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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:
MuffyTheUmpireSlayer · 02/10/2016 11:23

windows in pictures or on the telly, yes. Not enough to make me "aww" out loud or want to share with others, but cute enough. Definitely not so much IRL.

Sparklingbrook · 02/10/2016 11:27

Dogs lick their bits. A lot. Then want to luck your face.

I looked after a friend's dog one day. I had to take him for a walk in the dark and it was raining. The combination of dog lead/umbrella/torch/poo bags juggling nearly had me in tears.

Sparklingbrook · 02/10/2016 11:27

*lick

MadameCholetsDirtySecret · 02/10/2016 11:28

What Sparkling said.

MrsJayy · 02/10/2016 11:32

That is true although jay dog doesnt lick faces there is no way i would let a dog lick my face .

Kpo58 · 02/10/2016 11:40

All this dogs jumping up and licking faces goes back to poor training by humans.

I find it weird when people seem to only want to live in a sterile environment with no plants or animals anywhere near them. It's not good for mental health or the environment.

cornishglos · 02/10/2016 11:45

Me neither

NavyandWhite · 02/10/2016 11:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sparklingbrook · 02/10/2016 11:54

After I had finally done the poo bag thing I had to walk back to his house. He was sopping wet and his paws were all muddy. Sad

HerFaceIsaMapOfTheWorld · 02/10/2016 11:56

Is this the same Op who said she did not like children lol

HerFaceIsaMapOfTheWorld · 02/10/2016 11:57

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

AGREE

Gileswithachainsaw · 02/10/2016 12:00

I love animals more than people maybe that makes me weird lol

Then I'm weird too!!

Comejointhemurder · 02/10/2016 12:00

I do like animals but can someone put into words why they don't trust someone who doesn't?

Backingvocals · 02/10/2016 12:01

I'm with you OP. I don't like animals. I don't wish to interact with animals. Happy to come across animals in the wild but that's the extent of my interest. I show a polite interest in my friends' pets but really I'm thinking "this is a lot of work and hassle for not much reward".

And the whole "I don't trust people who don't like animals" is weird and sentimentalising. I can't be doing with animals but I'm rather good with people.

Backingvocals · 02/10/2016 12:03

It's a way of sounding superior. But then I think the proud claim that you prefer animals to people is problematic. Along with the proclamations that pets give you "unconditional love".

Comejointhemurder · 02/10/2016 12:12

Backing - that's why I always step back a bit when someone says they prefer animals to humans.

To me; it's saying I prefer a being that can't talk back, has no opinions, is incapable of metacognition and is (usually- because people are usually talking about their pets) completely dependent on me for their existence.

I can see why its lovely to have that. I've had dogs and cats who provided that 'unconditional love' but I saw it for what it was and it didn't make me prefer pets to humans.

limitedperiodonly · 02/10/2016 12:13

I don't automatically mistrust someone who doesn't like animals, I just think it's a bit of an odd thing to announce, given how vast the subject is. Like saying 'I don't like plants or music.'

BertrandRussell · 02/10/2016 12:16

I can't bear people who say they prefer animals to people.

I can't bear people who Insist on extensive and painful veterinary treatment for animals.

I can't bear people who work on putting already miserable and traumatized animals through the additional misery and trauma of shipping them out of war zones or actuallly from abroad generally.

I can't bear people who think being PTS is the worst possible outcome for an animal.

WiddlinDiddlin · 02/10/2016 12:22

I've always liked animals and always felt .. not that I don't TRUST people who don't like animals but ... I really don't understand them or connect with them fully and on that level I guess yeah, I don't trust... who trusts someone they don't understand or connect with?

As far as not liking animals because they are unpredictable - I find animals incredibly predictable, far more so than people, because animals really can't lie on the same level as people can.

But for animals to be predictable to any useful degree you need to know and understand them and of course if you have no interest in doing that, they will always remain unpredictable and thus, worrisome to you.

WiddlinDiddlin · 02/10/2016 12:31

I have to add..

I do like people too, I find people endlessly fascinating, interesting, amusing, lovely, horrible, kind, mean.. etc

I have to be able to get on with people and connect with people IRL or I can't do my job (teach them how to fix the relationship problem between them and their dog)...

I do get VERY ragey at the people who ask me 'how do I get to be a dog trainer/dog behaviourist, because I want to do that as I don't really like people I prefer animals'..

And I have to break their bubble - being a domestic animal trainer/behaviourist means you MUST LIKE PEOPLE... its non-negotiable!

If you don't like people and are not a people person how on earth can you explain the problem and motivate them to put in the work necessary!

I also appreciate I like animals FAR more than most people, I wouldn't expect my clients to dedicate the same amount of time and money to their dog as I do with mine - but dogs are my life, both as a hobby and as a job - for most people dogs are just a part of life and that is fine.

I am not however, a raving lunatic - there ARE far worse things than being PTS for any animal, this awful attitude of 'we must preserve life at all cost' or 'we must save them all' is utter bollocks. Have these people even looked at that first line... 'at all cost', really, even the cost to the ANIMAL itself?

There are a lot of questionable practices in rescue, such as shipping from overseas, dogs that have been street dogs in other countries instead of putting money into education and spay/neuter/vaccinate programs!

Original poster
PineappleFwitters · 02/10/2016 12:33

is this the same Op who said she did not like children lol

No, quite the contrary!

OP posts:
IAmNotAWitch · 02/10/2016 12:36

I like cats. Some other animals taste alright. Other than that no interest in animals at all really.

Backingvocals · 02/10/2016 12:53

That's it comejoin. It seems like a low bar to set. "This animal, whom I feed, house and cuddle seems to like me a lot. OK they don't understand that I'm mean to my in-laws, that I secretly drink too much and that I never stand up on the bus when I see someone in need of a seat but my dog gives me unconditional love so yay me!"*

*exaggerating to make a point.

I do see that if you are interested in animals and devote yourself to understanding them, learning about their ways and their behaviour would be fascinating and could be a life-long endeavour. I can imagine it's very rewarding. That's just not where my interests lie.

Brazenhussy0 · 02/10/2016 12:54

I generally prefer most animals to most people. Animals are innocent, honest and relatively uncomplicated in their natures. People… not so much (although that’s not to say I dislike people.) Animals are just less effort to be around.

I tend to find people who state a blanket ’I dislike animals’ are a bit… I don’t even know. It makes me pretty uncomfortable. It’s essentially saying ‘I don’t like any other species except that to which I belong.’ and that kind of mentality makes me somewhat uneasy I guess.

Backingvocals · 02/10/2016 13:09

I have no qualms about saying I connect best with the species I am a member of Grin. Hardly makes me racist. I don't find I have much in common with hamsters.