Hi (again) ARJAY...

Much of what you say is quite true concerning the breaking down of relationships. Though I don't believe our association with our pets, play any significant part in it. And I'd also have to agree with you on the many ancillary services that have popped up as a result of our close relationships we've developed with our pets. There's always a buck to be made I reckon !

Nevertheless that's not the fault of our pets, rather the sorry state of some of our family relationships, that are as a consequence of our very poor communication with other family members. Together with our selfishness, and other relationship destroying practices we continue to pursue unabatedly ? Our pets are merely the meat in the sandwich, nothing more I'd say ARJAY ? Thank you for your thoughts.

I only have one pet o sung wu, my now 28 year old stallion. He has been a lovely horse. Originally we were minding him for friends as an 8 month colt, one of 8 horses of theirs when they sold their property. When their plans changed I bought him.

I mouthed him as a 2 year old, & my daughter was riding him around the paddocks, bareback, when she was only 8. Ultimately they were a very successful show jumping combination.

He still comes when he's called, often at the trot. He is only any trouble if a neighbor's mare waves her rump at him over a fence. He still comes, but only recently. As with most species the males would never be any trouble if the ladies weren't so damn promiscuous

I do have a menagerie however. 2 cats of my youngest daughter she is supposed to reclaim when she comes back from 18 months in Darwin, plus a dog she brought to me to mind, when it's owners went into a no pet retirement village.

I have what was a feral kitten my son took in, in a storm one night when living in Sydney, then brought to me when the navy sent him back to sea. Now a couple of years old, its a strange little thing, all over you one minute, then terrified of is shadow the next. It just jumped onto my desk, so its happy tonight.

Then there is my eldest's fur ball, sort of persian/Siamese thing. She brought to me when it was jealous of her youngest baby, 6 years ago. She is taking it home soon she recons.

I also get their Great Dane, when they go for a weekend water skying. He is very insecure when left, & has to be with in half a meter of me, 24/7 when they are away. As he can easily jump the 5Ft pool fence, I don't have much say in it.

As you can see I don't need any pets of my own, with a family like mine

Sadly, from the frequency of complaints to local government from the serially annoyed, pet ownership has become a target of the growing horde who spend their lives looking in their neighbours' backyards and interfering in their private lives.

Amazing how many isolated old folk I meet who have struggled to keep up with the costs of pet ownership, only in the end to be harassed out of ownership by the endless complaints of whining public nuisances. -Talking about responsible pet owners here, not the fools who know nothing about their care and management. It has become one bark and complaints to Council.

Not so long ago a very independent and very dear old lady was telling me how bad she felt because she was in some way relieved when her ancient dog was put down, too feeble for her to continue to care for. I knew this dog as a very quiet animal, but in recent times some pest had been annoying it, probably with a dog whistle or other device. Interestingly, on a number of occasions pieces of liver had been thrown near or over her high fence. While the Council could find no real fault with the dog, the bureaucrats sent inspectors and terse formal cautions, which most elders would find threatening.

o sung wu, you will be interested that since the dog died, there have been incursions into her's and the adjoining neighbours' yards. I had a sparky working on my place and gifted her some fitted Infrascan automatic lights. The poor woman was becoming a gaunt and nervous, so unlike her. Problem is that serious offenders jump fences daytime too. Damn pity, another small pooch could have been company and security.

Sadly, pet ownership will become more expensive. Breeding will have to create indoors animals whose senses and habits are diametrically opposed to their natural inclinations.

G'day there HASBEEN & ONTHEBEACH...

HASBEEN, I don't know anything about horses, but from your tone, 28 years is getting on a bit for him ? Is there much difference in longevity with stallions and a mare ? You sound like you've got a menagerie for sure, each with their own set of problems and positives ! Does it come down to you in the end, to look after them all, or does each family member do their bit ?

There's something about having animals around, they do tend to keep you emotionally stable - sounds rubbish, I know what I mean anyway ? Thanks mate.

ONTHEBEACH...

Bastards, why is it that big brother has to stick their greedy corrupt noses into every segment of our lives ? Particularly the elderly who do need to be able to access animals for a multitude of reasons. Companionship, protection, emotional well being, even as a health aide in some instances. You say for many of the elderly, costs are becoming far too high for many of them to even feed and care for an animal ? Is that Council costs for a licence ? For elderly rate payers - all fees should be expunged. And Councils should consider basic veterinary care for animals of the elderly, at no cost.

The fiscal benefits to Councils would be positive. It's a proven medical fact that animal companionship for elderly patients, living alone, is greatly enhanced with the presence of an animal. Surely that can be deemed for the public good ? The mental and physical well being of an elderly person living alone ? It's part of Councils function, welfare ? Who're more deserving, then our elderly !

Or has our country deteriorated so much we can no longer make allowances for the most deserving of our population ! Or are our political masters so lousy, such morally corrupt bastards, they worry more for the Muslims, criminals, and illegals ! NOTHING would surprise me nothing !

SOL,I stand by my comments. Humans have worked with animals for 1000's of yrs but today we are replacing human relationships with a lower form of intelligence because our world has become so complex and insecure.

People treat dogs like babies and this to me is a breakdown of our grasp of reality and human communication.

What you're saying ARJAY is that you'd not derive any pleasure from having a pet of any description ? Mate I reckon that's terribly sad, and I don't believe that you know what you're missing ?