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Original poster

Suggest a pet for us, well Dd2 please ??

20 replies

nutcracker · 12/10/2007 19:47

Dd2 is 7 yrs old and IMO suffering from depression. I am currently waiting for an appointment to speak with the school nurse to see what help I can get her, but in the meantime, I want to do something for her.

She is absolutly desperate for me to get her a dog. She is a HUGE animal lover, and worships our cat to bits and I truly think that animals can help a great deal with depression. We did have a puppy but had to get rid when me and her dad split, as he was too much for me to handle at the time. He went to my dad so dd2 still sees him, which is good, but bad aswell cos she sees what she is missing out on.

I would love to get her a dog, as I am a dog lover too, but at the moment it isn't the most practical of solutions.

I am trying to think of another pet I could get that doesn't mind being fussed anxd loved to death, but I don't really want another cat.

I was thinking perhpas a guniea pig ?? but don't know anything about them.

Any other suggestions welcomed.

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professorplum · 12/10/2007 19:53

Rats are good. Very friendly and clever. They sit on your shoulder and are quite tough. You can make mazes for them out of cardboard tubes and teach them tricks.

professorplum · 12/10/2007 19:56

Or chickens. She might be really pround if she can get them to lay. Not so good for cuddles though.

toomanygraves · 12/10/2007 19:59

WE got rabbits, which are great as the dcs have to clean them out every day, feed them, change their water etc. THey were quite feral at the beginning but now are very cuddly and sweet and entertaining - mad flips around their run,heads in flowerpots, etc - and they are immensely comforting to the kids, they go and confide in them. Rabbits can get a smorgasbord of hideous diseases however - vet bills not cheap.

Original poster
nutcracker · 12/10/2007 19:59

Hmmmm really not sure about rats. My friend and her sister had some when we were little and I always found them a bit URGH LOL.

Dd2 likes cuddly, animals that she can sit and hold and storoke for hours on end.

The puppy we had to give up, was a complete and utter nutcase (still is), but for dd2 he would sit for hours in her lap, as still as anything, and he sits, lies, stays etc for him when he won't do it for anyone else.

I know i am not gonna find anything that will totally replace him, but she so wants something to love and look after.

Oh, chickens are a nice idxea, but garden isn't suitable really.

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Original poster
nutcracker · 12/10/2007 20:00

Hmm, thats another problem really, cannot afford huge vets bills, and also have no transport to get to a vets, without arranging a lift.

I would be maxd to get another dog wouldn't I ?? She so wants one though.

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StrawberryMartini · 12/10/2007 20:00

Guinea-pigs are FAB. As long as they get plenty of attention when they are young they don't mind lots of cuddling.

Original poster
nutcracker · 12/10/2007 20:01

Can they alwasy live outside strawberry, or do they have to live indoors in winter ?

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pointydog · 12/10/2007 20:02

my friend got her dd two guinea pigs. They're nice animals, as long as you've got a good sized hutch and shelter for winter as they can't handle a cold winter.

They're not as jumpy as other rodents so you can hold them and pet them. You can make runs for them in the warmer months, find different obkjects for them to play in.

What would the cat make of a guinea pig in a pen in the garden?

Original poster
nutcracker · 12/10/2007 20:04

The catr wouldn't be impressed, as she is a selfish little sod tbh, but I woulxd make sure she couldn't get to it.

Shelter in the winter would be a problem though, as we don't even have a shed we could put the hutch in.

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pointydog · 12/10/2007 20:06

dh's guinea pig died during its first winter in teh garden. Think you really do need a shed or shelter of some sort.

oxocube · 12/10/2007 20:08

hamster? Am probably going to get one for ds2 (almost 6). He wants a pet of his own, even though we have a dog, 3 cats and fish! Wouldn't get a dog just yet if I were you. I love ours to bits and he is the best dog in the world (a mongrel from a shelter) but he takes up a lot of my time and its a huge responsibility.

Original poster
nutcracker · 12/10/2007 20:08

Oh that so sad pointy, back to the drawing board then.

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southeastastra · 12/10/2007 20:10

rabbits are nice

Original poster
nutcracker · 12/10/2007 20:11

Aren't some rabbits quite nasty though ??

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PelvicfloorLotsofGore · 12/10/2007 20:13

I was going to suggest Guinea pigs ,i want to get the dd's one too.
What about a chincilla?(sp?)

southeastastra · 12/10/2007 20:13

no, as long as they're handled alot when young. i've always found male rabbits quite easy to deal with.

when i was little i always had one running about the house.

PelvicfloorLotsofGore · 12/10/2007 20:13

Or a ferret?

southeastastra · 12/10/2007 20:16

bunnies are more cuddly than stinky guinea pigs aw my rabbit was really cuddly

i have 3 now, can't seem to be without them

Original poster
nutcracker · 12/10/2007 20:29

LOL Sea

I always wanted a chinchilla when i was younger, had forgotten about those.

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Original poster
nutcracker · 12/10/2007 20:30

Oh no not a ferret, urgh.

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