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?

People who fetishise pets above people are trouble, though. Massive red flag.

Yes!

It would be against MN Talk Guidelines, but I could literally tell you the exact names of the posters who spout stuff like this. They turn up on most dog threads.

Caring about animals and liking/wanting pets are not the same thing.

I care about wildlife, conservation and biodiversity and I try to do what I can to support charities for these causes and to keep my garden in a way that's supportive of insects, frogs, toads, hedgehogs, birds, etc. I don't, however, have any desire to keep pets. On the other hand, not everyone who dotes on their personal pet is particularly interested in wildlife conservation more generally. I don't want an animal in my house, but I do very much want the world to be a place where wildlife can thrive.

😂 it’s a running theme.

Fully agree

I also think they tend to be the least suitable people to be pet owners

This- anyone who said they dislike animals is immediately labelled a sociopath by me (at best). It’s a huge red flag - something not quite right with people who cannot like animals. It’s a lack of empathy, kindness, tolerance and respect for those who can’t fight back/speak/express themselves that doesn’t sit right with me.

Agree. The “I like all animals far more than humans” people

Not many of those people are vegans in my experience though.

What they actually mean is "I like all cute fluffy animals that I can anthropomorphise far more than people".

It's a bit daft isn't it. A false dichotomy.

I volunteer in my local nature reserve and I love seeing the wildlife there. I love that the work I do makes a practical difference to animals, birds and insects. I would never get a pet because I think it's a bit weird. But I don't hate animals.

I think it depends on the humans involved. Like everything in life there are varying degrees. So long as people are reasonable and can see others point of view - isn’t that what sets humans apart from the rest of the animal world? Although not all humans are reasonable …..

Can't fight back? Have you ever met dogs? This poor guy lives near me:www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/police-search-savage-dog-after-9677933

Big animal lover here (have always had pets since befoew I was born). It wouldn't be a red flag if someone said they didn't like pets/animals, I would just know we wouldn't be well suited.

This is spot on.

@coldfinch Are you veggie / vegan?

If not, why do you think that someone who is indifferent to a pet dog (but wishes it no harm) is a sociopath, but someone who eats animals that have been raised for slaughter on an industrial scale isn’t?

There is a world of difference though, surely, between actively 'disliking' animals and not wanting to keep pets?

YABU after walking through the woods yesterday surrounded by dogs and the only non-dog owner I saw on my walk, I wasn't thinking anything warm and fuzzy. I love wild animals, domestic pets I do not love

I think the kind of people who like pets are just people who can't deal with having friends who can disagree with them. They want pets so they have dependents they can control -- they want slaves.

No Brit will ever agree with me.

Exactly. People who hate animals/want to harm them I would steer clear of, but not people who simply CBA with pets. They are lovely to have (for many) but some people don't want the tie and the commitment and the expense. Even cats are a bit of a tie. You can't just buggar off for 3-4 days on a last minute deal break, you have to get a cat sitter, or get them in a cat hotel!

I love my dog dearly but couldn't care less if someone doesn't like pets and certainly don't think it makes them 'cold'. I could get on with them / be friends with them quite happily.

I don't believe you can really call yourself an animal lover unless you're vegan but that's a whole other thread I guess!

@Xenobitch

People put crap like dog owners only have dogs because they want something to control, or dog owners are socially lacking somewhat.

@IfOnlyTheyWent

I have never seen these type of posts on MN.

There ya go @IfOnlyTheyWent there's one from such post from @itsallsohard that I have quoted!😆^

I don’t have anything against animals, I just don’t want one living in my house.

I just take people as I find them, most of the people that I know who don’t have animals are quite cold and unemotional. Doesn’t mean I don’t like them but they’re definitely quite different people from the people who do have pets. Dog lovers are usually the best people (controversial I know)

There’s one about 5 posts above the post I’m writing now!

Not liking pets is fine - each to their own and people with pets should respect your wishes and not impose their pet on you. Likewise a person who doesn’t like pets shouldn’t exclaim ‘I hate cats!’ when friend/ colleague talks about their pet - that’s just rude and disrespectful because obviously that cat brings them joy.