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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:
ChardonnaysPrettySister · 03/03/2019 19:42

If there was a cat that wasn't being fed properly in a house where a child was being prostituted, who would you save?

What fresh whataboutery hell is this?

Calvinsmam · 03/03/2019 19:43

These far fetched hypothetical questions are ridiculous. None of these things would ever come about.

And what’s really happening is you are wanting us to say that our pets are not as important as your children, and the love we have for them is not as real.

What is the purpose of that except to make yourselves feel better.

Original poster
TacoLover · 03/03/2019 19:44

Also OP, DH and I decided to get our first dog together when our baby died... our dog saved me she was an incredible soul.

That's lovely. I'm glad she brought you joy. I'm not against that at all, btw

OP posts:
Prequelle · 03/03/2019 19:44

thewaiting

No-one is condemning anyone to anything. The fire has already done that.

If my dog wasn't in this hypothetical fire then I wouldn't be going in at all. I wouldn't be risking my life for anyone else. It's my life and if I'm going to risk a painful death then I'm doing it as I see fit and for someone I love not for someone else

Deadringer · 03/03/2019 19:45

My dog isn't bad as dogs go, he can be a yappy little fecker, often licks his arse then tries to lick my face. Eats his own shit occasionally if it doesn't smell too bad. He can be good company and i like having him around. Would i compare him to a human child, no way, never. And i would think people who do are very odd indeed.

Prequelle · 03/03/2019 19:45

chardonay Grin

SardineQueenII · 03/03/2019 19:45

Oh interesting responses re cat and child.

Obviously you can't save both, as otherwise what's the point of the question.

The people who refuse to choose are making a statement.

Unable to choose, in other words. Both are equal / or the cat is more important but can't say that as know it's very much not an acceptable answer.

Well I never.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 03/03/2019 19:47

I’m not against that at all, btw. how gracious of you OP Hmm

SardineQueenII · 03/03/2019 19:47

"No-one is condemning anyone to anything. The fire has already done that. "

That's a very fatalistic response!

The fire service are there, who do you send them to, it's your choice.

Your dog or the family next door.

I am wow at all this.

This is individualism at the extreme, no such thing as society indeed.

Prequelle · 03/03/2019 19:48

sardine I really think you've failed to understand the point. I haven't talked about saving some random animal over some random child. The convo has been about saving our own family member dog. Not coming across a stray cat and thinking mmm I'll leave the child getting abused and get this cat some Whiskers instead Confused

echt · 03/03/2019 19:48

The people who refuse to choose are making a statement. Unable to choose, in other words. Both are equal / or the cat is more important but can't say that as know it's very much not an acceptable answer

Possibly because it's a fucking silly proposition.

BiteyShark · 03/03/2019 19:48

Oh god it's the crazy thread again. We haven't had one for a week or so.

The scenarios are ridiculous and just made up so people can call others names and feel smug about themselves. Honestly it's like being in a school playground.

And no one should be choosing to save anyone, pets or children, in a house fire as all that does is put more humans at risk for the bloody emergency services.

Prequelle · 03/03/2019 19:48

Why do you keep papping on about the bloody fire service? No-one has mentioned the fire service. JfC

Limensoda · 03/03/2019 19:50

And I'll accept your opinion, but don't start throwing personal attacks around

I attacked your attitude and quite rightly.
No, you are not obligated to risk your life to save other people, but if you choose to do so for a dog but leave a child to die to get your dog out,...THAT is criminal.
You need to give your head as massive wobble!

Original poster
TacoLover · 03/03/2019 19:51

how gracious of you OP

Honestly you're being a bit ridiculous now. I said that because I wasn't sure if the poster thought I was somehow saying that I didn't think getting a dog after a child dying was acceptable, which of course is acceptable, as I haven't said a single bad thing about dogs or that people can't love dogs as part of their family on this thread.

The only viewpoint I have presented on this thread is that people piss me off when they prioritise dogs over children or they say dogs and children should be treated exactly the same, because they are not and they have different needs. I have not been rude to anyone on this thread.

OP posts:
BossAssBitch · 03/03/2019 19:53

You’re right, dogs aren’t the same as children. Thank fuck, dogs are much better.

Calvinsmam · 03/03/2019 19:53

The only viewpoint I have presented on this thread is that people piss me off when they prioritise dogs over children or they say dogs and children should be treated exactly the same, because they are not and they have different needs. I have not been rude to anyone on this thread.

You must either be very new to mumsnet or you’re being goady. You must have known how this thread was going to go as we have a variation of it every other day.

Prequelle · 03/03/2019 19:54

linen you inferred I was sick and should go to jail, absolutely bonkers. All because I would make myself crispy-fried Prequelle for the sake of someone else but would risk it for a loved one Confused you realise it's the very act of love that allows us to do dangerous shit like this in the first place?

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 03/03/2019 19:54

Shock Confused Grin

I'll woof off now, this thread is utterly barking.

Limensoda · 03/03/2019 19:55

There should be a law against rescuing your dog? My oh my. Crazy

Don't be ridiculous!....A law that you shouldn't knowingly save a pet and leave a child to perish.

SardineQueenII · 03/03/2019 19:55

"but if you choose to do so for a dog but leave a child to die to get your dog out,...THAT is criminal."

I'm not sure it is criminal, in a literal sense!

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 03/03/2019 19:56

You must either be very new to mumsnet or you’re being goady. You must have known how this thread was going to go as we have a variation of it every other day.

OP is most definitely not new to MN. She is to be found on every single dog thread.

Lemons1571 · 03/03/2019 19:56

We’ve had an actual house fire. It involves confusion, screaming and shouting, terror, panic, fire service arrive and do their job. No one stands around calmly procrastinating or arguing about who to save first, and no one starts giving the fire service instructions on how to do their job. It’s humans first. The fire service do their beat to them rescue any animals that are trapped, but it’s always humans first. I suspect anyone that hyperboles otherwise probably hasn’t ever been in the situation of watching their house burn.

Prequelle · 03/03/2019 19:58

Exactly lemons. As if you would be like 'ey up Mr fireman, my dogs in this here building could you be a love and go get him? Sod the neighbours kids they'll be reet'. No. It's panic and mayhem and the priority is human life- as it should be to the emergency services.

SardineQueenII · 03/03/2019 19:58

i would not save my pet ahead of my neighbours children.

I am 100% comfortable with that.

The fact that quite a lot of people would choose to sacrifice children (how many?) to save an animal is weird.

Like I say, as a species, to lose the urge to save our young as a group is odd.

Maybe because there are so many of us, people just don't value human children much. you see it in multiple situations around the world all the time TBF.