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?

What about vegans who don't like animals? Clearly they don't want them to be harmed.

I am very scared of most animals so avoid being in situations where they are near me. I don't eat meat. Why should I be considered cold when I have a phobia about cats and have been seriously bitten by a dog?

You can have pets.

But you have no right casting aspersions on anyone else for not being an "animal lover" like you claim to be.

Not to mention that these animals have been domesticated for millennia, and it seems wolves as well as cats self-selected for it, living around human settlements. It's far too late to talk as if companion animals are, or should, disappear from the scene.

This woman was obviously a psychopath. Wanting to torture or harm animals is way beyond just not liking pets!

Diomi · Today 05:29

I like animals and part of me would love a pet, but I know I wouldn’t be around enough and I don’t want the responsibility. Judging by the dog breeds they choose, the complete ignorance about the needs of their pet and the life some of their animals have, I think many pet owners don’t like animals as much as I do. A lot of people get pets for entirely selfish reasons.
Well most people do- company, fun, excercise. Selfish doesn’t mean they’re negligent

That doesn't make that person 'cold', though, or a psychopath. I'm perfectly fond of dogs and grew up with them, though I don't own any, but absolutely I think the extent to which a friend's life is ruled by her (young) nervy dogs is a bit crazy. They can't be left alone for more than two hours at a time, are too neurotic to cope with dog daycare options or kennels, and she's not left the country for anything other than a brief work trip in a decade, and only when her partner can stay at home, and is always leaping up from lunches to dash back to them. I 'understand' in that it's clear it's worth it to her, which is all I need to understand. I don't have to approve. But I don't think children are in any way a helpful comparison, unless you're comparing it with babies or children with significant additional needs.

Not liking pets can be for all sorts of reasons, it doesn't mean a person doesn't like animals or is a big red flag about them in general.

Cats have changed very little except cosmetically from the African wildcats they are descended from, far less than dogs have changed from wolves.

The simple solution is keeping them indoors and making sure they are desexed - we're more serious about rules for this in Australia, precisely for our ecosystem.

Sorry, I wasn't clear - she didn't say she wanted to, she claimed to have witnessed it and hated cats as a result. Still despicable.

If someone says they don't like (and especially if they say hate) animals that is a huge red flag to me.

That depends on the dog, some groups of dogs haven't changed for thousands of years, particularly the hounds and pastoral breeds.

It's largely why I don't like toy breeds and find them a bit freakish. They are so far removed from the wolf 😞

Not wanting a pet isn’t a red flag! I like animals but I don’t want to have to look after one. I have young kids and a job and quite enough to do already.

I have full respect for the animal kingdom, love to see wildlife and enjoy watching wildlife documentaries etc. I have no desire for a smelly, hairy, slobbery, pooey animal in my home. The phrase "don't like animals" usually means someone doesn't want to hold them, have them jump on them, be expected to pet them etc. it doesn't mean they think we would be better off without animals.

I don't like kids and I'm judged as cold.

Best thing to do is overcome your fear through exposure.

You don't have to be warm to animals, but overcoming phobias is a good thing. Especially if you have kids who will learn from you to be scared of things without exploring the idea for themselves.

I think it's hard to justify having carnivore or omnivore pets if you're vegan, because you're financially supporting the meat trade. Unless it's because you're vegan purely because you don't like/can't eat meat, dairy etc., and not for welfare reasons.

Ah ok. I’m not vegan.
We run a farm so animals are part of our life. And we have multiple pets and horses.

When people say animals they really mean dogs. Doesn't matter if you are vegan, help at a animal hospice, care for other pets etc if you don't like dogs you have something wrong with you.

You can eat meat, wear leather, kill spiders but as long as you have a dog you are seen as an animal lover.

There is a difference between animals and pets. I love wildlife and that is why I dislike cats and their owners.

Let people think what they want i dont care.
Pets are like kids to me i dont want either to much drama.

Who are you to say what’s normal and what isn’t? Millions of people on the planet share ops view so clearly you are not the ultimate authority on this. I don’t share the view but have no issue with people who do as long as they don’t impose restrictions on me and my pet. Also, I don’t know why you need to add sorry at the end for what is just your personal opinion, no more.

I'm not really a fan of criticising people for having certain preferences when it comes to friendships or relationships.

My animals are hugely important to me and I probably wouldn't have much in common someone who disliked them. I'd also never even consider dating someone who disliked pets as animal ownership is an absolute essential for me.

If someone else doesn't like animals then I wouldn't criticise them for it, but they also wouldn't be someone I had much interest in getting to know either.

Amen

In my experience all the people I have met who don't like pets have been generally lacking in empathy, quite anal about things and yes, 'cold'. One such person told my other half the day after his father suddenly died, 'you'll get over it'. Talk about insensitive! I think there is a difference between people whose personal choice is to not have a pet due to their lifestyle etc and the people who verbalise their dislike of them.

Animal lovers generally have more tolerance to others.

I dont like pets, which is different to saying I dont like animala. We have had pets.

• guinea pigs - I ended up being the only one who interacted with them once the novelty wore off for the kids. I felt immense sadness for them being cooped up in a (massive, room sized) cage, not able to roam free. When one died I worried excessively for the other one.
• We had a rescue dog. Unfortunatley despite spending thousands on dog trainers he was a biter and bit my then 11 year old on the face narrowly missing his eye. We had to make the heartbraking decision to givfe him up. I worried about him all the time and hated that he was 'cooped up in the house and garden and could only go out for a wallk when we decided to take him (which was several times a day and DH took him on long hikes etc.
• DD has a gecko. looks after him well but I still hate he is locked up in a tank

I hate going to the zoo as I feel so sad for all the animals locked up and not in their natural habitats.
I love horses, always wanted one but equally I hate the face that we ride them. Poor ponies having to traipse around with kids on thier backs.

I also dont like dogs jumping up at me, in fact I dont like anyone invading my personal space but dogs do it all the time. I think having suffered physical abuse as a child i find it too stressful having someone suddenly launch themselves at me as it would always mean being hit as a child.

So not liking or wanting pets doesnt mean you are cold,. Sometimes its the complete opposite.