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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:
Niffler25 · 03/03/2019 17:31

Some people will just never understand the bond between certain people and animals. You either get it or you don't and if you don't, there's no way to explain it. I can't stand all the hypothetical nonsense of 'who would you save in a fire'. Most people will never be in such a horrible position. In general day to day life you can prioritise both your child and your dog, it doesn't have to be one or the other Hmm.

I have lost close family members over the past few years (dad and grandpa). I then nearly lost my dog and the pain I felt then was a million times worse than losing close family. My dog is with me all the time, losing him would be like losing a limb. Yes, he is different from my child but he is equally as important to me, just in a different way. You don't get to tell people what should be important to them or how much grief a pet should cause Confused.

YANBU to not understand if you haven't experienced it but YABU to get so angry over something that doesn't have any affect on your life.

GregoryPeckingDuck · 03/03/2019 17:31

I don’t think that animals are equal to humans in worth but I can see how the relationship between a pet owner and pet is similar to that of a parent and child.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 03/03/2019 17:32

No they are not children, but they are part of their family.

Sorry you cannot see that OP.

You do seem to enjoy dog threads though, so that's a good thing for you, no?

Original poster
TacoLover · 03/03/2019 17:32

My issue with yours that you consider it acceptable to start a sneery, mean spirited and impliedly consdenscing thread about why some “silly folk” would think and behave otherwise. In the scheme of things it’s neither your pack to do this or that important. And for those reasons I took issue with you.

Personally I think it's quite important and not condescending at all to think it's ridiculous that two parents I know refused to separate their dog from their baby's room until it scratched the baby(as I mentioned in my OP) because they think dogs are the same as children, but j guess that's where we disagree.

I would love MY dog more than I would love your child ( because I’ve never met them)Why would that bother you ?

RTFT

YANBU, they are far nicer than human children or at least my dog is

Not denying thatGrin

OP posts:
TheoriginalLEM · 03/03/2019 17:33

I adore my dogs and actually pretty much prefer them to everyone outside of my immediate family but i would rescue a random child before them (sorry boys) because i couldn't live with myself if i allowed somebody elses child to die.

Please God im never faced with that.

DippyAvocado · 03/03/2019 17:35

YANBU. It's weird and seems to be dog-lovers who are more prone to this. I love my cat but in no way is she comparable to a child. It baffles me when dog owners seem to think that humans should moderate what they do in public to accommodate dogs.

I would also not hesitate to save a stranger's child over my pet in the case of a fire or similar.

tabulahrasa · 03/03/2019 17:35

I’ve never understood why that’s a thing - hypothetically choosing between saving a dog and a strange child...

Why are we all in the same place? Why is there enough time to save one, but not pick up this child and tell my dog to heel and get it out under its own steam?...

Original poster
TacoLover · 03/03/2019 17:36

No they are not children, but they are part of their family.Sorry you cannot see that OP.

Where have I said that dogs aren't part of the family? RTFT.

YANBU to not understand if you haven't experienced it but YABU to get so angry over something that doesn't have any affect on your life.

It has an effect on other people's lives though... as I have said already on this thread with the baby example that happened earlier this year

OP posts:
Leighhalfpennysthigh · 03/03/2019 17:36

they aren’t as important to her as human children would have been

This is me. My dogs are part of my family and give me so much joy and love that I can't imagine life without them. I am quite aware that they aren't children, thank you. However they are, and get told they are, my baby puppies. What I call my dogs and how I refer to them is no business of yours or anyone else. Thank you.

Leighhalfpennysthigh · 03/03/2019 17:37

BTW I didn't get my dogs because I couldn't have a baby. I had dogs already and if I'd had a baby then that child would have been brought up with my much loved dogs.

NursieBernard · 03/03/2019 17:37

On a personal level I have no problem, each to their own. On a societal level I do have a problem with it.

Original poster
TacoLover · 03/03/2019 17:37

Why are we all in the same place? Why is there enough time to save one, but not pick up this child and tell my dog to heel and get it out under its own steam?...

Grinit's not me who brings up this scenario though. It's those kinds of pet owners who always bring up how much they love their pet(parents do this too obviously) and that's when they said they wouldn't choose to save their child over their guinea pig in a fire.

OP posts:
DippyAvocado · 03/03/2019 17:39

I’ve never understood why that’s a thing - hypothetically choosing between saving a dog and a strange child...

Why are we all in the same place? Why is there enough time to save one, but not pick up this child and tell my dog to heel and get it out under its own steam?...

Very unlikely, true (I guess maybe drowing at a beach?) but I think the issue is that people can even consider that they would let a child die for the sake of an animal, however hypothetical. Maybe they only say it hypothetically, and it reality it wouldn't happen.

Akrotiri1 · 03/03/2019 17:39

Of course you are not AIBU.......

Children and dogs are very different - but sadly there is many a time I prefer my dogs to my child (but that is another issue!).

Of course dogs should not be prioritised over children, or any human, but on the other side of the coin dogs are dependent on humans to look after them.

If a child is hungry, and assuming old enough, they can help themselves too food - whereas a dog can't.......if a child needs the toilet they can take themselves, whereas a dog can't open the back door to let themselves out etc etc.

Maybe this is where the misconception has come from?

Original poster
TacoLover · 03/03/2019 17:39

What I call my dogs and how I refer to them is no business of yours or anyone else. Thank you.

Where on this thread have I said that you can't refer to your dog as your babyConfused

OP posts:
givemesteel · 03/03/2019 17:40

I Think those people who say they love their dog / pet as much as a human child should ask themselves... Would they give every penny they have to save their pet's life? Would they burn their house down to save their pet? Would they die to save their pet? Would they commit a major crime to save their pet?

If the answer to all those questions is yes then fair play they probably do love their pet as much as a human child.

I have two cats who I adore, and the idea of them dying breaks my heart, I already don't like the fact that they're 'middle aged'. If they need medical treatment I'll pay for it, but I wluldnt be spending my life savings to save them. My love for them doesn't compare to my love for my dc, or even other members of my family.

Bohbell · 03/03/2019 17:40

I don’t understand the ‘outrage’ about this post! This is what mumsnet is for isnt it. OP i agree with you. I have a dog but it’s not a furbaby. It’s a dog and needs to be treated like one. I think ppl get rightfully riled because some dog owners push their dogs on ppl to make a point that in their eyes their dogs are as important as children and it’s just insulting to young humans. My Dss girfriend does this. It’s all about my dog when we visit her and she suddenly turns into earth dog mother to prove some point and ignores the kids.

tabulahrasa · 03/03/2019 17:42

“and that's when they said they wouldn't choose to save their child over their guinea pig in a fire.”

But what does that mean?

I had a rough fire plan when I had guinea pigs and children... and I’d have got the guinea pigs first, because they very probably would be closer to the fire - also my children could walk out, and their father is also here...

So I mean in theory I’d be choosing the guinea pigs over the children, but only because it’s not really, it’s just getting everything that needs out out in a sensible order.

Leighhalfpennysthigh · 03/03/2019 17:42

@TheoriginalLEM you explain it exactly.

Original poster
TacoLover · 03/03/2019 17:43

I don't mind dogs. I wouldn't own one but j think they're cute. My issue is that people say that their dog is exactly as important as children and in some situations parents even prioritising the dog, which ends up harming the child.

I never said that infertile people can't think of dogs as their family, I never said they can't be part of their family, I never said that dogs aren't as good as children, I never said you couldn't call them babies. I just said that they are not the same and shouldn't be prioritised over children. I don't know why people have lost the ability to readConfused

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 03/03/2019 17:44

that's when they said they wouldn't choose to save their child over their guinea pig in a fire.

That sounds like someone being deliberately provocative to me...

Was this on here or in real life?

Original poster
TacoLover · 03/03/2019 17:44

But what does that mean?

You know exactly what it meansHmm their were implying that the guinea pig was more important. And that when you can only save one they would choose the pet.

OP posts:
Namechangedbecauseiwantto · 03/03/2019 17:46

I have a dog, and I love him, but yanbu, you cannot compare the two. Yes, he is part of the family, but no, he's not as important as my children.

Original poster
TacoLover · 03/03/2019 17:47

That sounds like someone being deliberately provocative to me...Was this on here or in real life?

Real life unfortunatelyConfused I wish it was said in jest but it was one of those speeches about how much they love their guinea pig. Which was adorable until they said that they'd choose him over the kidsShock

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 03/03/2019 17:49

Which was adorable until they said that they'd choose him over the kids

And you believed that? Hmm

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