general somehow having come up with the idea that only humans have certain traits.
Certainly other animals do not sit around philosophizing a la Greeks. But how can anyone come to the conclusion that they do not feel emotions or care about ours. Their expression of their state of mind is so different than ours. And to me, that is part of their charm.
They have such short lives that things tend to get compressed a lot.
I think we have so very much to learn
Oh and the hair colouring is usually non-toxic spray and in the pugs case he also has a clip on on the tail. That kind of stuff is usually done with much laughter and hilarity and enjoyed by pets and their people.
I hate these reports that always take it so seriously i.e., “look what these nuts do to their animal when there are starving children in ….”
My persian cat doesn’t act like a human, ha acts like a dog! Just this morning he was growling at the tree outside because it was moving in the wind. I love animals.
The first living thing that was sent to space from earth was a dog named Laika, sent by the USSR during the space race.
I’m daft enough to keep a blog for my pets.
http://guineapigsqueak.livejournal.com/
I think more people should do it :)
Oh my goodness Doe!
You have to find out where those little bunny toys are from in that picture!
THEY ARE SOOOOO ADORABLE!
I swear if I get one of those I will be the most gleeful person in the entire history of gleeful people!
I especially love the bunny with the mustache and the bunny with the popsicle! :]
*squeeeeeeeee*
Much Love,
Susan
I have to stick with the idea that dyeing, dressing up, grooming, and accessorizing our pets is fine as long as the pet is fine with it.
If we can say that our pets are more that just property and each has a personality then we can also say that the pet make it VERY clear what they like or not.
My dogs go for their sweaters on their own when it’s cold and they want to go out and my little chihuahua picked out her charms and t-shirts and looks for them when I take them off.
They let me know which items they like or not and they LOVE the extra attention they get when they go out all dressed up for the day!