I find it very foolish when pitbull owners claim their dogs have the same temperment as any other dog. Here's another story of a pitbull killing a child...

Last August, King's dog Face was tied up in the basement when his 7-yr old son, Zack Jr. went down to play with him. The dog seized the boy's neck and did not let go, causing Zack Jr.'s head to smash into the wall. The boy died of asphyxiation. King was upstairs sleeping when the attack occurred. He went downstairs and shot the dog. He was unable to revive his son.
For the full story: http://www.startribune.com/local/17546069.html

And A Dolphin And A Giraffe.

:D

my kids have owned hamsters (smaller version of the Guinea Pig) on and off for several years and i finally said"no more". they are messy cuz they throw their bedding around, stinky if their cage isnt cleaned weekly and although they are fun to watch run in a ball or trail system; they eventually get neglected. they dont hold still when being held so cuddling is out of the question.

my sisters family owns a rabbit. kept in the house in a cage and is potty trained. they let it run the house when the dog is kenneled up. definately not a snuggler like one might think. it growls...

not trying to be negative but if i were you i would opt for another dog.

PHOENIX (AP) _ A frenzy of tiny-dog lovers has descended on an animal shelter that rescued hundreds of Chihuahuas from a filthy rural Arizona home, with some potential owners getting into shoving matches and others calling from around the globe.

The nearly 800 small dogs, mostly Chihuahuas, and 36 parrots were found in a large mobile home northwest of Tucson last week. All that were old enough and healthy enough to leave the shelter were adopted by Monday, authorities said.

When news spread Thursday of the dog rescue, hundreds of people packed into the Humane Society of Southern Arizona in hopes of adopting the dogs, spokeswoman Jenny Rose said.

Tempers flared, and a few people got into shoving matches, Rose said. The sheriff's department cleared everyone out, and the shelter closed for the day.

The next day, Rose said, 500 people lined up to get the dogs, which included terriers, Pomeranians, Chinese cresteds and Lhasa apsos. The shelter passed out numbers and had everyone come back in groups of 100 each day.

"This has been uncharted territory for us," Rose said. "We would like to give everyone a dog who is interested in one, but we just don't have enough."

Rose said calls came in from Germany, Australia and across the nation. One man from Massachusetts found her cell phone number and woke her up at 8 a.m. Saturday.

"He said, 'I know it's 8 o'clock there, but I really want a dog,'" Rose said.

"Oh, thanks, that's sweet," she quipped.

The dogs were rescued from a home in bad condition with urine and feces everywhere, officials said.

Rose called it a hoarding case in which an elderly couple who owned the animals wouldn't part with them and felt no one else could give them a good home. No charges have been filed against the couple.

The animals appeared to have had enough food, but a few were missing paws — some from having been attacked by other animals, others apparently having caught their feet in fencing outside, Rose said.

The parrots will remain at the Humane Society for two to three weeks because of medical problems, including malnourishment and infections, Rose said.

People who were in Thursday's line and didn't get a dog have been put on a waiting list and will be called when one becomes available.

The puppies are in foster homes and will be integrated into the shelter once they're the right age, Rose said. "You're just going to have to stop by and see what you get," she said.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.

Here's a video clip from MSNBC on the story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23611048#23611048

I have a 19 yr young cat, that seems to think she's the head of the household. I know I have spoiled her, by not having any children, or other cats to preclude her dominance of my home. She loves Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice Creme, but obviously not very much do I give her. She's in rather good help, and has a playmate down the hall, of the apt building where I live.