Lucky for me my hubby loves all my critters! I could not be in a relationship with anyone who didnt like animals around. We have 5 dogs, 6 lizards of various types...none of which are lots...LOL, a bunny and a bird. Anytime we go to town we always stop at the larger pet stores and usually we bring home another family member or see one we would love to adopt!!

Being able to care for and love any type of animal kinda shows you what aperson is made of.

Fortunately, my hubby & me both love our "girlys"....just like the tv commercial that shows the dog is a family member and has never been on a leash...our 3 are MY children.  They eat with us, sleep with us, swim with us and my little girl "Sara", (actually she's not so little at 75 lbs., but she is the smallest of the 3) used to love goin' truckin' with mommie! Now that I work for Walmart, and they don't allow pets!

Anyway, back to the subject....if I were ever to be single again (hopefully not), I wouldn't even consider dating a man who didn't absolutely love critters the way I do. The first time he referred to them as "just dogs or just animals", he'd be out the door and phone number changed so fast he wouldn't know what happened!

I would be perfectly happy in a single situation with just my "girlys" because they always give unconditional love no matter what your day was like or what mood you're in! 

And besides that, they (Chesapeake Bay Retrievers) are a very loyal, territorial and protective breed. It would take alot for them to even allow another man in my life and then he would have to have ablsoute love & patience. We can't always say that for people.

So I think anyone looking for a mate should be of the same mind when it comes to "your babies", even if they don't have a pet, they must be willing!    

I always said I was perfectly happy with just me and the dogs.  And that if I ever met a man, I'd want him to be just like a Basenji, albeit without the tendency to eat toilet paper.  Quiet yet courageous, mischevous yet devoted, intelligent yet not subservient.  Independent.  Quirky.  Rare. And prone to making funny noises (Basenjis do not bark, but yodel, crow and make a large array of other noises). 

Sure enough, I found him.  Of course I was also hoping to find a man I could drive with, as I didn't want a man at home while I was on the road, and I didn't want a man who expected me to quit truckin'.  I found that, too.  My guy posesses all the traits I admire about my dogs- and then some

I would not, and have not ever considered being with someone who doesn't like, or want pets.  I wouldn't even be with a man who thought dogs should "live outside" or who regarded them as "just dogs".   He wouldn't have to *have* pets per se (my DH didn't have any when we met), but he sure as heck better like and enjoy having them around. 

Just like someone who wanted children wouldn't be wise to marry a man who didn't like kids....I don't think it's wise to marry someone who doesn't share your love for pets, if having pets is a priority in your life.