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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not like animals? (lighthearted realisation)

41 replies

SomatoToup · 23/05/2017 16:17

So I was just thinking about the people around me, and have realised that every single one of them are pet owners! I've never had a prior traumatic experience with animals so it's not that. I've also had a dog, a rabbit, and 2 cats growing up (not all at the same time), and I simply ignored them and let others take care of them so it's not a case of me never having the chance to be "acquainted with animals" either.

Is it really that unusual for me to feel nothing for/have no longing to be around animals?

OP posts:

QueenoftheAndals · 23/05/2017 16:18

I don't think so, I feel the same, but you'll soon have posters piling in here saying you can never trust people who don't love animals etc etc!

YerAWizardHarry · 23/05/2017 16:20

I'm the same.. I find animals (especially baby animals) cute in theory but they're hard work and I don't have a longing to be a pet owner, my sister's puppy is harder work than a baby sometimes

piglover · 23/05/2017 16:33

Some of us feel the same way about children!

NataliaOsipova · 23/05/2017 16:34

I don't. Don't get me wrong - I absolutely abhor any kind of cruelty to animals - but I have no desire to be around them (and would prefer not to be).

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 23/05/2017 16:38

I only like them when they're cute little babies. I'm not interested when they're big and boring

ScarlettFreestone · 23/05/2017 16:40

I hate the "don't trust anyone who doesn't like animals" brigade. It's such nonsense.

I don't like dogs and cats. I don't wish them any harm either as a species or individuals but I would never choose to share my home with one.

I'm a perfectly trustworthy, compassionate person. I just don't want a pet and I'm not in the least interested in your pet.

I might think objectively that they are good looking or cute, but I don't want to touch them or sit next to them.

I certainly don't want your dog to bound up to me in the park and jump on me, sniff me or lick me. Telling me "he's just being friendly" will not make me feel better.

So no, I don't think you are in the least bit unusual.

AmateurSwami · 23/05/2017 16:42

Some of us feel the same way about children!

Don't have children then.

I like animals, but they're too much hard work for me to give hem the life they deserve, so I don't have any. It's not weird, it just is what it is.

tabulahrasa · 23/05/2017 16:42

"but you'll soon have posters piling in here saying you can never trust people who don't love animals etc etc!"

Nah, not being interested in them isn't an issue, I don't trust people who actively dislike them though... that's different.

isseywithcats · 23/05/2017 16:45

so you dont like animals well thats your preogative some people like animals some dont, some people think thier children are the centre of the universe some people dont thats life , for balance i have three children and three cats

ScarlettFreestone · 23/05/2017 16:50

Why is it different "Tabulah"?

I dislike dogs. Why does that make me untrustworthy?

DonaldStott · 23/05/2017 16:53

I don't. Don't get me wrong - I absolutely abhor any kind of cruelty to animals - but I have no desire to be around them (and would prefer not to be).

My sentiments exactly.

JustGettingStarted · 23/05/2017 16:54

I am largely apathetic towards animals. Cruelty towards them certainly upsets me and I sometimes enjoy a cute puppy or kitten but I have no interest in owning a pet.

I would prefer dogs to stay away from me. If I get a chance to know a dog, I can appreciate its good qualities. I've met some very good dogs in my life. But I would prefer they never ran up to me and licked/pawed me.

GreenHairDontCare · 23/05/2017 16:55

I never used to like animals particularly. We've always had a cat but I never felt they were part of the family or anything.

Then I got a puppy! She's two now and is my little shadow. I genuinely love her almost as much as the rest of my family. It's weird.

coldflange · 23/05/2017 16:58

I don't want animals in my house or car. They smell, have dirty bottoms and lick things.

If someone else wants a pet then all well and good but don't expect me to want it in my clean house amd car - or to enjoy it fussing and drooling on me if I visit your home.

I consider myself to be relatively kind to animals which is why I don't eat them amd think that exotic animals should be free, breeding of pets ended.

tabulahrasa · 23/05/2017 17:06

"I dislike dogs. Why does that make me untrustworthy?"

Unless you're scared of them, IMO, yes, it shows something fairly unpleasant about someone that they can dislike a species just for existing...

deadringer · 23/05/2017 17:24

We always had pets growing up, dogs, cats, birds, hamsters etc and I loved them. Since I had kids though I just can't be arsed about pets at all. Its just more bloody work. I like animals, I like the idea of pets but I just don't enjoy the reality of it. We have had gerbils and hamsters (nasty smelly creatures) tropical fish and goldfish (boring) a cat who was always getting into scrapes and now a very annoying dog. Once the dog goes to the great kennel in the sky that will be it for me. No about of pleading will persuade me to have another animal in the house. Yanbu btw

ScarlettFreestone · 23/05/2017 17:29

I still don't understand your basic point Tabulah There are lots of species which people don't like. Lots of people don't like rats, or snakes or worms. It's socially acceptable to dislike those things.

I'm guessing you wouldn't think there was anything "unpleasant" about someone who disliked rats.

Why isn't acceptable not to like dogs?

tabulahrasa · 23/05/2017 17:37

"I'm guessing you wouldn't think there was anything "unpleasant" about someone who disliked rats."

Why wouldn't I?

I've met people who have irrational fears of rats or dislike the hygiene issues if wild rats are in their spaces.

But to just dislike them? Yep, it's not exactly a pleasant personality trait, to dislike an entire species for no particular reason.

Orlandointhewilderness · 23/05/2017 17:38

YANBU to not like animals! I like animals, I have 2 dogs, a cat and 2 horses but I certainly wouldn't judge anyone for not liking them!

And for what its worth, I would never let my dogs bounce up to anyone! I prefer them really to not interact with other people unless it is crystal clear that it would be welcomed.

ScarlettFreestone · 23/05/2017 17:43

Good for you Tabulah because I quite like pet rats, more than pet dogs certainly.

I didn't say "for no reason". I would imagine most people who dislike a particular kind of animal have a reason.

tabithaa · 23/05/2017 17:43

I grew up with cats, dogs, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits etc and not too fussed now as an adult.

I would never hurt any animal, my mum has cats and my sister has a dog and I don't tend to stay long.

They prob feel same about my kids, ha!!

tabulahrasa · 23/05/2017 17:56

"I didn't say "for no reason". I would imagine most people who dislike a particular kind of animal have a reason."

I maybe wasn't very clear.

If there's an actual reason I'm not particularly judgemental, phobia, the way owners let them behave or owners not picking up after them, meh, fair enough.

But you do occasionally come across people who dislike animals for no particular reason, that's what I find untrustworthy.

It's separate to people who just don't see the appeal or dislike them them for a reason.

SamanthaBrique · 23/05/2017 17:59

Some of us feel the same way about children!

Why bother joining Mumsnet then?

Pigface1 · 23/05/2017 19:33

I love animals but it's in no way weird not to be that fussed by them. I'm not fussed by coffee or expensive shoes.

Obviously if you'd said 'I'm not fussed by animals, I reckon we should shoot them/hunt them/test shit on them' that would be a different matter!!

piglover · 23/05/2017 20:08

Why bother joining Mumsnet then?

Er, because I don't bother with the threads about children? Like this one, for example.

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