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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To find the increasing humanisation of animals ridiculous?

109 replies

pinkmagic1 · 14/04/2017 16:30

I will start by saying that I am a huge animal lover. I studied animal care at college, have worked in a boarding kennels and volunteered at my local city Farm.

I totally understand the bond between humans and their pets and know people wish to treat them on occasion. However on visiting a local pet shop today I find dog perfume, cat and dog beer and wine, including something called pursecco and bottom sniffer, along with full size dog easter eggs for sale! Not to mention the little outfits they sell for dogs.
Am I being unreasonable in thinking the humanisation of animals has gone just a little far?

OP posts:
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KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 14/04/2017 18:21

I tried to made my rabbit a little headscarf/snood thing to keep her head warm after her ear was amputated and a lot of fur was shaved off.

She looked pretty cute.

Sybil59 · 14/04/2017 18:21

Wondering if the dog perfume is tested on the smoking beagles!

floraeasy · 14/04/2017 18:23

KingJ Aaw bless!!!!

daisygirlmac · 14/04/2017 18:30

Joff pleeeeease tell me you have a picture

Mammysin · 14/04/2017 19:01

But my little Yorkie genuinely needs warm coat & waterproof one. Our house can be cold when we are not in , so I should prob get her a jumper too (controversial)!

kmc1111 · 14/04/2017 20:53

One of my dogs needs coats because she doesn't do well with even the slightest cold snap or cool breeze, and another needs UV protection clothing as he's a sunbather who gets bad sun damage very easily. And my pitbull just loves to wear clothing. I put her in one stupid dinosaur costume for one silly photo and then she brought me the costume everyday and cried til I put it on her. If I didn't put it on her she'd just walk around all day with it draped over her back. So I figured whatever, it makes her happy, and I bought her lots of costumes. Now everyone we know brings her costumes, and her ridiculous level of excitement every time is just the stupidest, sweetest thing.

I also have a sling for one of my dogs. She's older and can't walk as far as the others, but likes to be included. I don't care if I look like a lunatic. I'm not going to make an old dog walk when she's tired, and I'm not going to leave her alone at home. I could carry her in my arms like DH does, but that would be a strain for me, and if it's a choice between doing in my back and looking like a weirdo, the latter seems the obvious choice.

I don't know why it bothers people so much. I have tons of things I don't need, my kids had tons of things they didn't need. Some dog treats and silly costumes and pampering aren't going to tear society apart.

Blackfellpony · 14/04/2017 20:57

I love my dogs but I really like them to be dogs and treat them as such!

SuperBeagle · 14/04/2017 21:02

YABU.

Mind your own.

Bit dumb to be annoyed by something that doesn't impact you at all.

SuperBeagle · 14/04/2017 21:07

My DD cries routinely when her friends' pets die. I find it irksome. I am dreading the day when our own cat will move on to rainbow cat land. The emotion she invests in that creature is far more than what she spends on her family members (eg, younger brother).

You downplaying her feelings and calling them irksome is probably a good reason why she gives more of a shit about the cat than her family members. Just sayin.

SaltySalt · 14/04/2017 21:12

Nothing fancier than a cat in a hat! Wasn't there a poster who knitted a little lion hat for her cat and other ones too?

To find the increasing humanisation of animals ridiculous?
YogaAndRum · 14/04/2017 21:12

My cat has a dance mat.

And I'm not ashamed of that fact.

FishyGill · 14/04/2017 21:21

Grin Grin a dance mat

Frillyhorseyknickers · 14/04/2017 21:23

People who put outfits on their dogs for pleasure - I wouldn't do it, but it's harmless so YABU there, along with the other novelty items so long as they are safe for them to eat/drink. Having seen how rawhide is made, I would rather cheese grate my own eyeballs out than feed to my dogs but then I am a neurotic dog owner

People who say their animal NEEDS extra clothing do really, really fuck me off, because most of the time they don't need extra layers.

We go outside and need a big thick coat because it's four degrees, but our hairy counterparts do not have the same basal temperature as humans, they do not need the same layers on - when they are exercising it is inherently bad for them to become too warm. If you have a healthy dog and you are looking after them properly, they absolutely should not need extra jackets on.

I have a horse who I bought two years ago who needs a lifetime of additional management because some mindless idiot was over rugging him as if he were a human.

Animals manage through Homeostasis - over rugging prevents them from sweating and heat loss in the usual way and leads to heat stress - in the case of my horse he broke down and it lead to multiple colic incidents.

It is much better for an animal to be too cold for shorter periods than too hot.

I'm sorry that's a rant but I see so many people walking their dogs with rugs on and I just wonder whether they are aware of the damage they are doing!

haveacupoftea · 14/04/2017 21:23

I'd rather see a dog in a buggy and a nice hat eating a doggie Easter egg than shoved in the back garden all day and night because he's just a dog.

Floggingmolly · 14/04/2017 21:25

There's a middle ground, cupoftea Smile

CancellyMcChequeface · 14/04/2017 21:31

YANBU. It's not important enough to get annoyed over, no, but it is ridiculous.

None of the weird pet products are as bad as people referring to pets as 'furbabies' though. It's great that people love their pets, but they're animals, not children.

Frillyhorseyknickers · 14/04/2017 21:32

haveacupoftea

The people who do the former on weekends are also the people who bought a dog to fit around their lifestyle (which seems acceptable on MN) and do the latter all week.

HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 14/04/2017 21:41

Note to my in-laws: the dog is not my dc's uncle, stop referring to him as such. And no, I don't enjoy hearing how much the dog has in common with my baby.

BeastofCraggyIsland · 14/04/2017 22:23
Grin

We have two dogs but they don't have a iPads or Yurts. They do have a paddling pool for the summer but it's not a 'dog' one, it's the cheapest plastic one that I could find in Argos last year. I personally don't go in for dressing up dogs but generally it's harmless. I've treated animals who have been horrifically mistreated and neglected through my work and so I can't get worked up about people who care about their pets, look after them and provide a good diet, healthcare, training and exercise but want to buy them advent calendars or Barbour jackets or whatever.

To find the increasing humanisation of animals ridiculous?
BeastofCraggyIsland · 14/04/2017 22:24

They don't have iPads or yurts that should say.

MipMipMip · 14/04/2017 22:41

To the PP who mentioned they dislike dog shoes they are often for good reasons. I'm sure you know that rescue/investigation dogs often wear them to protect their feet from rubble but they are also used in bad weather to protect paws from snow, mud, hot asphalt etc if the dog is sensitive to it. If there has been surgery on a paw a vet may recommend using them too (and usually on all four paws as it would feel weird on just one - imagine wearing one shoe). So they can be used for a good reason.

I don't think i'd get out the door if I tried them on MipHound- even the vet said don't use an Elizabethan collar on him as he hates wearing things so much!

floraeasy · 14/04/2017 22:43

My cat has a dance mat

a dog in a buggy and a nice hat eating a doggie Easter egg

LOLOL Grin

I am cracking up here. Husband thinks I've officially lost it!!!!!!!!

floraeasy · 15/04/2017 12:12

.

To find the increasing humanisation of animals ridiculous?
NoCapes · 15/04/2017 12:17

I buy my dog Christmas pyjamas every year

ShitIForgotToUntick · 15/04/2017 12:22

I think this hamster jumper is rather fetching personally

To find the increasing humanisation of animals ridiculous?