To think that people who don’t like pets shouldn’t be judged as “cold”?

[ByMellowScroller]

Not everyone loves animals, yet people think it’s a red flag. AIBU to think it’s just personal preference and nothing more?

She is. She's my eighth, I had three together for many years but I'm getting old now, so currently only have one. They are highly intelligent, the low prey drive makes them trustworthy around my cats too. Again, only one elderly cat now but used to have 6, hence not minding being referred to upthread as Dr Dolittle 😆

I would post a photo of current pup but it may not be well received here as it's a dumb animal 🙄

You can be an animal lover and not like the idea of pets. You can do all you can to protect nature and encourage wildlife in your garden. Not use harmful chemicals to clean your house and wash your clothes because you hate the idea of poisoning the waterways. Not eat meat or dairy because you don’t like animal cruelty in the farming industry. You can not like the idea of having a domesticated animal living in your home and still have a deep love and respect for animals.

Am I remembering correctly that the Grand Pyrenees are able to bond with the herds they guard and live with them as their protectors?

Six of them! Wow! I did well having five cats, and that was Mum and me looking after them between us.

@bluebeach
Or alternatively you can do all of this:

You can do all you can to protect nature and encourage wildlife in your garden. Not use harmful chemicals to clean your house and wash your clothes because you hate the idea of poisoning the waterways. Not eat meat or dairy because you don’t like animal cruelty in the farming industry.

And have pets as well 😁

Yes! You are correct! They are in with the livestock from around 6 weeks old. They work by instinct and off their own initiative, not to command. Still used in their native France of course, but more widely in the US and Canada now, to protect livestock from wolves, bears and coyotes. It is very environmentally friendly predator control because it eliminates the need for trapping, shooting or poisoning. The dogs work in pairs or groups and generally act as a deterrent without the need for bloodshed. It's a matriarchal breed and also nocturnal.

A few people are now using them for guarding on farms in the UK also; the mother, sister and brother of my current bitch are all working with sheep and horses.

There are Livestock Protection dogs all over Europe and into Asia - I think around 50 different breeds in total. It is a very ancient group of dogs and they really are fascinating when you get into researching them.

I'm sure all the 'dogs are dumb' people will be loving this 😆

Brilliant!

Well done. Your dogs are are smart for dogs. They're still not as bright a three year old human.

People love their dogs, sure, but pople love all sorts of stupid things.

There's no point in responding further to you. You're dismissive of companion animals and the people capable of loving them.

Anyone singing the praises of humans over animals needs their head checking. Humans are single-handedly destroying the very planet they live on by their constant desire to ‘evolve’. Not that smart really.

I get the impression MasterBeth is enjoying winding people up, so I’ll leave them to their fun. They are really smart, after all.

Sure, but I assume @bluebeach ’s point is that the person who does all those things and doesn’t have pets is not any less of an animal-lover than the person who does those things and does have pets. And, conversely, owning a pet is no evidence someone loves animals.

I never said they were, and I don't treat them like children because they weigh more than I do, so that would be pretty stupid.
They certainly never go to a beauty parlour or a cafe; they mostly get walked on the Pennine moors. I let them be who they are and they don't bother anyone, they're very independent, calm and quiet.
I have a bond with them and I love them but they aren't "furbabies", I respect their role as a working dog so I don't crate them as puppies.

Like I said earlier, not all dogs are the same and not all owners treat their dog like a baby. An important member of the family, yes, but they don't all smell of perfume and eat cake 🙄

I was saying it tongue in cheek, hence the toothy emoji. Sadly, I forgot again that anti-pet people don't understand humour/sarcasm...🙄

And before I'm accused of hypocrisy, yes, my dog does eat meat so I do know I'm supporting the meat industry 😞

@MasterBeth is modelling herself on a cat that plays with a mouse before killing it.
I'm modelling myself on an annoying puppy that won't leave people alone.

We all have our role models.

There's a lot of weird projection onto 'anti-pet' people happening on this thread.

I'll say it again. The only thing that people who don't have pets living with them have in common is that they don't have pets living with them. They are as likely to be overflowing with the milk of human kindness as they are to be hatchet-faced villains pulling the wings off flies.

I agree.

The same also applies in reverse. The only thing pet owners have in common is that they have decided to own a pet. It doesn't tell you anything about their character.

It was humour.

There is no projection here, just a lot of paranoia.

Anyway, I'm done with it. Have fun in your pet-free world.

Paranoia? People who don't own pets have been called "sociopaths" on this thread. It's not unreasonable to take issue with that.

Quite apart from anything else, some of the offenders need urgent access to a dictionary.

TBF a parrot is as bright as a three year old child so.....🤔

Im happy to leave the pet dislikers in peace. I do understand where they are coming from. Personally I cant stand kids...they are loud, grabby, messy, annoying and I just dont get the appeal (if I wanted a different virus every month Id lick the floor of a Drs waiting room!).
I dont wish them harm and appreciate they have every right to live their lives. I just want them to do it far, far away from me!

Sometimes it is a red flag though... a friend of mine had a boyfriend who disliked and resented her cats. He didnt like pets of any kind and didnt see why she had to spend her time nursing her sick cat rather then go out with him.
After she had her cat PTS he actually said 'I dont see why you are so upset...its just a cat!'.
Needless to say he was shown the door shortly afterwards!
So not all people who dont own pets are sociopaths....but some are!😂

There are plenty of pet-owning sociopaths out there too though. That's my point - it doesn't actually tell you anything about a person.

It's pet owners that keep puppy farms in business, and who are responsible for the dogs that kill people.

I mean, there will be psychopaths who wear red hats, but that doesn't mean everyone who wears a red hat is a psychopath.

Where have I said I live in a pet-free world? I grew up with pets, and although I don't have any in adulthood because I don't want to be tied down by caring for them and not being able to go away for the day or the weekend at the drop of a hat, I walked a friend's difficult dog daily for a year.

And yes, exactly to both your posts, @TarantinoIsAMisogynist. Similarly, I was contentedly childfree till the age of 40 (as in, not planning to have a child at all). When I did have a child, I didn't suddenly have a personality transplant. I was myself, just with a child, just as, if I suddenly decided I wanted a pet and acquired one, I would be the same self, just with a pet.

This thread is absolutely batshit!

And it is, as always, the self described animal lovers who are the unhinged ones.

Something I've always noticed over many years.

They are grooming themselves- keeping themselves clean.

Do humans not need training to perform certain jobs?

I’ve seen assistance dogs act with more intelligence (and empathy) than some human carers.