PLease remind me why we keep animals

[NSB]

I keep expanding my minagerie, my family ring up and say hows the farm and whos arrived this week!!!

Maybe I have a problem...........

why do you keep animals

[kirsty b]

Because I prefer them to a lot of people, most of the time.

[Glutton4...]

Yup - wot she said!

[TEB]

Perhaps its because they understand us better than "umans"

[NSB]

Yeh thats what I think, people say why dont we have kids.... why?

[Scottishnewbie]

animals are far more honest than a vast number of people - what you see is what you get....

[MaureenHall]

Because they don't answer back and they love unconditionally

[Alice]

I see 4 reasons for keeping animals

They can work for you - round up the sheep, keep the vermin down etc
Companions - some people live alone and an animal can be their friend and companion
Educating children - and giving them a sense of responsibility
A food source - providing eggs, milk or meat.

I don't keep any animals, can't see the need.
You can all shoot me now.

[NOG]

We don't keep cats they keep us...Or so they they think.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I don't keep any animals, can't see the need.
You can all shoot me now.

That's fine - animals don't fit in with your need/criteria at this point.

Lots of grapes keep chooks for food source, I have my two cats as companions, lots of parents on here have pets to teach responsibility.

Not sure about this 'unconditional love' that has been mentioned - my cats are moody, manipulative and cost a fortune in food & insurance. Not to say that they are not both great company, entertaining & loving (when they want to be). Give me a purring cat on my lap, and I'm happy.

(BTW, if you ever have occasion to phone Cats Protection, their 'hold' music is a purring cat, which I thought was rather cute.)

[Polly Fouracre]

My animals get me up in the morning, demand that I get plenty of exercise and ward off illness- I haven't the time to be ill!
My dogs are my good friends, my poultry and sheep I find very calming and my pigs make me laugh!!

[RedThorn]

each to their own, I have always had animals around me (no not the OH! tut tut you all ) and could not imagine life without them.

[Two_Sheds]

Because I prefer them to a lot of people, most of the time.

Because they don't answer back and they love unconditionally

Yup and yep.

My animals are always pleased to see me, and always let me watch Channel 4 News instead of Chelsea TV
They also make less mess than my humans.
They eat my kitchen scraps & weeds, make fertiliser and mow my lawn (guinea pigs), eat mozzie larvae (goldfish) and they talk to me (parrots).

I recently had a puppy to stay, and he got me to explore my estate on his walkies ... I've spotted lots of lovely plants to take cuttings & seeds from.

Cats: can't see the point of them myself. Guinea pigs purr, like cuddles, and at least their poo is compostable.

[Incy]

Because they are so cute. check out our kittens exploring in amongst my parsnips

[Two_Sheds]

Incy, all I see in your photo is nasty little bird-killing poo-machines