Be Honest…
As devoted pet parents, have you been ever been called “Crazy”? Was it thinly cloaked in a veil of light-heartedness? Or sitting just behind a slightly judging smile? Was it a stranger, or a co-worker or a Mother that delivered the proclamation? Did you shrug it off as a simple tease, only to find it creep back into your head a bit later, hell bent on making you question… “AM I crazy?” “Is there really something WRONG with me?”
Delivering a resounding “NO!!” to those two questions is what Livin’ the Crazy is all about. We’re here to make you feel GOOD about the bond you have with your furry kids! Moreover, we’re here to to assure you that you’re not alone!
The Truth.
As pet parents, we are happiest when we’re with our furkids! It’s just that simple. They fill a place in our hearts that can’t be filled otherwise. They are uniquely able to love unconditionally and unchecked. As humans, we are also in the unique position to be able to recognize and appreciate that gift, should we choose to of course.
If you’re still reading this, we’re guessing that you choose to! Can you relate to any of the following?
- When we travel we want our furkids to go with us. If they can’t, we usually don’t go!
- We’ll choose an evening in with a pup or kit in our lap (or on a walk, or on the trail) than a night on the town anyday.
- We worry about their physical and mental well-being (often times more than we worry about our own.)
- We agonize about what food is best for them, and God forbid they don’t eat.
- We love to shop for them. Some of us splurge on clothes and adorable harnesses, for others it’s leashes, collars, toys, or technology.
- We are ECSTATIC when we discover that a stranger has a beloved pet as it automatically puts them in the friend category.
- We think there’s something a little suspicious about anybody that our furkids don’t like.
- We can generate literal nausea at the mere thought of something happening to our furkids.
The Good News!
If any of the above are spot on, you’re not alone! And as with most things, everything is on a spectrum. For some, all of the points above are TOTALLY you! For others, only one or two might resonate. But what draws us together, is that at some point or another, someone has given you a look of suspicion as they tried to determine if they needed to put you in the “crazy cat/dog lady/dude” bucket. (We humans do so love our labels.) Here at LITC, we don’t give two hoots where you fall on the devotion spectrum, what we do care about is that you love your animals, that you treat them well, and that you’re happy and secure in your love for them. And that you’re part of this community to relate, get ideas, and help other pet parents enhance the bonds with their animals.
Need quantifiable proof that you’re not alone? In the last 20yrs, annual spending on pet products has more than tripled in the U.S. to over 60B (americanpetproducts.com). Do you know what that means?!? It means that “Crazy” is not so much abnormal as it is the “new normal”. (Take THAT critics!)
Welcome to Normal.
We’re glad you’re here. Now get out there, be confident and Live Your Crazy!!
27 thoughts on “Hey Pet Parents ¦ Are You “Livin’ the Crazy”?”
Totally relate – our pups are our family! We schedule travel around them, happy hours, dinners with friends, weekend jaunts – you name it, they are always a part of equation. And you know what – we are in great company!! Thanks for confirming this as ‘normal!’ 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing! Love connecting with like-minded fur-moms. 🙂
Such a fun article!! I can totally relate!! Haha, when I wake up in the morning, I miss them and I run downstairs for cuddles!!
They’re the best!! Seriously feel sorry for non-animal people… they just don’t know what they’re missing out on!
If this is crazy – count me in. I hear people complain about their spouses and kids A LOT. I rarely if never hear pet parents complain about their fur kids. Maybe there’s something to that? If my dog (or now late cat) doesn’t like you – bye bye. I trust my pet’s judgement better than my own. I selected a bathroom renovator based on how he responded to my cat. I guess I’m certifiable. Oh… and if a horse responds negatively to someone … run from that person. I mean it.
I soooo…. agree with you! My furkids are a much better judge of character than I am, so I definitely pay attention to their inputs. We’d be silly not to! Liv pretty much picked her new groomer today, despite the fact that it was a boy (usually not her fav), but she wasn’t bothered by him at all! Speaks volumes in my book. Thanks for sharing!!
I often go by “Crazy Dog Lady” and have for years! 🙂
I don’t mind the moniker, as long as it’s not used as a way to dismiss my perspective or belittle my world, both of which have happened. It’s all in the spirit! Cheers to amazing Crazy Dog (and Cat!) Ladies!!
Oh I’m so glad I’m normal! It’s great to hear! My girls are so important to me for so many reasons— I couldn’t agree with your post more!!!
They ARE our worlds aren’t they?…. thanks so much for sharing!!
For sure! Craze and loving every minute of it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Hip hip hooray for Crazy! Thanks for sharing!!
Of COURSE we are all living the normal life aren’t we *twitch* We would not be any other way at all – ever!
I’m pretty sure I’m incapable of being anything else, so I (and others!) better settle with it! 🙂
Yep…I’m on the crazy train and thank you for reminding me that I am in such good company 🙂 When I foster-failed and brought my third dog home to stay, my mother literally said, “I think you’re crazy!” 😉 Love this post and may have to print it and post it on my wall so I can remind myself that I’m just fine!
The best possible company! Let’s make a pact to remind each other that we’re totally and completely amazing (and normal!) whenever necessary. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I am totally owning the cray cray! 100%! unapologetic about it!
Yay! I’m usually pretty unapologetic, but every once in awhile a judgment cuts… I’ll visit your page if I wane!
I admit – I’m a little crazy! But no more crazy than my female counterparts who have children and that’s all they talk about.
Crazy in the best possible way! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I totally relate and am happy to be a happy crazy pet parent, my Mom of 85 even calls my dog her grand pup
I love that this is the new normal! The dogs I have now don’t travel much with us, but other dogs have. I think these ones just entered my life when we had too many kids going in different directions and not enough room in the van!
The boyfriend and I have discussions about whether or not I can be a crazy dog lady with just one dog.
I love the new norm! Woo-hoo! I’ve been called “crazy” for having five Siberian Huskies, to which I like to reply, “Why?” Yep, loving this normal! Great post!
My hubby thinks I have turned into a bit of a crazy dog lady but he is pretty fond of Kilo as well.
I answered Yes to every one of your bullet points! And I’m proud of it!
Love & biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Someone else’s crazy is just my kind of normal. Although, I’m not fond of the ‘crazy cat lady’ stereotype mainly because research has shown it has real impact on the number of cats adopted from shelters.