Welcome to General Chat - GAW Community Area
This General Chat area started off as a place for people to talk about things that are off topic, however it has quickly evolved into a community and has become an integral part of the GAW experience for many of us.
Based on its evolving needs and plenty of user feedback, we are trying to bring some order and institute some rules. Please make sure you read these rules and participate in the spirit of this community.
Rules for General Chat
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Be respectful to each other. This is of utmost importance, and comments may be removed if deemed not respectful.
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Personal anecdotes, puzzles, cute pics/clips - everything welcome
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Feel free to give feedback as these rules are expected to keep evolving
In short, imagine this thread to be a local community hall where we all gather and chat daily. Please be respectful to others in the same way
❓Question of the Day❓ What was your first pet, and how old were you?
My first pet was when I was nine years old. It was a little dog that looks like the dog from the movie Benji. We named her Taffy. She would escape from the yard and run around and greet people. All I had to do to get her home was yell Taffy, Taffy, Taffy, Taffy, Taffy - really quickly! She’d come tearing around the corner, and run straight into the backyard. We also had cats, a rabbit, a finch. My brother had a pet rat that he rescued from the gutter, and it was the best black n’ white rat. His name was Squeaky. Sadly when my mom sold the house in Gardena California, and moved us to Huntington Beach… she gave all my pets away without letting me know. 😩😬
I guess mine would have to be the dog I came home from the hospital to. My mama has all sorts of black and white pictures of me in a carrier with the dog laying on the bed beside me. Her name was Lady. I grew up with her, and then we ended up with two more. My daddy took in every stray that came by or any dog no one wanted. My grandparents said he even brought home a goat that he found in the road. He let me have whatever animals I wanted, so I had rabbits and Guinea pigs too. Guess that’s where my love of animals came from. That’s how I ended up with 7 dogs and a cat all at the same time. Now I’m down to 1 dog and one cat. The others lived a long life and went to glory land. I can’t imagine my life without any sort of pet, because I have never been without one.
I love this! You had a furry friend from the get go. There’s nothing like unconditional love from a pet.
This is one of the things that I love about being a pet sitter. Every other week I’m with different pets. Mostly dogs though. And since I haven’t returned clients, I’m comfortable in their homes now and their dogs are so excited to see me. They know I love them unconditionally and spoil them when their mom and dad are gone 🥰
That sounds fantastic. I have given that some thought when my two remaining babies go to the other side. Pets do so much better when they can remain in their own home instead of going to a kennel. Sometimes they just grieve because they feel abandoned.
Oh how sad 🥲
I was 7 years old and my dad surprised me with 2 bunnies from the nearby farm.
Three months later a cat ate both of them and I ended up seeing the crime scene and I was traumatised for a long time.
Oh gosh that’s awful. That’s childhood trauma for sure.
I’m so sorry you had to go through that. Period. my rabbit was killed by a kid next-door. Just a garbage human being.
I love? of the day. I had several outside dogs, helped grandpa with the chickens and got a duck one year for Easter. I didn’t consider them pets except one dog that looked like Lassy showed up and we called her Christy. Several years later she disappeared. My first real pet that was my responsibility was a tabby cat. I got her when I was in 5th grade. Had to feed her and take out litter box which was a Budweiser cardboard box with dirt inside. If you are old enough you remember the little box sodas and drinks came in, not very tall. I named her Tiger and she was renamed Boss after we began watching Dukes Of Hazzard. I think I was nine when we got her and she died when I was twenty four. One of the best cats I’ve ever had! She would roam the woods and come inside through the ceiling fan. I don’t know how she never got hurt or worse. We would hear her meowing and pull down the attic door for her. She always left us dead birds on the steps.
Sounds like you had a great dog. I can’t imagine my pets being given away with or without my permission. I guess your mom had her reasons for that. I would cry over a stray dog that came and went. To this day if I see a cat I will rub them until they get tired of me. The local ace hardware at the coast has two store cats. I go with my husband and he has to track me down. There’s nothing there for me so I find the cats until he’s finished shopping.
Now that is precious ❤️
Aww ☺️ How are you doing?
Hey Fren, sorry I’ve been out of touch a bit. The whole month of April I have either been in training at work or covering for other areas while they trained. I can’t understand why these corporations can’t just leave well enough alone. It it ain’t broke, don’t fix it rule. 🥴
What is sweet story! we’ve had cats in the past that used to try to bring birds in through the cat door 😂😂😂
I’m so happy that you had a cat for so many years. Many fond memories. Enjoy Ace Hardware!
Ps. Rooftoptendie use to do question of the day, so I really can’t take credit. She always had much more interesting questions, but I’ll try and keep up with it.
I enjoyed Rooftoptendie‘s question of the day. I knew that but couldn’t remember the username. Having ? of the day would be honoring her. I have thought about doing it but I get slack, forget or stay MIA a few days in a row.
I’ve read when cats leave dead animals at the door they are thanking you. She also left mice. I’ve had several cats since The Boss but none compare to her. The other’s didn’t go outside for their own protection. It made them soft. Those cats would play with a bug instead of trying to kill it. Forget about them catching a mouse! Thankful we didn’t have mice.