How does your family/friends react to your pets?

[instinct27]

In the short time I've had a snake, I've already been able to show a few friends that snakes aren't evil creatures. But for the most part my friends figured it was only a matter of time before I get some exotics into the mix, I love animals and they know it.

My sister also expected it but my mother was kinda shocked (mainly because she is deathly afraid of snakes). Hopefully I can eventually get my mother to warm up to snakes.

[simplechamp]

My mother was a bit apprehensive at first, but after seeing how mellow BPs are she warmed up. She doesn't mind if I get my girl out when she stops by my apartment. The main thing was showing her that they are slow and calm, not trying to dart and slither real fast like some of the colubrids and other species.

[Melicious]

-Smiles.- My mother has been handling reptiles since she was a little girl, and they were the ones who bought Ophi for me. Mom is Grandma to Ophi. -Grins.- My father's sort of apathetic, but that's to be expected from a man like him. -Smiles.- My boyfriend loves them. They're our "kids."

[SecurityStacey]

My mom is the only one in my family that will hold Stan. My dad, my brothers and my boyfriend all refuse to touch him....

[Beardedragon]

You mean friends already outside of the reptile world? Well that leaves me out of this question

[filly77]

my mother always says im sick for owning such evil creatures. the whole adam & eve with the apple thing always gets her. and how im sick in the head for being able to feed them other animals. (eye roll) but she LOVES my dogs & cats.

my father cant stand ANYYYY animal. I keep telling him I want to move to CT but no one would rent to me w/ all my pets in CT his answer is always the same, "get rid of them" oh how the makes me mad. I always tell him they are like my kids tho dad. but it never sinks in, never will either. So I just ignore him.
I told my dads wife I wanted to come visit for her halloween party but I dont like how I am made leave my dog in my sisters cellar (dad & sis live next to each other) so I cant justify keeping him down there for something as dumb as halloween. His wife told me all snotty, "you can rent a hotel" How rude is she!?!? Just because my dad now has kids with this woman, ages 1 and 3 now, I am not welcome to stay at his home. b4 my dad married her my dogs were allowed in his home when I came to visit! not to mention I was supposed to inherit his home someday which is valued close to 600k, my dads words when he told me the house would be mine was "sisters should live by each other, your sister and her husband are getting the business and its only fair you have something too". His young money grubbing wife who is only a couple years older than me & my sis made sure I wont get it and he allows it. When I went thru a bad break up a few yrs ago, I asked my dad if worse came to worse, can i live in ur cellar for a little while? he laughed AT me and said NO! I said well what about your shop? NOPE! he's not too nice at times lol

My sister isnt an animal lover but she at least loves me enough to understand me. the reason she makes me keep my shepherd in the cellar is she HATES dog hair and GSD's shed like mad, Our chi is allowed upstairs but either in her crate, on our laps or she can run around in the kitchen. Her home is brand new and beautiful. She owns really nice things, I respect her and her hating dog hair ways lol. Her kitchen is literally all silver & crystal. She's not mean to them and she buys them treats & toys on her own, she just doesn't like the messes.

So yeah thats how my family reacts to my pets.. Which is why I usually stay home except for major holidays.

[hondo1967]

they think im nuts lol, always think the snakes are 20 feet looking to constrict you lol.

[Argentra]

Hmm, let's see...

My partner/BF, Ari, thinks I have WAY too many animals and has made me sign a contract against bringing any new animals in unless they're hatched here or traded. Despite this, he really does love animals.

My mom is an animal lover as well, but snakes make her nervous. She can't understand why I would want so many, but doesn't fuss about it.

My dad, however, is an ex-Navy man who spent time in many Eastern places. Therefore, he thinks snakes are horrible and dangerous and not to be pets. He also hates rodents (life on ship) and doesn't really understand why I would have a whole colony in my apartment. He loves other animals, tho.

As for other friends, well the reactions are mixed. Some think it's too cool, others have sworn they will never enter my apartment. I have homemade snake crossing signs for BP and Corn on my door as a request from the maintenance people so they can remember which apt. has all the snakes.

[catawhat75]

Friends are cool with them. BF was scared of them at first and now has snakes of his own. Family, lol is a mixed bag. My mom has no problem with them, just the amount of them I have, she likes snakes and will hold them if I have them out. Grandpa likes the investement aspect but worries that I won't make my investment back (I won't, lol!) and my sperm donor hates all animals. Good thing he is not around

[Slim]

Well let's see...

The kids (8 year old twins) live with their mother up north, and are VERY excited to meet Bacchus when they come down for Christmas. They ask me about him every day when I call.

I had to tell my parents about him cause they are also visiting for Christmas, and I figured the kids would rat me out before they got here anyway. My dad said one of those words you can't use on a web forum, and my mother said she just doesn't want to see it....had to screw with her and tell her that when he escapes he mostly stays out of sight

My GF was with me when I got the little guy, and even though she is VERY afraid of snakes from some childhood incident, she has warmed up to Bacchus and handles him regularly. The GF's daughters think he's 'da bomb', their words, and both want one some day.