Besides being the title to a great children’s book by Robert Lopshire, Put Me in the Zoo seems very fitting right now. Why you might ask? Because I feel I am in the zoo. The zoo has come to me my friends.
Albeit, my zoo is on a much smaller scale. There are no chimpanzees, no giraffes, no elephants, or no tigers. Nonetheless, we are managing to create a veritable zoo of our own.
We have been discussing getting a pet for several months now. Big Brother and Little Sister have been begging for a pet. Any pet really because their pet of choice changes on a daily basis. Hubby and I have been a bit ambivalent about the whole pet thing.
Are we ready? Are the kids ready? Who will be doing all the heavy lifting that comes along with pet ownership? Still…the kids are relentless.
We started out small. Remember the fish incident? Our official first pet. Besides the debacle at the pet store, our pet fish did quite well. The kids loved him (Aaron was his name) and they fed him daily. Sadly, Aaron has since moved on to fishie heaven. Explaining that is a completely different post.
Apparently, our pet fish was just the gateway to pet ownership. Aaron had paved the way for future pets. Planned or unplanned, these little critters just keep setting up shop within our humble abode.
Scanning our kitchen I notice the next pet in line…a frog aka Jumpy, who hopped into our lives by serendipitous discovery in our backyard. Jumpy has since lived in an indoor terrarium right atop our counter. Jumpy must be fed live crickets. So, along with Jumpy…we now have a weekly supply of live little cricket friends.
I keep scanning…and oh what’s that sticking out of my Tupperware container next to the stove top? No…it’s not leftovers. On closer inspection, it’s dirt…dirt and Big Brother’s pet worm. Every few days…I notice a new “pet” wiggling their way into our lives. These pets are short lived and usually of the creepy crawly variety. There is always something new on display over here.
I’m briefly distracted by the dirt and worm sitting next to my food by bubbling water sounds coming from the kids’ play room. Oh yeah…we have a 55 gallon water tank now. This huge aquarium is now home to one extremely scary looking fire eel and one huge African Cichlid fish. I haven’t the faintest idea about these things. This is all my husband’s doing.
Okay, so far we have: a fish that has passed, a frog that eats live crickets, one muddy worm, and now a huge aquarium filled with with two scary looking sea creatures. Oh, and let’s not forget…a venus flytrap that must also be fed live insects.
What will be on display next?
A guinea pig.
Yes, a guinea pig will soon be the feature exhibit at our little zoo. We will soon be the proud adoptive parents of one little baby guinea pig…set to arrive in just two short days. So, as the cage is being prepared, the food bought, and the space being made next to the aquarium…I’m left to wonder what happened to my quaint vision of the family pet?
I envisioned a cute little puppy…chasing the kids and providing an endless supply of wet kisses.
Instead, I look around and see a hodgepodge of “pets”. The two jumping monkeys at my feet (Big Brother and Little Sister) make this zoo quite complete.
So..please, I welcome you to Our Zoo. Just be forewarned, you may leave with a free worm or some free crickets to commemorate your visit.
As for me…I may just end up at the circus with our talented and colorful furry friend from Put Me in the Zoo.
What pets have taken residence with you? Do you sometimes feel like you’re living in the zoo?
Sounds like your house is a home!
Sounds like your house is a home!
I am so glad I found your blog from Ash. I keep reading about relatable stuff and loved your older posts a bunch too.
First, I love that book. Reading it in the past to my kids was so weird as I read the same book to myself as a kid.
My Hubs and I were married many years before we wanted kids so we started with 2 cats and then got 2 dogs and then had 3 kids. So the pets were actually ours and hurt us more when they died after living their full, old lives. It has been 5.5 years and we are in a new house without a fenced yard and with newer furniture and cats and dogs are just not gonna happen over here. Plus we vacation a lot in the summer (well, Hubs does being a teacher) and so no cats or dogs works. But we have a big aquarium with 5 fish……..and we just decided 5 days ago to get our youngest who turned 10 a hamster. In the store I saw the guinea pigs and they were super cute. Made me think of the Adam Sandler movie, Bedtime Stories. We are picking out the hammie tonight. Looking forward to your pet updates!
I am so glad I found your blog from Ash. I keep reading about relatable stuff and loved your older posts a bunch too.
First, I love that book. Reading it in the past to my kids was so weird as I read the same book to myself as a kid.
My Hubs and I were married many years before we wanted kids so we started with 2 cats and then got 2 dogs and then had 3 kids. So the pets were actually ours and hurt us more when they died after living their full, old lives. It has been 5.5 years and we are in a new house without a fenced yard and with newer furniture and cats and dogs are just not gonna happen over here. Plus we vacation a lot in the summer (well, Hubs does being a teacher) and so no cats or dogs works. But we have a big aquarium with 5 fish……..and we just decided 5 days ago to get our youngest who turned 10 a hamster. In the store I saw the guinea pigs and they were super cute. Made me think of the Adam Sandler movie, Bedtime Stories. We are picking out the hammie tonight. Looking forward to your pet updates!
As long as big brother doesn't bring home any spiders… yuck!
We have cats. My mother-in-law has a horse farm, and every time a barn cat has kittens she gives one (or two) to us. I have told her no more. Hopefully she'll actually listen this time.
As long as big brother doesn't bring home any spiders… yuck!
We have cats. My mother-in-law has a horse farm, and every time a barn cat has kittens she gives one (or two) to us. I have told her no more. Hopefully she'll actually listen this time.
I feel like I am living in a zoo because I live with two people who often act like animals instead of humans.
We had fish but they died and despite requests for a dog, a cat, and a lizard I am remaining firm on my NO. I have too much to do as it is!
I feel like I am living in a zoo because I live with two people who often act like animals instead of humans.
We had fish but they died and despite requests for a dog, a cat, and a lizard I am remaining firm on my NO. I have too much to do as it is!
My poor daughter! We don't have anything! We had a cat, but he died 3 years ago at 19. Since then my daughter developed allergies to dogs and cats. My husband was already allergic. For now, we're a pet-free zone. No pets of any kind.
My poor daughter! We don't have anything! We had a cat, but he died 3 years ago at 19. Since then my daughter developed allergies to dogs and cats. My husband was already allergic. For now, we're a pet-free zone. No pets of any kind.
Your kitchen sounds like lots of fun!
Growing up we, with parents who said we would never have more than a goldfish!, at one time had:
a golden retriever
2 hamsters
2 anoles
1 fish
and 2 hermit crabs
all at the same time. We ended up setting up a banquet table in the basement for all of the pets {minus the dog of course} to live happily in their little animal homes.
I think the more the merrier!
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I actually had a pet African frog that ate chicken livers. It wasn't easy going on vacation because no one wanted to place their fingers in the aquariam and feed him like I did. (My mom used tongs, which usually scared him half to death.) Anyways, I can only imagine the other pets (both great and small) that may become new family additions. If you can already feed a frog and a Venus fly trap…then you're adapting pretty well there to pet ownership, Dr. Mom!
I actually had a pet African frog that ate chicken livers. It wasn't easy going on vacation because no one wanted to place their fingers in the aquariam and feed him like I did. (My mom used tongs, which usually scared him half to death.) Anyways, I can only imagine the other pets (both great and small) that may become new family additions. If you can already feed a frog and a Venus fly trap…then you're adapting pretty well there to pet ownership, Dr. Mom!
we will never have more than dogs. No way, no how!
we will never have more than dogs. No way, no how!
We got our first fish (Goldie Minnow) a month before making the big jump to a puppy. Now the count is two mollies (Martha & Jar Jar) and the dog, Leia. Often the bug box is occupied, but right now it's recovering from it's last bout with a grasshopper.
I think having all of these friends is a sign of a nice childhood.
Good luck with your new pet! My boys went through a brief phase where they, too, wanted a guinea pig–I think this was after seeing some guinea pig super-spy movie, and yes, there is such a thing.
Looking forward to reading about your adventures as a guinea pig owner!
Good luck with your new pet! My boys went through a brief phase where they, too, wanted a guinea pig–I think this was after seeing some guinea pig super-spy movie, and yes, there is such a thing.
Looking forward to reading about your adventures as a guinea pig owner!
No zoo here yet – the kids are too young and we already have a 55 pound furbaby. I feel like a mom of THREE kids with the dog included in all the antics! Good luck with all of your pets! I remember my brother having chameleons, turtle (that ran away), frogs, and hermit crabs. I had a hamster. We all had three dogs!
On a side note, my future sister-in-law is a giraffe keeper at a major zoo! We have giraffes in the house – just the four foot stuffed kind!
No zoo here yet – the kids are too young and we already have a 55 pound furbaby. I feel like a mom of THREE kids with the dog included in all the antics! Good luck with all of your pets! I remember my brother having chameleons, turtle (that ran away), frogs, and hermit crabs. I had a hamster. We all had three dogs!
On a side note, my future sister-in-law is a giraffe keeper at a major zoo! We have giraffes in the house – just the four foot stuffed kind!
My children are still young enough that they don't know they can actually ask for a pet, so I'm keeping it that way for as long as possible. Best of luck to you with the zoo
My children are still young enough that they don't know they can actually ask for a pet, so I'm keeping it that way for as long as possible. Best of luck to you with the zoo
Oh, this reminds me of growing up. Currently, we (like you previously) only have a fish. But growing up, we had all manner of “pets.” The cat I brought home from school (who knows how I got it.) The baby robin our cat brought home that we raised. A brood of baby mice next to their dead mother that we just couldn't kill…so we raised those. Throw in some chicken, a rescued turtle, and once even a pet tarantula, and that's my childhood. Sounds like you are headed the same direction.
Oh, this reminds me of growing up. Currently, we (like you previously) only have a fish. But growing up, we had all manner of “pets.” The cat I brought home from school (who knows how I got it.) The baby robin our cat brought home that we raised. A brood of baby mice next to their dead mother that we just couldn't kill…so we raised those. Throw in some chicken, a rescued turtle, and once even a pet tarantula, and that's my childhood. Sounds like you are headed the same direction.
I am shaking my head and smiling because it reminds me of our house not long ago! We started with pill bugs and moved thru the backyard to a lizard. Finally the house is settled down with a cute little Schnoodle puppy that is the love of our lives! (We waited till the kids were old enuf to feed the dude and scoop poop. I am wishing you much luck with the G.P.!
I am shaking my head and smiling because it reminds me of our house not long ago! We started with pill bugs and moved thru the backyard to a lizard. Finally the house is settled down with a cute little Schnoodle puppy that is the love of our lives! (We waited till the kids were old enuf to feed the dude and scoop poop. I am wishing you much luck with the G.P.!
OK, we got our pet goldfish before you did and it's still not dead. What am I doing wrong?
OK, we got our pet goldfish before you did and it's still not dead. What am I doing wrong?
I could barely handle the fish for a short while, so I know that rodents of all sorts are no way an option for my kids. I dread the day that we cave and get them a dog.
Oh no! I have to admit…that sounds rough! I have the hardest tim dealing with 1 fish!
You are a saint! Lucky kids 
P.S. I read my kids that book alot!
Oh no! I have to admit…that sounds rough! I have the hardest tim dealing with 1 fish!
You are a saint! Lucky kids 
P.S. I read my kids that book alot!
Earthworms in the kitchen? I think that might put me over the top. Best of luck with the guinea pig!
awww sounds like a fun house and not a zoo.
when i was a kid, i always nagged my parents for a puppy (not a grown dog! as if a puppy would just stay a puppy forever). i promised to love and look after him 24-7 so my parents got me one from the animal shelter since we wanted to home the homeless. i loved him and looked after him 24-7 but when the time to clean his wee wee and poop poop – mum would always give me the broom and i'd give her a stupid excuse saying that i'm busy looking after the puppy/the phone is ringing for me to pick it up/i got homework/etc. lol
i got 2 fishies but before ash was born, we passed it to our friend because we didnt want ash to knock over the aquarium and “play” with the fishies. we want to get a puppy but space is limited in HK so no puppy for me or ash :((
have a great weekend!
~ash's mum
awww sounds like a fun house and not a zoo.
when i was a kid, i always nagged my parents for a puppy (not a grown dog! as if a puppy would just stay a puppy forever). i promised to love and look after him 24-7 so my parents got me one from the animal shelter since we wanted to home the homeless. i loved him and looked after him 24-7 but when the time to clean his wee wee and poop poop – mum would always give me the broom and i'd give her a stupid excuse saying that i'm busy looking after the puppy/the phone is ringing for me to pick it up/i got homework/etc. lol
i got 2 fishies but before ash was born, we passed it to our friend because we didnt want ash to knock over the aquarium and “play” with the fishies. we want to get a puppy but space is limited in HK so no puppy for me or ash :((
have a great weekend!
~ash's mum
Your kids will always remember having all these weird pets! You're great to make it happen for them, because I'm sure you get your fair share of “heavy lifting!”
Your kids will always remember having all these weird pets! You're great to make it happen for them, because I'm sure you get your fair share of “heavy lifting!”