Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To dislike all animals?

253 replies

PineappleFwitters · 02/10/2016 09:32

I've never liked animals. From the time I was a child, probably due to a dog chasing me at age 4. Dogs, cats, birds, farm animals, I don't like being around them and don't like them near me. I have no interest in seeing videos of funny cats or dogs in YouTube either.

However, when I tell people I don't like animals, they look at me like I should be committed! Or worse, they think I advocate cruelty to animals, which couldn't be further from the truth. I would never try to injure an animal - I'm a vegan FFS - I just don't like being around them.

Am I really that unusual?

OP posts:
formerbabe · 02/10/2016 09:36

I'm not an animal lover either. I wouldn't wish pain or cruelty on an animal and if I ever saw such a thing I'd find it extremely distressing. However, i don't enjoy being around animals and I don't find them cute. When friends show me photos of their pets, I'm completely unmoved...I'll make the right noises 'aww, so lovely' but no I don't really like them.

Gileswithachainsaw · 02/10/2016 09:37

Well I never trust anyone who doesn't like animals...

But that's just me Grin

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 02/10/2016 09:37

TAAT?

formerbabe · 02/10/2016 09:37

And yes, people do look at you like youre a terrible person for not being an animal lover. I'm much more of a people person.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 02/10/2016 09:42

Same here Giles! DH knows I wouldn't have gone out with him in the first place if he didn't like animals, especially cats.

ToastDemon · 02/10/2016 09:42

I think that's fair enough. As you said, it's not like you're cruel to them. And being vegan, you're actually doing far more for animal welfare than many so-called "animal lovers".

Original poster
PineappleFwitters · 02/10/2016 09:43

Well I never trust anyone who doesn't like animals...

Well that's exactly what I mean!

And no, not strictly TAAT but if you're referring to the thread about disliking children, then, from what I've observed IRL, it seems more acceptable to say you don't like kids than to say you don't like animals!

OP posts:
Original poster
PineappleFwitters · 02/10/2016 09:45

(Though that could of course just be among my friend and acquaintances)

OP posts:
pollyblack · 02/10/2016 09:47

Nope I don't like animals either, definitely don't want any pets (sorry kids). I don't really care if animal lovers think I'm weird/heartless- it's probably not as bad as what I think of them Wink

UmbongoUnchainedInAPearTreeeee · 02/10/2016 09:50

I don't like animals.
I don't know why someone wouldn't trust me because of that. Says more about their IQ than mine.

teacher54321 · 02/10/2016 09:51

i would never wish any harm on an animal but I feel no kinship to them. Can't stand cats, dogs are ok if they're not too barks/jumpy/licky. Am allergic to all furry small animals so for ds fish it is!

TheStoic · 02/10/2016 09:52

I'm exactly the same as you, OP.

NavyandWhite · 02/10/2016 09:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

formerbabe · 02/10/2016 09:54

The two biggest animal lovers I've ever known were two of the most unpleasant people to human beings.

TemporarilyLost · 02/10/2016 09:56

I love animals but hate it when people assume you love their dog jumping all over you and licking your toddlers face. I've had such dirty looks thrown my way if I try to shoo them away.

One day I'll have a dog and then I might change my mind.

MrsRyanGosling15 · 02/10/2016 09:57

I don't like animals either op especially dogs. Ds1 was very badly attacked by a dog when he was around 2 but I didn't really like them before that either. This sounds ridiculous but because they can't talk I just find them unpredictable because you can't ask them what they are going to do next. If any animal ever licked me I would just want to be sick. And the majority of houses I have been in where people have animals do smell. My MIL has 2 dogs and is convinced her house doesn't smell- it stinks! Hate getting animal hair on my stuff too. My dc would love a pet. No hope!

MuffyTheUmpireSlayer · 02/10/2016 09:59

I'm the same. I always say I don't trust anyone that doesn't trust people who don't like animals. It makes me think they're the type to let their spaniels jump all over me because he's "just being friendly" Grin

RestlessTraveller · 02/10/2016 09:59

I admit I think it's odd when people publicly say "I'm not a lover of animals". I think it's fine that you're not, I just don't understand why you'd be proud of the fact. I wonder what people would think of I said "I'm not a lover of humans"?

Eolian · 02/10/2016 10:00

I like animals but I wouldn't think badly of someone because they didn't. I would find it unusual, because it IS unusual, but unusual doesn't mean bad.
I admit that I do slightly judge people whose main objection to animals is that they are 'dirty' though. I think that it's good for people to be in contact with the great outdoors, including animals. I wonder how those people would have coped in an era when animals were a large part of most people's lives.

MrsJayy · 02/10/2016 10:00

No animal at all? What about wild animals you not keen on them either you don't have to love animals but to not like anything is a bit odd imo

HermioneWeasley · 02/10/2016 10:00

I think animals are fine, and sometimes make amusing YouTube videos. I don't want them to suffer.

I don't think they are in any way comparable to humans, and I think people who would save a dog over a human being are bonkers.

I don't understand why people give energy and money to animal charities when there are children starving in the world.

Runny · 02/10/2016 10:00

I'm another who is naturally wary of people who don't like animals. What's not to like? There is nothing more beautiful than the unconditional love a dog has for its owner.

TheWeeBabySeamus1 · 02/10/2016 10:00

I like to look at animals from afar but I'm really scared of them - all of them. Birds are the worst. So while I don't dislike them in themselves, I dislike then anywhere near me.

MuffyTheUmpireSlayer · 02/10/2016 10:01

People do say that all the time though restless and it's just taken as them preferring their own company (which is fine!) People are also very open with their dislike of children, which again, is seen as understandable.

ShanghaiDiva · 02/10/2016 10:02

I'm the same - would never wish any harm on an animal - but don't really see the point of them (unless I'm going to eat them!). I don't want one as a pet, don't want someone else's pet licking me and I don't want to watch cat videos either!
Why would you be wary of someone who doesn't like animals NavyandWhite?

Swipe left for the next trending thread