Volconvo is a debate forum for the discussion of political, religious, and news-based topics.

Pockets · Mar 14, 2007, 07:49 pm

My family has had at least 50 different dogs and 20 different cats. The cats were almost exclusively outdoor pets as we lived just on the edge of Chicago during the 1970's boom of the suburbs. I can remember all of them.
The cats were obtained via The Humane Society and strays that came for the food and stayed for the love and affection we showed them. There was one feline, Tiger, that stuck out from the rest. Tiger was born at our house in one of the several litters from Sadie, the first cat from THS. Tiger loved to hunt and to show us his kills. He could catch a bird mid-flight and held his own against a raccoon. Lost an ear in that one but he was totally undaunted and thrilled afterwards. He was a large tomcat whose size once had one friend of the family scared to leave the house when Tiger met him in the driveway. My parents lost Tiger in the move from Phoenix to Arizona while I was overseas.
The two dogs I will talk about are Abbie and Lucky. Abbie was a doberman who changed the way our whole family looked at our pets. While we always cared for and loved our pets more than most, Abbie was different. One look into her eyes and you knew the wheels were turning. She was easily the gentlest of all the dogs, until a male dog came on the scene or someone came by on a bicycle. We never could figure that out. We could make fun of her after a bath and tease her about her pretty bow. She would get embarassed. We could position ourselves at the base of a 6-foot fence, with Abbie 50-60 feet away. She'd get your ass going over the fence even if you could practically vault it. I won every bet with my friends on that one. She knew when I was doing things I was not supposed to do. She would ignore me and not let me pet her. She was a moral alarm clock. We all pitched in to paya 7,000.oo vet bill when she was struck by a car when she was about 7 years old. Abbie died 7 years ago from conghestive heart failure. My stepfather was despondent that he couldn't find a doctor to give her a heart transplant. That is how much she was loved.
The dog I have now is 'Lucky' a border collie. My brother and I named him Lucky because we got him as a stray from a golf course out on the edge of nowhere, namely Apache Junction, AZ. We were told he had been there for 3 weeks. He is deaf and almost blind with a bad leg. We figured he was lucky we found him. I claimed him because I figured a dog in his condition surviving on the high desert for at least 3 weeks is more than just lucky. He is probably 9 or 10. I can tell he is getting close to the end. He still likes to play and bounces around. I'll keep him as long as I can.
I definitely feel there is an afterlife and my dog and cat friends will be there.

**Jack** · Mar 14, 2007, 09:33 pm

I think it's very cool how people from every end of the socio-political spectrum can come together and find commonality in their love for their animal companions.

It almost gives me hope for the human race. :)

Osborn F Enready · Mar 15, 2007, 03:02 am

Thats why I wish we could just recognize our "common threads", rights of the individual.

Things could be much simpler.

Osborn F Enready · Mar 15, 2007, 03:03 am

Cool story, thanks for the opinions Pockets.

StrongHeartsWin · Mar 19, 2007, 07:28 am

My mother just sent us some pics of our dogs turned into nicely laminated refrigerator magnates. Very eye catching. Now my head seems to always get turned to the refrig and those cute pics. Kind of driving me crazy.

Do any of you guys have photos of your animals on display, or even on the refrig?

Gods_Mercenary · Mar 19, 2007, 01:10 pm

They follow me around everywhere anyway.

**Jack** · Mar 19, 2007, 01:17 pm

Quote:

Do any of you guys have photos of your animals on display

On line and as my cell phone's wallpaper.

sevendogs · Mar 19, 2007, 03:51 pm

I am seriously involved with dogs in general and I have my own dogs, which are both my pets and my hunting companions and assistants. I publish books and article and have a mission of preservation of aboriginal dogs of the world (no eliminating them, as AR are planning). My dogs are aboriginal (primitive breeds). They are "primitive", because they are closer to the wolf, their ancestor. In fact, they are most perfect, because they are least degenerated by domestication. I have plenty of pictures, which I share with others in forums and other dog lovers.

Mia · Mar 20, 2007, 04:45 am

I have a dog and a cat and they are like my kids. I just got talked into a feline HIV test. On the off chance that one of the only 9% HIV positive cats in the country is going to run up on my cat, during one of her 10 minutes on the stairs every other day, and bite her.

How stupid is that? But when the vet tells you that this unlikely event will kill you baby, and it's only $18/year to prevent it.....what are you going to do?

Suck it up and pay the $18. I know I'm getting hosed with a lot of the junk vets recommend, but I sleep better at night.....

Mia · Mar 20, 2007, 04:46 am

Quote:

Quote by: StrongHeartsWin

My mother just sent us some pics of our dogs turned into nicely laminated refrigerator magnates. Very eye catching. Now my head seems to always get turned to the refrig and those cute pics. Kind of driving me crazy.

Do any of you guys have photos of your animals on display, or even on the refrig?

The outside on my cell is set to the dog, and the inside to the cat.

Quote:

Quote by: Isherwood

Very nice. Now you need to devise some sort of connecting system to attach pipes together for folks who lack strategically placed furniture to keep stacked tubes in place.

Comp, I can see the infomercial now - in all seriousness.

The narrator could talk about traditional cat condos that the cats get bored with, and all the other features/benefits you mentioned.

All you need is a patent and a financial backer for the late-night TV ads.

It's something I would have bought before my cat got older and doesn't play as much.

LtMisha · Mar 20, 2007, 04:52 am

LtMisha.
I have a few chickens, but if I could have any pet I wanted, it would have to bea wolf.
FREE WALES FROM ENGLISH OPPRESION!

Compugasm · Mar 22, 2007, 10:08 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Mia

Comp, I can see the infomercial now - in all seriousness.

That would be cool! I'd even settle for a D-List celebrity to hock them on QVC.

Quote:

Quote by: Mia

It's something I would have bought before my cat got older and doesn't play as much.

I was thinking of that, and the tubes can be laid down, so old cats have crawling and hiding spaces from the HIV cats, without having to jump.

So, this is my progress so far: The website is almost done, and I've built one complete unit. I can't afford to build more than one out of pocket, so I'll have to figure out how to photoshop a bunch of images together.

Procuding each unit, materials, shipping, isn't hard. The most difficult part, is trying to demonstrate this is the Lego version of cat furniture. Every other pet site, has a photo of the product you're buying. However, with my site the demonstration photo is not what is being purchased, like normal pet stores. The "final product" depends on how the customer arranges the tubes, and the colors they choose. So, I'm not really sure what photographs I should be taking with only one unit to photograph. :( I'll have to hope that photographs of the features, will be good enough. It just seems strange to say "Use your imagination how this $XXX.XX thing will look" when every other site gives you exact representations of what you're buying.

DEEJ85 · Mar 22, 2007, 11:47 pm

I have owned 1 dog, 4 cats (simultaneously), fish, several turtles and 1 snake.

Currently all I own is the snake, quite easy to take care of as long as you don't mind the feeding.

**Jack** · Mar 23, 2007, 12:21 am

I used to raise snakes (sand boas and rosy boas). What kind do you have?

Mia · Mar 23, 2007, 02:14 am

Comp, you can't take it apart and put it together in different ways, taking a pic each time?

You could just start off on ebay...just get a patent so some company can't steal the idea.

When it takes off, I'll take my free one for encouraging you

....so the kitty can hide from the dog.

DEEJ85 · Mar 23, 2007, 02:02 pm

My snake is Californian kingsnake. I used to raise mice for the snake, but it got to be too much of a hassle, now we just buy them.

Scribbler1 · Mar 23, 2007, 04:48 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Compugasm

That would be cool! I'd even settle for a D-List celebrity to hock them on QVC.

You should do that yourself. I've seen some people hawking clothing on that channel who have almost become cult icons. You should hear these women gush about the stupid-looking sweaters or other when they call.
The one that comes to mind (my Wife watches this stuff sometimes) is called "quacker factory" or "cracker factory" or something like that. The woman has these things made in China for peanuts and apparently does some serious business on the shopping channel.

BTW, the website looks great.

beallucan · Mar 24, 2007, 07:03 pm

I have a pet, well I prefer to call her my child. My dog is the best thing I could have ever received as a present. She is crazy, smart, and just an amazing addition to my family. I got her when she was 3 ½ weeks old. My dog is not a trained dog she does as she pleases. Even if I allow her to run wild she still stays by my side. When I feel sick or down as weird as this may sound my dog lays next to me and by her just being there comforts me. I love my pet, but to me she isn’t a pet but a new family member and we all love her. :)

Mr.Vicchio · Mar 24, 2007, 08:07 pm

That's my wife's Pomeranian, Wyatt.

He's a good dog, bit too smart for his own good.

Compugasm · Apr 3, 2007, 08:27 pm

Thanks to the members of Volconvo, I am now on the path to global domination of cat furniture. The site is done, and I've sold two units so far. You've all given me more ideas than I could impliment to date, but I will incorporate the suggestions as time goes on.

Mar 14, 2007, 09:33 pm	#102 (permalink) (top)
Jack formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 13,364	I think it's very cool how people from every end of the socio-political spectrum can come together and find commonality in their love for their animal companions. It almost gives me hope for the human race. :) The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant)

Mar 15, 2007, 03:02 am	#103 (permalink) (top)
Osborn F Enready Principled Observer Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 13,873	Thats why I wish we could just recognize our "common threads", rights of the individual. Things could be much simpler. Petition of Redress of Grievances: http://www.givemeliberty.org/default.htm Canadian Lawsuit Against Their National Banks: http://www.freewebs.com/classaction/ Osborn F. Enready

Mar 15, 2007, 03:03 am	#104 (permalink) (top)
Osborn F Enready Principled Observer Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 13,873	Cool story, thanks for the opinions Pockets. Petition of Redress of Grievances: http://www.givemeliberty.org/default.htm Canadian Lawsuit Against Their National Banks: http://www.freewebs.com/classaction/ Osborn F. Enready

Mar 19, 2007, 07:28 am	#105 (permalink) (top)
StrongHeartsWin Open the cages! Posts: 1,774	My mother just sent us some pics of our dogs turned into nicely laminated refrigerator magnates. Very eye catching. Now my head seems to always get turned to the refrig and those cute pics. Kind of driving me crazy. Do any of you guys have photos of your animals on display, or even on the refrig? "FREE ME", song video by Goldfinger "Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." --Albert Einstein

Mar 19, 2007, 01:10 pm	#106 (permalink) (top)
Gods_Mercenary Altruism Assassin Location: Massachusetts Posts: 5,260	They follow me around everywhere anyway. “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.” -Albert Einstein

Mar 14, 2007, 07:49 pm	#101 (permalink) (top)
Pockets Igneous Magma Location: Phoenix Posts: 283	My family has had at least 50 different dogs and 20 different cats. The cats were almost exclusively outdoor pets as we lived just on the edge of Chicago during the 1970's boom of the suburbs. I can remember all of them. The cats were obtained via The Humane Society and strays that came for the food and stayed for the love and affection we showed them. There was one feline, Tiger, that stuck out from the rest. Tiger was born at our house in one of the several litters from Sadie, the first cat from THS. Tiger loved to hunt and to show us his kills. He could catch a bird mid-flight and held his own against a raccoon. Lost an ear in that one but he was totally undaunted and thrilled afterwards. He was a large tomcat whose size once had one friend of the family scared to leave the house when Tiger met him in the driveway. My parents lost Tiger in the move from Phoenix to Arizona while I was overseas. The two dogs I will talk about are Abbie and Lucky. Abbie was a doberman who changed the way our whole family looked at our pets. While we always cared for and loved our pets more than most, Abbie was different. One look into her eyes and you knew the wheels were turning. She was easily the gentlest of all the dogs, until a male dog came on the scene or someone came by on a bicycle. We never could figure that out. We could make fun of her after a bath and tease her about her pretty bow. She would get embarassed. We could position ourselves at the base of a 6-foot fence, with Abbie 50-60 feet away. She'd get your ass going over the fence even if you could practically vault it. I won every bet with my friends on that one. She knew when I was doing things I was not supposed to do. She would ignore me and not let me pet her. She was a moral alarm clock. We all pitched in to paya 7,000.oo vet bill when she was struck by a car when she was about 7 years old. Abbie died 7 years ago from conghestive heart failure. My stepfather was despondent that he couldn't find a doctor to give her a heart transplant. That is how much she was loved. The dog I have now is 'Lucky' a border collie. My brother and I named him Lucky because we got him as a stray from a golf course out on the edge of nowhere, namely Apache Junction, AZ. We were told he had been there for 3 weeks. He is deaf and almost blind with a bad leg. We figured he was lucky we found him. I claimed him because I figured a dog in his condition surviving on the high desert for at least 3 weeks is more than just lucky. He is probably 9 or 10. I can tell he is getting close to the end. He still likes to play and bounces around. I'll keep him as long as I can. I definitely feel there is an afterlife and my dog and cat friends will be there.

Mar 19, 2007, 03:51 pm	#108 (permalink) (top)
sevendogs Igneous Magma Location: Virgnia, USA Posts: 425	I am seriously involved with dogs in general and I have my own dogs, which are both my pets and my hunting companions and assistants. I publish books and article and have a mission of preservation of aboriginal dogs of the world (no eliminating them, as AR are planning). My dogs are aboriginal (primitive breeds). They are "primitive", because they are closer to the wolf, their ancestor. In fact, they are most perfect, because they are least degenerated by domestication. I have plenty of pictures, which I share with others in forums and other dog lovers.

Mar 20, 2007, 04:45 am	#109 (permalink) (top)
Mia Retired Posts: 7,312	I have a dog and a cat and they are like my kids. I just got talked into a feline HIV test. On the off chance that one of the only 9% HIV positive cats in the country is going to run up on my cat, during one of her 10 minutes on the stairs every other day, and bite her. How stupid is that? But when the vet tells you that this unlikely event will kill you baby, and it's only $18/year to prevent it.....what are you going to do? Suck it up and pay the $18. I know I'm getting hosed with a lot of the junk vets recommend, but I sleep better at night..... "...with like-minded people one cannot discuss. With like-minded people one can only participate in a church service, and you know how I feel about church services." Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Mar 20, 2007, 04:52 am	#111 (permalink) (top)
LtMisha Instant Leninist Location: Leningrad Posts: 331	LtMisha. I have a few chickens, but if I could have any pet I wanted, it would have to bea wolf. FREE WALES FROM ENGLISH OPPRESION! You must obey the law, always, not only when they grab you by your special place. Vladimir Putin

Mar 22, 2007, 11:47 pm	#113 (permalink) (top)
DEEJ85 Igneous Magma Posts: 261	I have owned 1 dog, 4 cats (simultaneously), fish, several turtles and 1 snake. Currently all I own is the snake, quite easy to take care of as long as you don't mind the feeding. Beware of Logical Fallacies. See a list of them in the link below. http://home.mcn.net/~montanabw/fallacies.html

Mar 23, 2007, 12:21 am	#114 (permalink) (top)
Jack formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 13,364	I used to raise snakes (sand boas and rosy boas). What kind do you have? The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant)

Mar 23, 2007, 02:14 am	#115 (permalink) (top)
Mia Retired Posts: 7,312	Comp, you can't take it apart and put it together in different ways, taking a pic each time? You could just start off on ebay...just get a patent so some company can't steal the idea. When it takes off, I'll take my free one for encouraging you ....so the kitty can hide from the dog. "...with like-minded people one cannot discuss. With like-minded people one can only participate in a church service, and you know how I feel about church services." Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Mar 23, 2007, 02:02 pm	#116 (permalink) (top)
DEEJ85 Igneous Magma Posts: 261	My snake is Californian kingsnake. I used to raise mice for the snake, but it got to be too much of a hassle, now we just buy them. Beware of Logical Fallacies. See a list of them in the link below. http://home.mcn.net/~montanabw/fallacies.html

Mar 24, 2007, 07:03 pm	#118 (permalink) (top)
beallucan Sedimentary Rock Posts: 3	My doggy. I have a pet, well I prefer to call her my child. My dog is the best thing I could have ever received as a present. She is crazy, smart, and just an amazing addition to my family. I got her when she was 3 ½ weeks old. My dog is not a trained dog she does as she pleases. Even if I allow her to run wild she still stays by my side. When I feel sick or down as weird as this may sound my dog lays next to me and by her just being there comforts me. I love my pet, but to me she isn’t a pet but a new family member and we all love her. :)

Mar 24, 2007, 08:07 pm	#119 (permalink) (top)
Mr.Vicchio Navy Veteran Location: Texas Posts: 6,031	That's my wife's Pomeranian, Wyatt. He's a good dog, bit too smart for his own good. Einstein's "Theory of Relativity" is still being challenged to this day, but by consensus Global Warming is a fact... that's REAL science at work, why didn't Albert just go that route?

Apr 3, 2007, 08:27 pm	#120 (permalink) (top)
Compugasm Son of X51 Location: San Diego Posts: 3,739	Thanks to the members of Volconvo, I am now on the path to global domination of cat furniture. The site is done, and I've sold two units so far. You've all given me more ideas than I could impliment to date, but I will incorporate the suggestions as time goes on. I'd like to thank Charlie Hodge, bringing me scarves and water.