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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think dogs are not the same as human children?

316 replies

TacoLover · 03/03/2019 16:55

I've seen this both on here and IRL, and I have to say it really pisses me off. This isn't just with dogs, I've seen people compare their guinea pig to their child once, saying they couldn't choose between them if they could only save one from a fireHmm but mostly people do this with dogs.

Most of the time when people say this it's a discussion about how they can't believe someone would rehome a dog because they can't cope, they wouldn't rehome a child would they so how is it different, yadda yadda. I don't agree with rehoming a dog without trying your absolute hardest to fix any problems first but ffs a dog is not the same as a human child! I'd hope that a parent would put the needs of their child over the needs of their dog if it came down to it..(doesn't seem so for the guinea pig coupleConfused)

AIBU to think it's ridiculous to say a dog is the same as a human child??

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 03/03/2019 16:58

I think that’s a very insensitive post.

ataleoftwothenthreethenfour · 03/03/2019 16:58

Yes, it's insane. I think that most people who do this are just in a moment of stupid hyperbole rather than really, genuinely meaning it. But, I did leave a rather rubbish local facebook group after one too many posts like this, especially one which began "my baby died" and it turned out the be the dog. People don't think.

BrutusMcDogface · 03/03/2019 17:00

I think people’s dogs are their family. I —bloody hate— haven’t got dogs, but a close friend of mine can’t gsvd children so her dogs are her children and I wouldn’t for one minute say that they aren’t as important to her as human children would have been.

Original poster
TacoLover · 03/03/2019 17:01

I think that’s a very insensitive post.

In what way?

OP posts:
Lazypuppy · 03/03/2019 17:01

My dog is just as much a part of my family as my daughter.

BrutusMcDogface · 03/03/2019 17:01

Strikeout fail! havent been here in a while. Have they changed it?!

PolarBearDisguisedAsAPenguin · 03/03/2019 17:02

Not this again! Hmm

Calvinsmam · 03/03/2019 17:03

BiscuitBiscuitBiscuit

Punstow61 · 03/03/2019 17:03

That’s a fairly insensitive post.

outpinked · 03/03/2019 17:05

People with infertility tend to treat their dogs as children because they can’t have their own children. Some people just prefer dogs to children so to them, that is like their version of children. Honestly, it really doesn’t affect your life so I don’t know why you give a shit.

Scabetty · 03/03/2019 17:06

Of course we love our pets but they aren’t our children.

DramaAlpaca · 03/03/2019 17:06

My dogs are my four legged toddlers these days now my DC have grown up & left home.

Original poster
TacoLover · 03/03/2019 17:06

I wouldn’t for one minute say that they aren’t as important to her as human children would have been.

Neither would I, but that's not what I'm saying. My post was about how I get annoyed when people say that children are exactly the same as dogs and should be treated the same way, should not be prioritised over them in dangerous situations, etc. A general failure to understand that children and dogs are completely different.

I think it's silly that people will eat several different animals daily but then be horrified when someone suggests that dogs shouldn't be prioritised over children, e.g. I had one couple refuse to keep their dog separate to their baby because the dog "liked that room" and "we would never prioritise a child over our baby(dog), they are the same to us" even though it was dangerous around their 3 month old baby. Eventually the dog scratched the baby's face and finally they moved him. Things like that really boil my pissBlush

OP posts:
HarrysOwl · 03/03/2019 17:07

Why does it really piss you off?

SweetButaPsycho · 03/03/2019 17:07

Each to their own?
I think you need a hobby if this is on you mind over the weekend 😂

Eatmycheese · 03/03/2019 17:08

What’s your fucking problem?

Looking for things to get “the rage” about. You need to get out more. A dog would help with that.
Shame they don’t do courses on live and let live, is what I think when I read nit picky posts like yours OP

ataleoftwothenthreethenfour · 03/03/2019 17:08

I think with regard to your second point, there is a degree of ego involved. A dog CAN be happily rehomed, and have a good a life as they would have with their original owner. You wouldn't ever give up your child on the grounds that it might be just as good elsewhere. But people love their pets, and when there is no problem, they don't believe that is the case. But if pet, parents and baby are being made unhappy, clearly the pet can be happy elsewhere, and although it is very sad, I'm sure, for the family, it's really, really horrible when people are mean about families who NEED to rehome. It shows a total lack of understanding and empathy when people say "oh I could never do that". They have never had to, so lucky them, but it doesn't entitle them to judge others. Or else they are nuts and they would put the pet above the child.

ElspethFlashman · 03/03/2019 17:08

I can totally understand people without kids talking about dogs as their babies though. Everyone needs something small and sweet to cuddle. It fulfills a primal need.

That said, a colleague goes around saying "do you want to see pictures of my sons?" and then shows them photos of 2 Jack Russells. I didn't pay much heed when she called them "the boys" but when she said my sons I was like, oh yeah that's a bit over the top.

Notmyrealname855 · 03/03/2019 17:10

If they’re being insincere, then yes it’s a dumb thing to say. But a lot of people treasure some things in life as much as you do your DC, and it’s silly to mock them for it when you don’t have an understanding of that link or the reasons for it. It’s mean to ridicule anyone for being loving Biscuit

TrendyNorthLondonTeen · 03/03/2019 17:10

I genuinely don't understand the why people get so righteously indignant about this.

ClaraMatilda · 03/03/2019 17:11

YANBU. There's nothing wrong with people caring deeply for their pets, but dogs aren't the same as children. I also don't see your post as insensitive. It seems fairly sensible to me and you aren't saying that you hate dogs or people shouldn't get attached to pets.

The furbaby 'I'd save my dog instead of a child' people are either exaggerating for effect or deeply misanthropic.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 03/03/2019 17:11

I wouldn’t prioritise my dogs over my children. I’d prioritise them over most other people though.

Ribbonsonabox · 03/03/2019 17:11

YANBU
really odd and I actually think it's quite selfish...
I'm gonna get flamed for that view I know...
I'm vegetarian because I care about animals... but in no way would I EVER prioritise and animal above a human, i would not even put them on the same level.
I had a dog when I was a child which I loved... I was very sad when it died...
It is in NO WAY equivalent to losing a human family member or even an acquaintance... and anyone comparing a pet to a human baby is frankly nuts and incredibly insensitive...

Love your pets all you want but it's about you and what you are getting from it. Its not about the animal and its personality and how it's a member of the family... it's a bloody animal!! Of course its rewarding for you to love a pet... but that's all it is. Of course youd choose your kids or any other person in fact, over a bloody dog in a house fire..

Yanbu op, it grinds my gears when I meet people who bang on in this vein.. about the innocence of animals and how they are actually better and more deserving than people. If they really thought that was the case they'd go vegan and they'd not be keeping domestic animals for their own entertainment.. and they insist that it's good for the dogs and the dogs love them etc etc.... when in actual fact human being have exploited dogs and bred them so much that loads of them have horrible physical problems and die much earlier than they ever would have... just to appear attractive and be good pets... it's actually pretty disgusting what's been done to dogs and most domestic animals... it's no expression of love

Original poster
TacoLover · 03/03/2019 17:12

I don't know why people are so enraged about my post?

I never said that infertile people can't have dogs as part of their family. That was never my intention. My post never suggested that children aren't as good as dogs, but that they are not the same and so should not be treated as such.

My issue was when people prioritise dogs over children.

OP posts:
Minkies11 · 03/03/2019 17:12
Biscuit Another dumb goady post. Yawn.