I am posting one more "friendly" blog before I start the next few which are going to be hitting below the belt on some things that people need to know about.
Some people think you are crazy when you talk about pets as if they're family or they are your kids. My wife, and I had decided to not have anymore children even though we would like more due to some certain reasons. So instead we took the furry, and feather route. We've got a few more pets over the past year our so. We have 5 birds (1 Blue & Gold Macaw, and 4 different species of Cockatiels), and 3 dogs ( 2 Chiuauas, and a Lab Shiba mix). Those who say pets are nothing like children. Well I guess you really never had any pets or just never got along with yours.
To give you an idea. You have to watch where you're walking, and pay attention to what's around you when you're walking like when you have a little kids because our 4 tiels will follow you around the house, and one of them is pretty darn sneaky. I have actually stepped back on his tail a couple times. Which you have to do with a toddler. You have to watch what they put in there mouths, what they are playing with, what they're getting into, make sure they're not climbing on the furniture. The list goes one because both Tiels, and Macaws will put just about anything, and everything they think is interesting in their mouth. You have to child proof your house for the most part. Macaws can open drawers, cabinets, and at some point in time most will figure out how to escape out of their cage like a baby out of their crib, If birds don't think you're making them the center of attention they will let you know by chirping, and singing loudly like our Tiels or as our Macaw does start yelling "Hi", squaking, and then flying into the room you're in. Which the Tiels will fly around the house if they think you're not giving them enough attention. You never can have a regular phone conversation because just like a little kid as soon as you answer the phone they start making a lot of noise. Our Macaw no matter if she is sleeping or awake when she sees you one the phone she decides it's play time. She will start making loud noises, and try and jump on you. If she does get on you she starts wobbling, and then growling which she does when she is really excited, and wants to play. She will even lean up into the phone, and growl. She will then proceed to try, and take the phone away to play with it. I have had several calls disconnected due to her grabbing the phone out of my hands with her foot, and had to apologize when she has decided since I won't let her get to the phone to screech very loudly at it. I also have to be very careful when I play PS3 especially if I am using a red controller because our Macaw like a little kid thinks she can play with the controller too, and will fly across the room or even from the other room which she has done if she sees or knows I am playing, act sweet climbing up in my lap, snuggle up against me, then try and push all the buttons, and pull on the knobs on the controller.
Our dogs are like kids. Our Lab mix, and one of our Chi chi's are very jealous of each other. If you are petting one the other comes over, and gets right in your face trying to get you to pay attention them instead. Our Lab mix is like a little kid, and has to climb up in my lap especially when I am in the middle of working. Now imagine a Lab mix curled up in a little ball in your lap trying not to slide out because it happens several times a day. If you're not paying attention to him as your walking around the house he will grab your hand, and tug on it as he walks beside you. Any time you try to take a nap they decide to wake up from theirs, and bark at any noise they hear. Any time I am working on one of my guitars they have to be up in the middle of it poking their nose around in what I am doing.
So those of you who don't think pets are like family, and like kids. You're dead wrong!