I have really enjoyed reading each post. I can see bits and peices of me in most. Unlike Chacha i did not grow up with animals, I had pets a couple of times but they were "animals" and my mom did not like to have animals in the house. I guess you can say I had my first pets for my children. When the girls were young my world was centered around them. We had cats, we had a dog.. but eventhough I provided for them they were pets and I did not bond with them (one of the cat even peed on me
).
Later I got Sammy, that is when I changed. The girls were grown, even moved out for a time. That NEED I have to nurture and care for a living creature kicked in. Then I got Zohie.. and she died. I changed. Two years latter I got Remy and now my world centers to a great part around the three dogs. They are just like our children, I take care of them (bath them, cook for them, take them to the vet worry about them ) but dh plays with them so they LOVE him. It hurst sometimes, but thats ok. It is my NEED to nurture that keeps me going.
I just can not see how anyone could hurt a dog, or most animals for that matter. I love my guys. I would say I put the needs of the humans in my life first, but I never put giving my pack love or care as second.