AIBU to think there's nothing wrong with me?

[blissey]

Namechanged in case IABU and people hate me!

When I was growing up, we always had dogs, but I never bothered much with them. I was once given some goldfish for my birthday, but I wasn't fussed. My aunt and uncle had horses - not interested. My cousin has a cute puppy, of which I like to see pictures, but I don't like it when they visit. My DH has got cats, but I don't care for them either.

I guess I'm just not a pet person, and I'm quite content with that. Apart from finding living with cats very annoying, but my DH loves them, so I respect that. I wouldn't ever hurt an animal, just ignore it and get on with my life.

However, if anyone asks me about this, or tries to get me to be enthusiastic about their pets, and they find out that I don't care, they recoil in horror and treat me as if I were some kind of mass murderer. They seem to think that in order to be a decent human being you have to dote on animals and find their every move cute and adorable.

AIBU to think that there's nothing wrong with me?

I dont like animals really. I have never had a pet and never had a desire to have one. I think it is a cleanliness thing for me. I am nice to be around. I have integrity so am trustworthy. I would do anything for anyone and frequently put myself out for people.

I would not stand by if I saw someone harm an animal. I refuse to let my adult teen step daughter have a pet as I know from experience that although she professes to be an animal lover she would not look after a pet. She did in the past have a hamster that she never cleaned out and the same with fish so the tank was absolutely filthy.

Oh, and I am a vegetarian.

I don't get how people think non animal lovers are horrible people. Ridiculous.

I agree with LEM.
I don't think anything of someone not being fussed about animals but I don't trust people who profess their dislike for animals and children.

You didn't do that though did you?
Why are you so determined to be upset by something that has fuck all to do with you?

You said you don't like dog shit and them sniffing you.

You didn't say 'I dont like animals and kids'

So cut and paste all you like.

I don't really like animals. I can't understand why anyone would want to keep them in the home. I find them smelly and needy and I don't like their hot, stinky breath, particularly if I'm trying to eat (I am thinking of relations who ask you to a meal and let dogs roam around the table).

Naturally, I wouldn't harm an animal, but I've no wish or need to make their acquaintance.

I said I actively dislike dogs.

You said:

"I agree with LEM.
I don't think anything of someone not being fussed about animals but I don't trust people who profess their dislike for animals and children"

I think you need to unclench a bit mrsdv

Ok, I don't like pets and I have no strong feelings or interest in animals that I am unlikely to see.

You're the one getting frothy! I'm allowed to be offended that people would have a negative view of me based on the fact I'm not an animal lover.

I didn't want to have to say that obviously I would never be cruel and would stand up to those that were because I thought that would be obvious. But of course that is the case.

YANBU.

I have six horses and three dogs, they are my absolute world - I love them far too much. I will entertain my friends' pets, but as a general rule I have absolutely no interest in other peoples' animals, particularly ones which are badly behaved - the amount of untrained dogs and horses that need squaring up really annoys me.

It's a bit like children, and other people's children. Lots of my friends have children and say they dislike other peoples'.

And lol at you accusing me of not reading something when the OP is about pets and not muskrats and king pythons!

And I can enjoy the pure aesthetics of a cute puppy or kitten and I have a Pinterest board with loads of pics. But I'm not fussed with the reality. Children are messy and smelly enough without adding animals to the mix!

I think you need to stop being so attention seeking luksha.
I don't care if you don't like dogs, actively or passively.
You are the one quoting something that didn't refer to people who don't like dogs just so you can be upset

I said that I don't trust people who don't like animals and kids.

You don't like dogs.
Felicia doesn't like pets.

So clearly nothing I said refers to either of you but yet you persist. WTF is that about?

I think that for me, if I find out people like animals it makes me warm to them a bit. There's something about people who care about an essentially valueless fluffy ball that just brings happiness which I find is a good indicator of a decent person.

People like you OP, who don't particularly dislike them but aren't fussed either just stay neutral, and I judge their personality in other ways.

But people who actively dislike animals, or worse, nature, particularly on hygiene grounds: well I know we won't get on. It generally indicates to me a self centred personality.

I like animals but not enough to be responsible for cleaning up their hair and shit.

I don't actually think there's something wrong with people who don't like animals, but I have to say they're generally not my kind of people. The three people I know who profess to dislike animals are extremely house proud - in fact I have never seen anything like their houses - they are absolutely pristine. So perhaps (based on my sample of three!) there is a correlation between extreme tidiness and dislike of animals.

I don't think disliking one species counts. It's a blanket 'hate animals' which is the problem.

Rhoda, that's exactly what I have found too! I would go further and say it often indicates a profound judginess of others who are less pristine.

It's called a conversation?

There's something about people who care about an essentially valueless fluffy ball that just brings happiness which I find is a good indicator of a decent person.

Google "Puppy farming". There is absolutely nothing "valueless" about animals - they are a big industry, and there are plenty of people exploiting them for all they are worth.

As a KC assured breeder who breeds responsibly from health tested, strong examples of the breeds possibly once every 5/6years I can assure you there are thousands of unscrupulous back street breeders making hundreds of thousands of pounds from "designer" cross breeds.

Quite frankly I would prefer someone who didn't like animals to one of the aforementioned, any day.

I'm with you, OP.

My position is that I wouldn't hurt and animal, I'm vegetarian and I use animal cruelty free products, but I'm not in the slightest bit interested in them, posts of them on FB, outfits and stuff for them, and I find it odd that people want to live in houses with them. Largely because they're animals and many people keep them in habitats that are entirely unnatural for them.

I could live comfortably alongside a cat, and have done in the past, but nothing else.

It seems to me that many humans keep other animals for their own benefit and not the benefit of the animal.

I wouldn't call a puppy farmer or a BYB an animal lover though, as their primary motivation is money not the company or welfare of the dogs they use as breeding machines.

"Animal owner" doesn't automatically equal "animal lover".

Google "Puppy farming". There is absolutely nothing "valueless" about animals - they are a big industry, and there are plenty of people exploiting them for all they are worth.

Yes, but when people have just one pet, that they are not breeding they are essentially valueless. They don't keep them because of their value and that is depreciating all the time. They're not something like property or jewellery which is an investment and brings any sort of benefit to the owner aside from emotional. And people involved in puppy farming would certainly not go down in my book as 'people who like animals'.

You are perfectly normal, OP. I, however, am considered abnormal by friends/colleagues because although I love looking at photos of their cats and dogs I really couldn't give a kipper's dick about photos of kids/grandkids.

I find certain animals cute.

But I've no wish to have them in my house with the attendant expense/responsibility/worry.

Some people have animals as a status symbol, I could be just as judgey about that as people are about me for not wanting a pet.

Frillyhorseknickers - puppy farming is different subject and thread. This is about people who wouldn't give an animal house room, not ones who are pleased to have animals as long as they turn a profit.

I must admit if I were in the market for a new bloke I would reject someone who didn't like animals. There is definitely something very unsexy about a man who would shy away from a dog. Actually I think some people are afraid of dogs/cats and they usually pretend they are allergic to avoid having to say anything. That's fine - being afraid usually has background. But disliking due to hygiene/don't get pets... hmmm, as I said before, not my type of person.

Yes, but when people have just one pet, that they are not breeding they are essentially valueless. They don't keep them because of their value and that is depreciating all the time.

Plenty of people have "pets" who compete - my working dogs complete in field trials and on the show circuit and can pick up hundreds of pounds in prize money. My horses definitely appreciate in value - I buy them as rough youngsters and if they don't stay with me they are sold on to new homes for several thousands of pounds.

I think you are naïve to think that pet owner= nice person. An awful lot are, but it's not a given.

I have that reaction to children and I get judged all the time for it