i killed an ant. i will now go to hell

Posted by: jane | May 13, 2008 05:37 PM

When I was 13, I was given a baby gerbil from a boy I had a crush on> His female had babies, and I desperately wanted one, cause it was from *him*

I named the gerbil "Herbie" after Herbie the Love Bug (cute huh?) :P

I called him "Herbil" alot :)

This *is * very difficult to write...

As gerbils will, "Herbil" bit...At first he was ok, but I didn't play with him much.
I was more interested in my parakeet, Poncho.

So Herbie bit...I would occasionally put him in one of those giant plastic balls to run around.

I got bad about changing his bedding stuff (fuzzy stuff to keep them warm at night) and his cage in general. He was kept pretty well fed, I think...:/

Gerbils are nocturnal, so it was not long until Herbie was relegated to downstairs in the kitchen. His running on his wheel and scooting around kept Poncho up and me up at night.

It got to a point I think where I did not care for him at all. I would look at him occasionally. :(

Then I noticed Herbie was ill, very very ill. My mom called a vet. We took him in and were told he had pnemonia.

No kidding, he was kept by the kitchen window...not too close but close enough. And there was the neglect thing...

Herbie was humanely euthanized.

I think I had Herbie for about one year or a year in a half...

I still feel so bad, I treated that little guy horribly. I have tears in my eyes now.

I can only hope and pray that Herbie forgives me.

If it were now and I had him, he would go to a vet regularly. I would clean him and play with him.

If, if, if...Oh Herbie, you were a cute gerbil...if I do meet you at the Rainbow Bridge, please be kind. I know now and I *do* love you...

Posted by: Tamara | May 13, 2008 05:46 PM

I confessed something last month and it was not posted. I got very pissed. It was a good confession because I made a point stating that people can change the way they feel about animals.

I will do what Heather Mills did. I will defend animals on my own if no one can help me.

Posted by: Marisela | May 14, 2008 08:19 AM

I accidently stood on a Snail, I felt so guilty!

Posted by: Lucy | May 14, 2008 10:50 AM

I think my teacher is stupid. She tells the class that you cant compare an animal to a human. I dont get it. She says that they have instincts not emotions like a human. I dont believe her. I dont know what do you think?

Posted by: Leslie | May 14, 2008 12:25 PM

I torture myself about this everyday.
When I was 18, I adopted a dog from the shelter. She was my buddy. I beat up my boyfriend for smacking her one day. I thought I always did what was best for her. When I was 20, I was working all of the time. I felt that she deserved a better life where someone had more time for her, so I called the local shelters to see which place was most likely to find her a home. I took her one day. I visited her for a couple days, until they told me to stop because it was only hurting her more. I don't know what happened to her. They had told me that had waiting lists for her type and that she would find a home. Now that I know better, I doubt it.

When I was 24, I had a baby. I also had two dogs. One of my dogs kept escaping and got me into a lot of trouble a couple times because her breed is labeled as a viscous breed. I finally had to put my baby first, and knew that I could end up doind jail time, or paying fines that I couldn't afford (which would in turn hurt my baby), or risk my dog being put to sleep. The last time she got out, I got into trouble and took her to the shelter. I thought she would be adopted out. Now I know better.
I hate myself every day.

Posted by: Anonymous | May 14, 2008 02:29 PM

Leslie:

Stand up in class, and tell your teacher that both animals and humans have an brain part called the AMYGDALA, which gives emotion to living things.

Then tell her that a freind of yours, (that's me) in graduate school for wildlife biology, can furnish PROOF that animals have emotions.

Then ask her to cite the peer reviewed article which proves that animals don't have emotion. She won't be able to, because none exists.

Let me know if you need me to send you the articles.

Posted by: Maya, CVT | May 14, 2008 03:04 PM

By the way, it makes me sad to see people suffering. Listen, guilt is a good thing - it keeps us from repeating mistakes that hurts others. Don't spend your life feeling guilt, try to forgive yourself and think of all the good things you did for your pet!!

Posted by: Maya, CVT | May 14, 2008 03:07 PM

I feel really, really, really bad about giving up my beloved guinea pigs to a local petstore, in exchange of a baby rabbit from a breeder. even though I wasn't playing with them much, I still loved them.
( For Apple and Miss Piggy. I hope you'll find a good home )

Posted by: Sarah | May 14, 2008 04:17 PM

It's always when I'm losing one of my beloved cat companions that I regret taking it for granted that he or she will always be there. It's then that I realize that I've had the greatest treasure here in my home and I've been running around, busy with other concerns (including speaking out for other animals). Then nothing has the power to draw my attention away from my companion in the short time we have left together.

Posted by: lynda downie | May 15, 2008 12:13 AM

Princess Cuteyface is a lovely big girl, Jack. She looks very, very contented!

Posted by: lynda downie | May 15, 2008 12:18 AM

I hear you Maya...it's important to reflect on the past from time to time in order to grow and learn from your mistakes.
I've definately learned from mine... I've spent the past week and a half staying up wayyy past my bedtime to hold/comfort my sick, old, rat Oliver...he's my little buddy. And even though I know he's going to pass soon, I'm so excited when I come home from work and he's still hanging in there...eating his treats and cleaning himself. :)

Posted by: HannaBanana | May 15, 2008 06:53 PM

P( So sorry, Hanna, about your rat! When I lost my cat Tory, I read that mourning for our pets it the final gift we give to them.

I hope you feel better knowing that of all the rats in the world, yours is probably treated better than almost any! What a lucky rat, to have lived with someone who loves him like a real companion.

Posted by: Maya, CVT | May 16, 2008 02:12 PM

Years ago when I was a little girl a friend of the family gave us a box of used clothing. While I was going through the dresses and things I came across a red fox fur complete with the mouth, eyes, clasp and tail. I remember wrapping myself in it and feeling sorry that the fox had to end up this way. I wanted to cry, it looked so real. that thought stayed with me to my old age. The poem I read later reflected that image kept in my mind of 65 years ago. It was of an animal caught in a steel hold trap and looking into the night for answers.
TO A FUR......
The steel jaws clamped and held him fast, None marked his fright, None heard his cries, And watched the sky grow dark above, And watched the sunset turn to grey...And quaked in anguish while he strove..To gnaw the prisoned leg away...Then day came rosy from the east, But still the steel jaws kept their hold...And no one watched the prisoned beast, But fear and hunger, thirst and cold,..Oppressed by pain, his dread grew numb, Fright no more stirred his flagging breath...He longed, in vain, to see him come..The hunter, bring death....THEN THROUGH THE GLOOM THAT NIGHT CAME ONE..WHO SET THE TIMID SPIRIT FREE..."I KNOW THINE ANGUISH, LITTLE SON: FOR ONCE MEN HELD AND TORTURED ME".

thanks for PETA who help all the oppressed.

Posted by: Barbara Phillips | May 16, 2008 06:26 PM