Pets and Our Personalities
I believe that the highly variable personalities of human being accounts quite nicely for the diversity of opinions about what constitutes a great pet. We are drawn to companion animals that best mesh with our own psyche.
My mother-in-law had a wonderful Australian shepherd named Belle who exhibited all of her own best qualities—loyalty, obedience, and concern for the well being of others. Tux is frighteningly enough one of the best cats I’ve ever had because he is an avatar of the virtues I venerate—independence, randomness, chaos, and passion. While both of us can respect the other’s choice of companion animal, neither of us would be as comfortable or as happy if we had been forced to switch pets.
The beauty of this situation is that animals that others might find difficult—and I assure you that any sane person would probably have given Tux a lethal injection by now—instead find a safe and happy home with an environment in which they thrive and are appreciated for their unique qualities.