Too many to count when I was a kid--we moved a lot & could rarely take them with us.
Since I've been an adult, I've had a few:
Calvin and Sasha--Russian Blue cats, litter mates, that I loved dearly. One each for BH and I, our babies for years. Sasha died when my oldest daughter was 1, and Calvin died when I was pregnant with our youngest (so about 9 years ago). He was 17, so a good old age for a big cat. Since then, our oldest girl has developed an allergy to cats, so he'll be our last.
Sunflower-a birthday black Lab, given to #1 son for his second birthday. She died on his 17th birthday. Such a good girl--she made me feel safe letting the kids play outside in the back yard without me, as no one she didn't know could get in the yard without either BH or me right beside them.
Daisy-birthday Basset Hound, given to #1 daughter on her second birthday (BIL was big on dog gifts--lol). She was a sweet dog; died about a year before Sunny.
Now I have Lulu, my dream horsedog I've wanted a German Shepherd all of my life, but could never afford one. She has a pedigree eight miles long, but my cousin couldn't keep her, so she became my sweetheart and constant companion. She even calls me "Mom" (lol). She also says "home" and "walk". She wants anything I have, even my coffee (if I leave it where she can reach it). She's 10 now, so we're watching her--that's old for a biggish dog, but Sunny made it 5 years longer, so I have hope!
We also currently have "Pretty bird", a blue parakeet that LilMan got for his birthday a couple of years ago.
Since I've been an adult, I've had a few:
Calvin and Sasha--Russian Blue cats, litter mates, that I loved dearly. One each for BH and I, our babies for years. Sasha died when my oldest daughter was 1, and Calvin died when I was pregnant with our youngest (so about 9 years ago). He was 17, so a good old age for a big cat. Since then, our oldest girl has developed an allergy to cats, so he'll be our last.
Sunflower-a birthday black Lab, given to #1 son for his second birthday. She died on his 17th birthday. Such a good girl--she made me feel safe letting the kids play outside in the back yard without me, as no one she didn't know could get in the yard without either BH or me right beside them.
Daisy-birthday Basset Hound, given to #1 daughter on her second birthday (BIL was big on dog gifts--lol). She was a sweet dog; died about a year before Sunny.
Now I have Lulu, my dream horsedog I've wanted a German Shepherd all of my life, but could never afford one. She has a pedigree eight miles long, but my cousin couldn't keep her, so she became my sweetheart and constant companion. She even calls me "Mom" (lol). She also says "home" and "walk". She wants anything I have, even my coffee (if I leave it where she can reach it). She's 10 now, so we're watching her--that's old for a biggish dog, but Sunny made it 5 years longer, so I have hope!
We also currently have "Pretty bird", a blue parakeet that LilMan got for his birthday a couple of years ago.