I actually have to say that I am a bird and dog person. Birds are messy, loud, take alot more training generally than a dog or cat. But they are wonderful companions, and taken care of properly, can live 30-50+ years depending on the breed. I currently have a blue and gold macaw, and two parakeets. I had a blue crowned conure for 15 years and several cockatiels over the last 20+ years.

But since that wasn't the question, I also have two dogs - down from four. Three of the four have been rescue dogs. One that started out as a foster and never found a home besides ours, and two from Tri-State Collie Rescue in Ohio (I'm plugging them cause they are so awesome.) Both my collies have passed now (from old age 13 and 10) and we have the forever foster (a collie-shep mix age 12) and the only dog we got from a relative as a puppy (a white shep - age 10).

I do like cats but I like other people's cats because I do not want any in the house for a few reasons. One is that my mother is allergic to cats and she would have a difficult time visiting if there were cats. But another is that cat smell that many houses take on. I realize not all houses have this smell but some do and the owners obviously can't smell it or they would most likely do something about it. I would never buy a house where I knew a cat was or had lived because, while you may not smell it at first, once you move in, cat odors, if present, never go away unless you recarpet or (and i have seen this happen on several occasions), rip up the floor and put in new ones.

So dogs it is for me.