Is it normal to treat your pets like people?

61% Normal

My boyfriend pays for extra cable boxes because he bought a tv for his pet lizard and another for the tortoises. Both of the enclosures are hand built, huge, and always have the door open anyway so they either wander the house or the yard. The lizard is like 6 feet long and the 5 tortoises are like 100 pounds each. Huge animals.

I think it’s cute(?) but also a bit silly when it takes more than a minute to figure out what channel to put the turtle tv on.

But he loves them so I don’t say anything about it.

Voting Results

61% Normal

Based on 36 votes (22 yes)

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Comments ( 26 )

Iszzy123

4 years ago

I didn’t read the whole thing but this is a common practice

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- litelander8
  
  4 years ago
  
  You should have. 5 100lb tortoises is pretty impressive.
  
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RoseIsabella

4 years ago

I think it depends.

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chuy

4 years ago

Not normal

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paramore93

4 years ago

Belated happy world lizard day.

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cipro

4 years ago

Cute, normal.

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Doesnormalmatter

4 years ago

Who in the hell had 5 tortoises that weigh 100 pounds???

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  4 years ago
  
  Just asked, they are called Sulcata tortoises, his biggest is 190 lbs and 75 years old.
  He has had up to 13 at a time cause he fosters and rehabilitates tortoises, but he owns 5
  
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- Wellyoudliketoknoweh
  
  4 years ago
  
  The ocean
  
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  - Doesnormalmatter
    
    4 years ago
    
    And who is the ocean's girlfriend? Did you just assume the gender rof the ocean?
    
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    - Wellyoudliketoknoweh
      
      4 years ago
      
      ....u just..dug ur own grave u know that right
      Where the f have I assumed the gender of the ocean, I didn’t even use personal pronouns
      
      It was replied to my comment, if it was for the other it would make sense
      
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      - Doesnormalmatter
        
        4 years ago
        
        You implied that his boyfriend is the ocean because in the post it's her boyfriend that has the tortoises.
        
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        Wellyoudliketoknoweh
        
        4 years ago
        
        It was a joke, I was not saying he is the ocean haha
        The ocean is it’s own
        
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xxLucifer

4 years ago

It's completely normal. Pets can be more than just a pet to some people. It's often that a pet becomes part of the family and some people go to extremes to care for their pets.

TV for animals is a source of stimulus, much like if you were to have TV playing for a baby. They aren't going to really understand what exactly is going on, but it gives them something to react to.

It's great though that he lets them wander the house and get exercise which is important for any pet. Would be hard to have an enclosure that can fit all the animals and still give them enough space otherwise.

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LazyLightning23

4 years ago

I mean, it's normal to treat them like family, letting them sleep near you and watching tv with you, but never heard of buying a tv specifically for the pets

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Phoebe2005

4 years ago

Yes and pets are people I mean like we had a cat and it would literally watch TV with us and I
swear she knew what was happening. Please treat them like people!

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noid

4 years ago

I don’t think the animals mentioned have an interest in TV, so I vote not normal.

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TerriAngel

4 years ago

If hes paying for it.
Paying the normal bills.
Its knowbodys business.
I dont see his logic, but thats just me.

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libertybell

4 years ago

Reptiles may seem less affectionate because they don't have fur, and are less cuddly. But I've never owned a reptile, so this is just an assumption.🐍🐸

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Wellyoudliketoknoweh

4 years ago

Yes

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cupcake_wants

4 years ago

I don't really like reptiles as pets because unlike dogs and cats they don't love you back!

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- xxLucifer
  
  4 years ago
  
  Well it depends on what you consider "love". Some reptiles will prefer to be around their owners, even when food isn't involved or when given the opportunity to move somewhere that should be more comfortable. Some reptiles will only like to be around their owner. Reptiles can even get stressed out when left alone for long periods of times.
  
  All those things I just mentioned are ways we as humans perceive if a dog loves it's owner, so why should it be any different for reptiles.
  
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  - cupcake_wants
    
    4 years ago
    
    Reptiles are not loving or affectionate, period.
    
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    - xxLucifer
      
      4 years ago
      
      That's simply not true.
      
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  - Nikclaire
    
    4 years ago
    
    I'm curious how you know? Isn't it hard to read a reptiles face? Like if you are sitting watching TV will a snake curl up next to you? Or will the turtle chill beside you and follow you to the toilet?
    
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    - xxLucifer
      
      4 years ago
      
      The same way you know if a dog wags it's tail it's excited. Body language for reptiles is just different and more varied. Reptiles is a broad category of animals and you can't expect all of them to act in the same way.
      
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Is it normal to treat your pets like people?