[iLoveME218]

In my whole entire life I never had a pet or even played with one. I never played with a dog or cat or any other animal! My parents really dislike animals and I'm the only person I know who has never had a pet before. Everyone I knew has at least a goldfish. Even my parents had pets before. They just didn't like it.

Before this summer my teacher got us to write an essay about one of our pets that we ever had. I told the teacher I never had a pet before. And she was like WHAT?! My teacher has at least 20 cats her entire life . Right now she has 5 cats. When people talk about them I always get upset and I always think to myself "why do I deserve this? Its not my fault I have parents who absolutely hate animals.

What makes me even mad is I have read facts "children who play with their cats or dogs often preform better on tests or exams" or this website:
Pets.webmd.com/ss/slideshow-pets-improve-your-health

Is it normal to grow up in a childhood with no experience of raising pets?

[N0help4u]

Yes many homes do not have peta. Many landlords do not allow pets. Don't you ever even get to play with your friends pets?

[Wondergirl]

I was almost in your shoes. My mom grew up on a farm in Idaho and did not believe animals should be in a house with people. She had no patience to feed or clean up after them. Thank goodness, we lived at the edge of town near farms, so barn cats came and went from our yard and even had their kittens in our old garage (that had a cat-sized hole in a side wall). My mother allowed me to pick the bits of chicken or turkey or other meat off the bones or collect food that been left on plates after dinner, and I mixed that with gravy and water and small chunks of white bread to make a meal for whatever cat lived in the garage.

I went off to college and eventually got married. Since then we have had cats, and for the past twenty years, have helped with rescuing area ferals and strays for the local cat shelter or adopting strays ourselves. Right now we have four rescues that came to our door skinny and hungry -- Kuro, Little Debbie, Princess Dido, and Mattie. (I always wanted a horse, but that never worked out.)

When you are an adult, you can make your own decisions about animals, just like I did. Meanwhile, be sure to read about them and how to care for them. Maybe your mom would allow you to volunteer at an animal shelter once a week or so.

[johannsson35]

Not at all. I've known many people who never had pets. Either because they were allergic to them, couldn't afford them, couldn't find any one's they liked, or simply they're not pet people or their parents didn't like pets and never got one for the family. You're not alone mate.

[JudyKayTee]

I don't find it the least bit unusual. In this economy very often people simply can't afford a pet.

Then there are allergies, landlords, people who simply don't like pets.