Reply #99: I'm one of these people, I think

[Withywindle]

I can conceive of people who may nurture animals well, and should not raise children.


I've chosen not to have children because I really do not think it is in me to be a good mother. I'm too introverted, too fond of solitude and silence, and children are too noisy. Also, I've never wanted to, so it's no great loss to me, and I really think parenthood is something that should never be attempted by or forced upon anyone who doesn't want it.

I do think I'm a pretty good crazy cat lady, though. I only have one at the moment, and I adopted her from a shelter, and they put me through a pretty rigorous process to get her. A detailed questionnaire about my knowledge of cat care and cat behavior and the expenses I expected to pay over her lifetime. References from my landlord, to make sure I was allowed to have a pet. References from vets who treated past cats of mine, to make sure I never abused or neglected one. Criminal background check, to make sure I had no history of abuse or violence. (They did not check my credit--thank goddess--but they do have a practice of giving everyone business cards for a clinic that does low-income vet care, just in case. They are not in any way against poor people having pets--just irresponsible, cruel, or dishonest people.)

I approve of this. I know there are millions of animals who need homes--but still, I think the consequences of relaxing standards can be so catastrophic for the animals that screening is worthwhile. The shelter workers have to be able to look at themselves in the mirror, too, after all!

Vick could not have passed the test.