So, I've been having a pretty tough time dating with all of my animals. I currently have 5 dogs, 2 cats, 10 rats and fish, and I'm working on a wildlife rehabilitation license. Actually my dream and ultimate goal is to open some type of rehabilition center and sanctuary or perhaps a small rescue. Either way, the rest of my life will absolutely be devoted to animals. I'm an ACO and often foster litters or animals that need to be bottlefed, etc. My work often comes home with me so, along with my own furkids, there are always a lot of animals around. So my question is WHERE ON EARTH DO YOU MULTIPLE PET-OWNING LADIES FIND DUDES THAT ARE WILLING TO DEAL?!? Better yet, I want someone that loves and enjoys my kids, rescue,  and animals in general just as much as I do. It seems like men are so much less compassionate and many could give a hoot about our furry friends. I actually just had a guy tell me "I can deal with the dogs, but the rest of them would have to go". That ended rather quickly. I recently had another one tell me "I'd feel like I was always on the backburner, like they're more important than me". Um, hellooo, guy I just started talking to....that's cause they ARE more important than you! I'd never expect or want somebody to ditch or neglect their child for me, why should I be expected to abandon any of my babies? Is there a place to find somewhat normal, at least partially sane, sweet, attractive, animal-loving guys in their mid 20's to early 30's that have their crap together? Cause the selection I've seen so far isn't anything fantastic. This is getting ridiculous!

Oy....I couldn't imagine dating.  What with the fur-kids and the kid-kid I'd be not the biggest catch in the whole world.  (Ugh...add in the Lupus and the Fibromyalgia and I'd be single for the rest of this life and the next one, too.)

My suggestion is to have your friends look for you.  There are worse things than having your friends find guys for you.  After all, your friends know you, know what you like and what you can't stand.  Also, if a friend recommends someone to you, they are likely to know at least one exgirlfriend who didn't end up as stew-meat in the freezer.

Keep your eyes out, and stay open to possibilities.  Someone who is just a good friend today could be the love of your life next month. 

I know a lot of people freak out at the idea of internet dating services, but I know a lot of people they have worked for.  Yes you can meet weirdos, but you can in the real world as well.  If you post about your animals people will know how important they are without first getting involved.  Also it gives you the opportunity to do some screening as well.

i met my fiance 3 and a half years ago online...kept it to phone and email for about 6 months and than we started see each other..once a month (i lived in texas him massachusetts)...last year i moved here...my mother is an ACO and ive done a lot of volunteer work with her and the SPCA so he knew animals were a big part of my life..he has 2 kids from a previous toxic relationship (who i adore) so i kept my "kids" he kept his...were a big happy family...so dont be afraid to try out the internet thing just be careful

my best friend met her bf of 2 years at a SPCA volunteer thing..he was another volunteer...so maybe talk to an attractive guy who does volunteer work with animals?


the best thing i could think to do those is make sure you tell the guy up front about your furkids and human kids...that way if hes outright scared off by that you wouldnt have wasted time on them.

I just lucked out with my hubby and we met through mutual friends. He had actually been to my house with a friend and my roommate two or three times before we met (I was out on dates!). One of the things that helped us bond was that our dogs were the same age and the same size, so they became best friends. I use to joke with him that we could never break up because Izzy and lily would miss each other too much. At the time we met I had two (feral but friendly) cats and one dog. He had two house cats and one dog. We now have four cats, three dogs and two fish tanks. We did have a rat and two cockatiels, but my rat passed away and we gave our teils a better home.

Hubby says that he would love to have enough money to have a rescue one day. We are both suckers for hard luck cases and all of our animals have been rescues except for one of the tiels and my dog Izzy.

The only draw back to finding someone who also loves animals is that one of you has to have the ability to say no more, unless of course you have unlimited means! It is a good thing that we are expecting a baby, it is helping to keep our, "awww, it needs a home" reactions in check.

Oh but they're sooooooo cute when they're fluffy!! 

I will definitely take a look at that site! Thanks everyone, for your stories and advice. They do give me hope that there's at least one person out there for me and the kiddos! Though thinking about all the crap I have to sift through to fine him sounds like no picnic... Oh well, a free drink is a free drink!

I totally agree with everyones advice.  Although I can't say that I met my boyfriend through friends or online, our meeting was quite odd.  But anyways, I was with my boyfriend for probably a year or so before I got my rats.  And luckily, he was totally fine with that because he loves them to death.  Lucky me he loves animals too and that I didn't end up with one of those guys that would make me get rid of them!  We are currently waiting on an adoption of two ratties, and he cannot wait until we get them!  He keeps asking me when we are going to go pick them up and such.  It's very cute how much he loves them, but keeps his cool, makin' it look like he's just like whatever about them. It's cute and I am so happy that he is in my life! 

I met my boyfriend through an online dating service and we've been together nearly 2 years now.

In my ad I listed up front that I had cats and rats (I didn't say how many I had though lol) and that I would like someone that liked animals as well. I had 4 cats, 30 rats and 3 gerbils at the time. When he contacted me, I told him that I had the 4 cats, 20 rats, 3 gerbils and a vicious, over protective mother. He was ok with my critters, he has 5 cats himself.

He is a cat lovin' weirdo, just like me.  When he first met the rats, I told him I used them to dispose of the bodies of mean ex-boyfriends  He thought that was hilarious.  He liked the rats but is totally in love with my cats. We adopted a kitty together and grieved together when we lost 2 to illnesses.

I love him very much and he loves me very much, so there are great guys out there that love animals too. It may take a little while to find one.  Good luck!

Oh yeah! That's what I did!  I'm just playin' 

Also, have the goal of being friends first..not viewing each person as a possible long term relationship.

Oddly, someone's thoughts on my pets has never been a worry of mine..if anyone I dated had a problem with my pets, they didn't voice it.  My fiance was a pet person, but only had a cat of his own. Now we have our combined households and a few new pets added in  He's quite insistent that when we get married at the end of the month, all of "my" pets (now "ours" unless they're bad, in which case they're always the other person's  ) are adopting the new last name as well

All kidding aside, this is very important.


It's hard. My husband (I'm married 9 years) was allergic to my cats when we started dating. He's a great guy, but I wasn't going to give up my cats. Everyone I knew kept telling me how crazy I was, but my opinion was, if I give up my animals, I just plain am..not me anymore.
We worked it out, and over time he is OK with them. He is still allergic to new cats, but he's fine with our (now) 3 cats. I also have a rabbit.
He loves rats, though we are without rats right now.

Growing up, he didn't have animals. Well, his mom would get a dog & a few weeks later it would disappear under the allergic guise of it. Then, another dog, which would again disappear. Grrr.

Not only do we have our own animals, I rehab oposssums, so we always have babies around; tonight we went to release a huge snapping turtle, and bring a baby squirrel to one of my co-workers house to release on her property. On the way in the car he said, "it's always an adventure with Eileen".

The only advice I would have is, be honest. Be honest with whoever you meet, and with yourself. You will find someone who is OK with your animals. But, it's dangerous to have someone who loves them as much as you - is is very important that SOMEONE can say no. When my husband says no to something new (animal-wise) I want, I respect it. Someone has to set boundaries, you know?