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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:
StopMakingAFoolOutofMe · 03/03/2019 19:59

This thread just proves why dogs are better than people.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 03/03/2019 19:59

I love my dogs as much as my kids. I think. I love him very very much anyway. Obviously if I had to choose between the dc and my dog I would choose the dc but it doesn’t mean I love him any less than them.

Obviously very few will understand me.

Original poster
TacoLover · 03/03/2019 19:59

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.

I've been on here for quite a while and while there are some goady threads about dogs not being as good as children, this is not what I have said. I would like you to look at my posts and tell me what I have said which is so goady or hurtful.

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

Confusedthis isn't true. Would you like to offer some proof for that?

OP posts:
SardineQueenII · 03/03/2019 20:00

"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."

Smoke inhalation can mean people are conked out before they even realise there is a fire. People die in their beds all the time and never have a chance to shout for help or make a fuss.

The idea that it's humans first for the fire service is one that otehrs will argue though - plenty of people have said for them, their pet being rescued is more important than "random children".

Calvinsmam · 03/03/2019 20:01

Is anybody suggesting that the fire service should prioritise dogs over children??

Of course not.

Limensoda · 03/03/2019 20:01

linen you inferred I was sick and should go to jail, absolutely bonkers

I said it was a sick attitude. You should read posts properly.

SardineQueenII · 03/03/2019 20:04

If dogs are better than people then they should take priority in emergency situations.

Obviously.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 03/03/2019 20:05

Same thing Limen , oh except your post won’t be deleted because of your phrasing as you well know.

SardineQueenII · 03/03/2019 20:05

Calvins why not?

Dogs are better than people.

Prequelle · 03/03/2019 20:07

limensoda you knew exactly how to phrase it to prevent it from being deleted. You and I both know what you mean.

ScreamingValenta · 03/03/2019 20:07

What a goady thread. Sad

gamerwidow · 03/03/2019 20:07

Wow there is some truly fucked up morality on here. Anyone who would actually choose to let a child die to save their dog is something else. Incredible. Your dog may be more than human but you’re definitely less.

BlueSlipperSocks · 03/03/2019 20:10

If someone saved their dog from a fire and let my child burn I think I would hunt them down and strangle them.
WTF is wrong with people? I get that people love their dog but there's something seriously wrong if they would put the dog before a child's life

I'm sure you would be there to save your child in the event of a fire. Your child would be your priority. If you weren't there I'm sure you would trust the person you left them with to be responsible to make your child their priority?

WhoKnewBeefStew · 03/03/2019 20:10

I think it’s very sad that people feel the need to compare dogs and children. Why do you have to compare your feelings or care more about one than the other. What’s wrong with loving both.

BlueSlipperSocks · 03/03/2019 20:12

What a goady thread

For sure! Goady with no substance 🤷

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 03/03/2019 20:13

People are trying to make posters who love their dogs very much, feel very wrong about it. WhoKnew. So kind,.

SoleBizzz · 03/03/2019 20:14

YANBU somethung wrong with people who think that way about a fucking dog.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 03/03/2019 20:16

fucking dog here we go..

SardineQueenII · 03/03/2019 20:17

Blueslipper so your approach is each to their own in emergencies?

I find this really weird I would and have stepped in when I saw other people's kids in trouble, once when one was about to walk under a bus and once a girl who was looking really scared at a man who wouldn't leave her alone.

In neither of those situations did I think "I won't bother, whoever is in charge of them will sort it out" and I find it really shociking that others see other people's kids as nothing to do with them.

I suppose this explains some of the apathy to crime against children in society in general and child poverty too as well.

These threads are always illuminating and I suppose show up attitudes that explain a lot about how some terrible stuff happens while people look the other way or think not my business / not my problem etc.

TWIW if I thought the neighbours were mistreating their pets I would act as well or if I saw someone hitting a dog or whatever.

Prequelle · 03/03/2019 20:17

Anyone who would actually choose to let a child die to save their dog is something else

Let's rephrase that to what it actually is

'Anyone who is willing to risk their own life and face a grissly death for a loved one but not for a random person is a dick'

It's not about leaving a child to die. It's about how I wouldn't be risking my life for ANYONE but a loved one. If my dog wasn't there I wouldn't be running in at all.

Limensoda · 03/03/2019 20:18

limensoda you knew exactly how to phrase it to prevent it from being deleted. You and I both know what you mean

No,...You THINK you know what I mean. I DO know what I mean. I condemn attitudes and actions...not the person.
A person can have a sick attitude to something and yet a decent attitude to other things.
What I said is what I meant.

TropicPlunder · 03/03/2019 20:23

I don't think you're being goady, OP, I hear what you're saying.
We're absolutely bonkers over our dog, we all love her. We love her in a different way than the way we love our child. I don't like the personification of animals, and think it isn't healthy for humans or the animal.... agree with previous poster who said it may mean dog's needs aren't met. Their needs as animals should be respected. Dogs are family members, but I don't think it's accurate or helpful to call them babies. If somebody says they lost their dog, many will understand the pain, without the anthropomorphism. If some people don't understand? Why does it matter?
It did make me laugh to think of 'rescuing' my dog first... she's kind of an elite athlete with a superior sense of survival to us. My money would be on her to be first out Grin

Prequelle · 03/03/2019 20:25

linen you're forgetting the prison part you said. Because condemning a person to a jail cell is okay if it's just because you don't like their attitude. Makes sense.

Cherrysherbet · 03/03/2019 20:33

This thread is actually quite upsetting. I have two dogs.
I am someone that would absolutely tell you that my dogs are part of the family. I love them, we all do. They are an important part of my life. Their presence makes life better. If this is not the case, you shouldn’t own a pet at all.

How sad that we need to discuss who we would save first in a fire, I mean, if it came down to it, it would be an obvious choice, the children of course. I would like to think I could rescue everyone.

SherlockSays · 03/03/2019 20:33

I have 2 dogs and a 7 month old DD.. I absolutely agree with the statement 'you wouldn't rehome your child so why rehome a dog'.

Yes, there are situations that means a dog needs to be rehomed when a child comes along - EXTREME situations such as aggression but not simply because there is a little bit less time for the dog, you make time for family just as you have for the child.

Makes my blood boil when dogs are rehomed within weeks of a baby being born, it's disgusting.