Site Meter Vamps and Scamps: Love Doesn't Conquer All??

Friday, December 08, 2006

Love Doesn't Conquer All??


At least not according to a survey I read. It said that 30% of American men said they would break up with a woman solely for this reason…

They don’t like her pet!

I had to laugh at this because my new release, BIT THE JACKPOT, has a heroine with five pets- three dogs, two cats. Seamus, the hero, is a vampire, and doesn’t exactly hit it off with all of Cara’s fur babies. Have you ever ended a relationship because you couldn’t stand a pet? Did you issue a “Me or Fluffy” ultimatum? What was the final thing that sent you over the edge?

I think if I was truly interested in someone, I could deal with an obnoxious dog or a pet bunny with a smelly cage. I could even handle a tarantula. Just keep the lid on. ;-)

To celebrate BIT THE JACKPOT hitting the shelves, I’ll choose a random winner from everyone who posts and send out a copy.

Happy Friday,
Erin

30 comments:

CrystalGB said...

Hi Erin. No I haven't been in a relationship where I said it's me or the pet.

Unknown said...

No Erin. I don't think there is a pet that would make me break up with someone. Congrats on the new release!

Unknown said...

Hi Erin,

No, I have never broken off with someone due to a pet. If I had, my husband and I probably would not be together lol. It's not any one pet or a dislike of his (now our) pets, but rather the amount of pets. At present count we have two dogs, one cat, and two guinea pigs. I can't fault him too much for having a soft heart for animals though. Our kids love animals too, and I can definitely say they come by it naturally.

I love the BIT THE JACKPOT cover by the way!

Anonymous said...

When dh and I were dating, I lived in an appartment that did not allow pets, but made it very clear to him that when/if we married and bought a house, I was getting a dog. I'd always had one growing up and really missed the companionship. He was a little leary because his mom hated animals (and doesn't that tell you something about her pesonality!) and he had grown up pet-free. Well, we are now on our fourth dog (over a 26 year period)and he realizes just how deprived he was as a child. Fortunately, I never had to make the him-or-my-dog choice -- but I often think that there are a lot of dogs that are way better than a lot of the guys out there.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Sounds like our house!

I dated a guy in college who had a snake. I spent a half of a night there, tossing and turning and imagining that snake slithering into the bed. That was the last time I spent the night there!

My cat hated DH when he first arrived. It took her a year to get over him invading her house and her relationship with me, LOL. Now she clearly Loves Him Better.

Humph.

Congratulations on the release, Erin!

Alyssa said...

I'm allergic to cats, so that would be a problem for me. And dogs are awfully . . . enthusiastic. LOL!

But no, I don't think a pet would be a deal-breaker for me.

kim h said...

have not had that kind of relationship erin.

Anonymous said...

No, I have not been in a relationship where that was an issue. It certainly was not an issue with hubby whose dog had died years before we met. Right now we have a 3 year old boy and a almost 2 month old baby girl so we would not even think of getting a pet right now. We have our hands way full. :-)

Maureen said...

Congratulations on your new book.

When I first met my husband my roommate and I had a cat that he wasn't thrilled with but they came to an agreement.

Brandy said...

I've never been in a relationship that had a pet ultimatum. Actually, because my Dh is a big softie and loves them as much as I do, we now have 7 cats. Several of them rescues.

Nonny Blackthorne said...

I think not liking a pet is a really stupid reason to break up with someone.

Okay, a couple exceptions. I'm phobic of spiders, so anything like that... mmm, might not be a deal-breaker, but it had better not be in my sight or coming out anywhere near me. Also, if the animal was truly vicious and the person I was with abetted that behavior, I would also have a problem.

But the sort of personality that would lead to the latter scenario would also cause other issues in the relationship, I think.


My ex-gf had, let's see... three cats, a tank o' fish, two snakes, one iguana, and a bearded dragon. I wasn't overly fond of the evil bastard tail-lashing iguana, but eh. *shrugs*

Really, though, if someone broke up with me just because "I don't like your pet," well, good bloody riddance.

Deborah Chan said...

I am not a pet person but I don't think I would break up with someone special just because of their pet.

LISA WILLIAMS said...

That's an interesting survey. But never happened to me.

Shuck Ying said...

I know many people's pet are like there kids so I guess that would be tough on a relationship if someone doesn't like your pet.

Anonymous said...

Erin, It seems like we've waited forever for Bit The Jackpot to come out! And I still haven't seen it in our stores. DH and I are both dog lovers so we've never has a problem. He tends to want to bring our lab inside more than I do, especially in cold weather. He has such a soft heart he thinks the dog will be cold. I constantly remind him that labs love the cold, but usually I wind up clearing out the laundry room so Buddy can come inside. Even when it's not even freezing outside.

Wolfy said...

You know I could handle a dog or cat, but a spider of any kind would have me out of there so fast that you would think I was on fire.........LOL

Judy F said...

I have never had the pet or him situation. But I don't think I could handle snakes. LOl

Congrats on the new book

Knoxville Romance Reader said...

No however if the pet was a snake that would be a deal breaker! UGH Snakes!

Erin McCarthy said...

I've never been in that situation either, but my sister did make my brother-in-law give away his two rabbits... but part of that was because before they lived together he let the rabbits roam around his apartment at will, which my sister thought was kind of gross. But as part of the agreement, they're getting a dog instead. Which is more work, but at least a dog give affection back. :-)

It sounds like a lot of people are freaked out by spiders and snakes. My cousin had a piranha when I was growing up and every weekend we went and trapped minnows to feed it... we used to love to watch that piranha eat the minnows head first. Which just proves kids are gruesome. LOL.

My friends have a St. Bernard, and the drool that comes from him is astonishing. He turns his head and it just flings all over you and the walls. You walk in and they hand you a paper towel while they greet you. I think I would struggle with that kind of mess in my house all the time... that would require serious negotiation in a relationship. ;-)

Erin

Anonymous said...

Erin, congrats on Bit the Jackpot. Yay for sexy vampires and the women who love them. ;)

I don't think I'd allow a pet to come between someone I was serious about, but I think the kind of pet the guy has also plays a part.

Loretta said...

Love me, love my pet. I don't think I would let a pet break up and relation either. Congrats on your new release.

Pamk said...

Yep a spider would do it for me. Cause if it got out it would be dead don't care who's pet it was lol

Stacy~ said...

Nope, never had it happen and other than those mentioned here (snakes, spiders...oh and rats!) I can't see it being a big deal.

I think I can understand it a little. If a someone dressed her poodle everyday and cooked him/her special meals and talked babytalk to the pet, that would creep me out LOL.

Patti said...

Never have, but if my guy had a snake.......I may just run away fast as I can. :)

Carol M said...

I never dated anyone who had pets and I never had pets until after I was married so I never had that problem. I think a pet is just an excuse to get out of a relationship that you didn't want to be in.

Anonymous said...

I've never been in a relationship where the pet ultimatum was issued but I love my dog and two cats so if he had a problem with them then he has a problem with who I am so he would definately be going out the door.

Jodi said...

Never been in a relationship where a pet was an issue. Heck, I'd tell him to go as the pet was here first! LOL

Erin McCarthy said...

Thanks for all your comments! I agree that a normal domestic pet shouldn't be a deal breaker. I think a hissing cockroach would be the only thing that would do me in. LOL. I HATE roaches.

Nonny was the random poster picked to win a copy of Bit The Jackpot. Nonny, if you could email me privately, I'll send it out to you. :-)

Erin

kim h said...

wtg nonny

Carol M said...

Congrats Nonny!