The original topic (which can be found HERE) has got too long so please continue here:
somebody stared at me today.
I stared at myself in the mirror just now, and it wasn’t a pretty sight at this time of the morning. It upset me more than any other stare I’ve endured in weeks.
Having a dog makes things nicer, but that could be said anywhere you live.
I am on my third street dog (rescued). The first I had here for 4.5 years and then had to yield to her desire to emmigrate to the US, where she lived for the rest of her life (she died at about 13 or 14).
The second was hit by a car only five months after we found her. 
The current one we’ve had six years.
There is definitely something missing without a dog.
daltongang, I noticed that your post was around 2 this morning, so for someone to be staring at you at that time probably has good reason.
Some things that make my life pretty easy to deal with here are my beagle, baby and the best job in the world.
Dogs do make life better in Taiwan!
Absolutely. My guy puts me in a good mood the minute I get home.
[quote=“wolf_reinhold”]The first I had here for 4.5 years and then had to yield to her desire to emmigrate to the US, where she lived for the rest of her life (she died at about 13 or 14).
[/quote]
I had a dog that “emmigrated” to the US too. He was attacked by a porcupine
his third week there and died.
Dogs do make a difference in coping here and general happiness, and the street ones are the best. Of course I got another one later. (Actually, I found her on my doorstep one Xmas day.)
[quote=“amos”]daltongang, I noticed that your post was around 2 this morning, so for someone to be staring at you at that time probably has good reason.
[/quote]
My big nose and pretty face are enough reason any time of day Amos.
So you weren’t pissing against a mailbox 
people stare at you for that?
Dogs DO make a huge difference in settling here, I think. My two are always pleased to see me and the only times they stare at me are when they want their walks or want their food! They are both babies right now - Grommit is about seven months and Cleo is twelve weeks.
Personally, I find that having a pet or two “grounds” me (in more ways than one!) and gives me the continuity that so often gets lost when a change in life occurs. As well, it has changed my relationships with my neighbours. They no longer stare at me and make comments behind my back. Now, they ask me about my dogs and comment on them rather than me. My next door neighbour tells me that he likes them because they are good security! Plus, they keep my feet warm at night! 
( No, no… the dogs keep my feet warm!).
By the way… can anyone tell me how to post pictures from my pictures file? Can’t figure it out!
Thanks,
Tika[/img]
Yes, having a pet does help keep you grounded. Even if it’s as unintentional as falling in love with a certain little kitten that you rescued from the median of a busy intersection after Typhoon Nari, it does make it hard for most of us pet owners to just pack up and leave Taiwan without prior planning. And it makes life a bit sweeter knowing that no matter how rough of a day you have at work or much people seem to make a big deal out of your differences that there’s a creature who only cares about you opening his damn bottle of spring water already.
Or maybe that’s just my cat…
Meh…dogs and cats, such predictable creatures (boy, I miss non-wild pets). I’ve had a flying squirrel for the last year and a half or so, got him when he was a few weeks old, dropper fed him. He’s cute, CAN be friendly, but also can wake up at dusk in a bad mood and attack (took after my wife last night, keep telling her you have to keep you eyes on the pointy end of the squirrel)…antiseptic, q-tips, and small bandages are in short supply right now, must be mating season.
My friend had a couple of flying squirrels. Evil little buggers. Taste delicious, though.
That’s what I hear. I have an aboriginal friend that has a few in the freezer waiting for me to go up and visit him (he laughed his ass of when my answer to “Would you eat one?” was “HELL YES, I live with the little bastard .”)
I’m actually quite fond of him, but it is CRITICAL that you keep your eyes on the pointy end. He CAN be affectionate, but I’m convinced has a near terminal case of bi-polar disorder…after a few minutes, its best to shoo him off your shoulder or risk an ear piercing 
.
That sounds very much like a civet cat I knew. I used to be jittery all the time I spent in the house where it was a pet. Given its temperamental nature and the sharpness of those teeth, it wasn’t exactly what I’d consider the ideal furry bundle of joy to live with.
That sounds very much like a civet cat I knew. I used to be jittery all the time I spent in the house where it was a pet. Given its temperamental nature and the sharpness of those teeth, it wasn’t exactly what I’d consider the ideal furry bundle of joy to live with.[/quote]
Lol, yeah…but compared to the owl we adopted (too old to survive in the wild, and REALLY wild…died a few months back, but we managed to keep him healthier for a year or so before his age caught up with him) the flying squirrel is a dream. He’s actually really funny to watch…I swear the squirrel in Ice Age was modelled on him . I actually can forsee trying to breed them, the gentler ones, for pets eventually. I dunno how their status as threatened affects this idea, I didn’t know when I bought this one from a breeder (I think he may have known, but didn’t care).
I often think about getting a cat…grew up with them…have the neighborhood dogs who I sorta take care of, so I don’t need a dog…but the thought if the cat and the flying squirrel getting into it (not ENTIRELY sure the cat would win, this thing is BIG)…I dunno…
Where can I get a flying squirrel as pet in Taiwan?
I guess i don’t really think of dealing with it. If I were in the states, I would just have a different set of headaches.
One weird thing is that since I am the only foreigner working at a Taiwanese company, I don’t meet many people in the expat community. Can anyone recommend a nice place (NON-meat market…no Roxy pls) to meet other foreigners [for lack of a better word]? I need to speak English or I’m going to go INSANE!