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Is Your Pet Too Trusting?

When I got home from work at the cats-only boarding facility yesterday, my neighbor’s cat Copper came out to greet me. Copper has always been a very friendly cat, coming up to say hello and get some scratches almost every time he sees me.

Yesterday, Copper was REALLY happy to see me. I think more because it was raining than because he missed me! He followed me to my door and looked like he was ready to come inside — which I knew would be a disaster with two barking machines named Lally and Moose on the other side. I managed to shoo Copper away and ducked inside.

Later that afternoon, I went to take some garbage out. There was Copper, meowing plaintively and following me — despite the rain. He walked me to the dumpster and halfway back, then stopped underneath a carport. More sad meowing ensued, and I felt bad enough for him that I went back, picked him up and tucked him into my jacket, and carried him back to my building.

I could very easily have taken Copper into the house with me — he wouldn’t have minded. The dogs probably would have minded greatly!

But it got me thinking (and worrying) about pets that are too trusting. I don’t know if Copper the cat is this friendly with everybody or if he just knows that I’m a sucker for fuzzy friends. Would he let a stranger pick him up and take him away? Would he climb into somebody’s car or go into somebody’s apartment?

My dog Moose is a very trusting soul. Everybody he meets is a friend. Everybody we see while we’re walking is supposed to pet him. Everybody who comes to the apartment is welcomed with a twitching nub (it used to be a wagging tail before his car accident last June). Moose loves everyone. I bet he’d hop right into a stranger’s car if he was invited.

My other dog, Lally, is thankfully a little more suspicious. She doesn’t immediately trust and love everyone like Moose does.