Is it normal to want to hand raise an animal

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5 Comments

I have strong maternal instincts and I love to nurture things and watch them grow. Oddly enough though I don't want a baby, I don't like children and then you have to deal with them becoming wretched teenagers, they are ridiculously expensive and ungrateful and so on, so point is I'm nurturing but not for humans.

For the longest time I have been desperate to raise animals, and not just from the adoptable age but from infants. I very well know that it is best for an animal to be fed and cared for by it's own species and with that said it would be the rarest of occasions to stumble upon an orphaned baby animal to care for.

I've only noticed quite recently that amongst people that I know I am the only one that feels this strongly about it, at first I thought it was something that everyone secretly wanted to do but when I asked my friend she said that she had no interest in doing something like that. She loves puppies and cute animals but hadn't even dreamed about raising one.

I've tried volunteering at a wildlife rehabilitation centre for a few months but reality came knocking on my door and I had to go off to college and focus on my career path. So only having been a member of the animal shelter for only a few months I was not yet trusted to do hand-rearing work.

At this point I feel as though I'm going to do something very irresponsible but keep in mind that it would be very wrong to pursue this desire. It's something that would just happen, not something you should make happen.

So any ideas on whether most people go through this and how they overcome this mad obsession?

Voting Results
87% Normal
Based on 46 votes (40 yes)
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Comments ( 5 )
  • t17
    10 years ago

    I feel exactly the same way. I've started raising things from tiny little insects to small animals. You just have to make sure that what you're doing isn't illegal. You don't want to be taking something home that's a protected species.
    Ignore Moonbow, it's great that you want to watch things grow and that you would appreciate an animal more than a child. Remember to not commit to anything big just yet, you'll want to know if you can handle the responsibility of looking after it. Maybe raise something simple and easy first and see if you can take care of it. Good luck.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      10 years ago

      Thank you for making me not feel so crazy! What moonbow seems to have misunderstood is that I don't want to cause stress upon any animal, especially the poor mother that's just had babies. But it is something I cannot shake off! His unnecessary rudeness was really not helpful.

      I wouldn't want take on anything I can't handle, the dread of it not working out would simply crush me. Of course if I just suddenly had a baby tiger or something that would raise all kinds of alarming issues. Even if I were to find a orphaned baboon I would rather take it to someone who can handle it better and has the proper facilities.

      I love all animals but since I stay in a shared house all I'd like right now is a small creature. I'll take your advice, thanks so much! :D

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  • Moonbow
    10 years ago

    No, most people do not have such an obsession and you're right, it is a MAD obsession. Baby animals need to be cared for by their mothers until they are able to survive on their own. Taking a baby animal from its mother is cruel. It's time you grew up, got a life and got over your mad obsession!

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  • GoraIntoDesiGals
    10 years ago

    I raised my kitten from the age of 6 months to 6 years.

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  • howaminotmyself
    10 years ago

    The thought never occured to me as it was something I did as a child. My family often took in strays and nursed the young or injured back to health. It was a part of life. As an adult I had to nurse an injured cat back to health and we developed a deep bond that is hard to explain if you've never done it. Although it is stressful when you have to feed a weak animal with a syringe but it is also very rewarding.

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