Comments on: Be thankful for old, pet-loving friends

By: Ingrid King

Ingrid King — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:45:07 +0000

What a lovely post. It is amazing how pets connect us with people we otherwise might never have met, and how the world of social media, blogs and other ways to connect online has made this way of connecting with others even easier.

I sometimes find that I want to share something with my online friends even before I share it with my “real life” friends (although the lines are beginning to blur more and more - like Gina said in her comment, why even bother to explain the difference!). I’ve come to experience the wonderful support online friends can offer just these past couple of days. Buckley, the subject of my book Buckley’s Story - Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher, passed away last Thanksgiving weekend, so this has been a rough weekend for me. I was so touched by all the messages I received from online friends, and even complete strangers who had read my book, letting me know I was in their thoughts.

Power of the paw, and the amazing human animal bond.

By: Phyllis DeGioia

Phyllis DeGioia — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:55:18 +0000

Kristina, how sweet of you to ask, but because it’s such a tight knit group it’s invitation only for friends who are well known. We only invite smart asses we think can handle it.

The above mentioned dog Blanche (a Georgia stray named Blanche Dubois because she depended on the kindness of strangers) was bit on the face by a poisonous snake. A few years ago I used photos of her swollen face for an article about treating snake bites at http://www.veterinarypartner.c.....amp;A=2111. I mentioned it last week and lo and behold, Blanche got bit on the lip by a snake a few days ago (she’s fine, it was non-poisonous). MB says I jinxed Blanchie. Blanchie is not accepting my new mantra for her of “Snakes are not toys. Snakes are not toys.”

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:12:37 +0000

I’m thankful for dogs!
This video explains it all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MICQZrdM8I

[Note from Gina: I clicked. It’s harmless silly pet vid, not something creepy.]

By: monica

monica — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:23:41 +0000

I like the part where, when you meet in person, its seamless, you already have the relationship so you just jump in where you last left off.

By: Linda Thompson

Linda Thompson — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:10:24 +0000

I’m one of Phyllis’ pet-minded friends off the list she mentioned today in her blog and I can tell you: she and the rest of that group are some very powerful people. When I went through a devastating illness that very nearly took my life, that group was one of the things that pulled me through. As I lay in a coma, Phyllis talked with my husband and passed information back and forth to the crew who prayed for me and sent loads of zen my way. It really was one of the things that made the difference. I am a Canadian friend and on your Thanksgiving, as well as my own, I am very grateful.

By: Rori

Rori — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:32:40 +0000

Most of my closest friends came to be so through horses. When speaking of them to others who are not as equine-centric, I usually refer to them as my “horsey friends.”

Not very flattering, I know, but descriptive.

By: Gina Spadafori

Gina Spadafori — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:12:33 +0000

Although I have spent time with them all IRL so now, like the Velveteen Rabbit, they’re “real,” almost all of my very closest friends came from online communities originally.

By: Mary Mary

Mary Mary — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:22:04 +0000

A further point … I think it’s kind of odd when a woman I know always references her “online friend Michelle” or “online friend Diane” when were are discussing animal care things.

Why make the differentiation? In most cases it does not matter. Why not just say “My friend Michelle has a dog that … “

One of my best, dearest friends has lived in a faraway state for the past 20 years. We speak regularly and I talk about her often — but I rarely say “my out-of-state friend, Jeanne,” unless it is relevant.

But yes, I agree that it must seem very strange to people who have no on-line communities. I am so glad to live in a time that all this is possible.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:12:05 +0000

And we are all thankful for Phyllis!

By: Phyllis DeGioia

Phyllis DeGioia — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:05:58 +0000

“Do you find that it’s sometimes difficult (and even perhaps mildly embarassing!) to explain to your “real life friends” about your online friends?”

Oh yeah. And try explaining that you’re going on vacation with people you’ve never technically met.