Snowflake Challenge #2

[scrubjayspeaks]

Challenge #2: Pets of Fandom

Loosely defined! Post about your pets, pets from your canon, anything you want!

Our current count is one dog, one cat, three ducks, and five horses. Which, for us, is very thin on the ground. But the dog and the cat are both somewhat averse to others of their kind, so we haven't been able to stockpile creatures lately. :3

On the subject of fandom pets:

I saw this fantastic page of art for Stranger Things wherein Dustin is actually able to keep Dart as a pet. I really enjoyed the character design of Dart, which is like a frog puppy thing. And it occurred to me that I haven't seen fanfic of this idea, and now I need to find some desperately. I love adopted monsters and inappropriate pets. I hope someone else has written something cute like that.

Comments

[stardust_rifle]

I am not into Stranger Things at all, but I love that art and I also love keeping weird horrifying things as pets.

[scrubjayspeaks]

I don't approve of keeping things like big cats as pets, but oh, I approve of keeping big demons and such.

[tjs_whatnot]

You have ducks and horses! PLURAL! Who cares if you only have one cat and dog, you have horses! And ducks!! 😍😍

[scrubjayspeaks]

Ahaha, yes, I do indeed. It's always funny to me how people react, because I grew up with them and other odder creatures, so this is sort of mundane to me. Horses were the family business for many years, and we had as many as 20 at certain points when I was growing up. So my perspective is borked. :D

[tropicsbear]

I love adopted monsters and inappropriate pets.

It's such a fun trope! Especially when the pet is only friendly towards their owners and terrifying to anyone else.

[scrubjayspeaks]

Exactly! All versions of the scary dog privilege trope please me, whether it's humans or monsters or whatever. It's delicious from both sides--being the person who is special enough to win over this monster, and being a monster who has found the one (1) person or group worth keeping around.

[trepkos]

I am suddenly in a position where I could probably afford a horse or two - but every time I think about it, I worry about them dying, or me dying!

[scrubjayspeaks]

That's fair. Pets are always a big commitment, and horses are certainly on the far end of the spectrum.

With regards to you dying, yes, it would be good to have at least some sense of what options exist for seeing to their needs after you are gone. Having a plan in place, should the worst happen, is comforting. Regarding them dying, I'm a big believer in really leaning into the privilege and pain of it. This is the price we pay for knowing a pet's love, and there's honor in that. For good or ill in this respect, horses can live upwards of 25 years, so you stand a good chance of enjoying their company for a very long time.

Have you considered leasing a horse? We have a friend who has done that over the years, as she doesn't have the time or space for full-time ownership but likes having a relationship with a horse and the option to go riding when she feels like it. Might be something to look into if you're trying to decide of horses are right for you.

[trepkos]

"This is the price we pay for knowing a pet's love, and there's honor in that." SO true.
I had never thought of leasing - not sure it's an option here. But I think I'd want to have a say in everything that happens to the horse ...