It's a bloody dog!

[MammaKel]

Ugh, I didn't realise how batshit crazy people were about their "furbabies."

We went to a family gathering yesterday where SIL and BIL and their DDog were - they don't have kids, and DDog is their baby but omg.

I could get past the calling each other mummy and daddy, calling my in laws grandma and grandpa and telling my kids he was their fur cousin and showing us pictures of taking him to see " Santa Paws" but there were two instances that genuinely made me cringe a bit ..

We were exchanging gifts, and they asked me where DDogs were, I laughed because I thought they were joking, but nope, totally serious and was upset he'd be left out, so I apologised (for some reason) and moved on very quickly..

The next one was that the dog was getting a bit agitated, and they said he was tired and getting a bit cranky, so they were leaving so he could have a nap..

I'm mostly being light-hearted, and I'm an animal lover (have 4 cats), but I just didn't realise how far it went AIBU or is this just the norm now?

Well, some parrots and turtles outlive their owners.
Yes, I know I will outlive my dog. Does that mean I am not allowed to grieve her loss?
People can and do get leave for pet loss.... because for some, losing a pet is more painful than losing a family member (there have been studies on this, if you want to look it up). They would be utterly useless in work, so would need leave.
You do not get to say how people grieve for a pet, or how much.

How can you not love that little face with all your heart ?

That is a gorgeous face.

He's gorgeous 💖

@Arrivederla @Jaggy1 possibly totally irrelevant to the OP's original post, until you get people coming on saying how society is crumbling and how neurotic lovers of dogs are - then it becomes relevant. So, instead of slagging off dog owners who absolutely love their dogs, and think of them as a family unit, divert your energy to those bastards who are treating animals like shit, something which we all agree is a worthy cause.

I've read OP posts.

My guess is it's the child thing. I see you have children, I can't see an answer if they do.

That aside you were not to know, but do now.

So assuming they don't have children, in the interest of good relations, include the dog until, unless they do.

If they do have children, then yes cats should also be included

I love my dog and think of her as an addition to the family. She’s not my sister she’s not my dad’s daughter she is the family pet. I’m not even slagging anyone that does it I just don’t think you can berate someone for not showing the same level of interest in your dog that you have if you’re that kind of owner, as it’s just not what a lot of people would see as the done thing (to need to apologise to a dog for not getting it a Christmas present for example).

My sister and her husband adore their dog, he’s their baby and they do everything with him, I find it super cute that they’re happy and love him but I just don’t like their dog at all. But I don’t care that they love him which is the point of the thread, love your dog if you want but don’t expect me to.

Not at all, but come on. The overreaction was you getting irrate at someone putting d-dog instead of just dog. I mean, seriously?

If you go back and see my original post, you'll see we actually agree. What pisses me off is all the freaks who come on saying that 'It's weird to see a dog owner referring to themselves as mummy or daddy', or 'No wonder society is failing because we put human frameworks in for animals' (not verbatim).

I couldn't give two shits what a person calls their dog or cat, or refers to themselves as their 'mummy' or 'daddy', I find it extremely trivial.

What I do give a shit about is people who abuse and are unkind to animals, and some of the opinions spewed out on this thread make me think it will be perpetuated forever, and it makes me feel sick.

I quoted OP because it was them who brought this up. It meant that twats could comment on how people feel about their pets - it is none of their business.

My brother and his wife are the same with their dog. She has her own Instagram. It can be cringe at times but I think it's practice for parenting as they are newlyweds but not ready for children just yet. We met their pup for the first time in the summer and they really did treat her like a human child. It was weird.

We have our own dog so we get it, pets are a part of the family but our dog is a dog. If she runs around like a lunatic and bashes into stuff, it's because she's a silly dog! We aren't trying to baby proof every environment she's in. If we want to chuck her bits of ham or the odd slice of bacon, let her enjoy it! I won't be feeding my dog a strict diet because I read a book on it. We had to do the same sleep routine and pee routine and training routine when ours was a pup but we didn't make it sound like she was a newborn baby.

Of course the death of a pet is upsetting, yet it doesn’t qualify as paid bereavement leave. We need to take holiday time for that.

Or where possible work from home. I didn't have any annual leave left so unless they wanted me sitting sobbing in the office allowing me to work from home was a better bet even though I got minimal work done. Luckily my boss was understanding as I was the only key holder due in that day so it meant no one could go in.

Your original post makes you sounds cold and as though no one should be upset by the loss of their pet. Not sure why you're now trying to sound as though you care even slightly.

I agree!

I know someone like this and she is weird. She says we should get 'our kids together'.
Mine is an actual child and her's is a badly behaved dog that has bitten her and her parents. She says I am mean as I don't ask after the dog so she has stopped asking about my child. This was after I mentioned DS was exceptionally good at maths and laughed at me being rubbish. Apparently 'Rufus is very clever but not rude about it'!

Yes, my workplace would not even question leave around the death of a pet, which I'm grateful for, but it would be classed as holiday. I think this is the least a company can do.

Dogs do not understand the Christian world celebrating the birth of Jesus, they just don’t have that depth of thinking and it’s a real mistake to think so. No, humans are not mothers to dogs, it makes me feel quite squeamish to think of it! - Dogs have owners. Blurring these lines cause greater grief - we are owners, keepers, guardians - that’s the boundary.

Filthy creatures.

Such a profound contribution.

So are humans but we're expected to put up with them

Me too.
I have owned or looked after God knows how many animals over the course of my life, and loved them all (except perhaps the stick insects, esp when they turned to cannibalism).

But a dog is a dog, and a hamster is a hamster. Furbaby - just no!

I refer to my dog as my furbaby. Can you explain how it has such a detrimental effect on you, that you feel the need to mention it on MN?

Or, you know, you can just leave the people who call their pets furbaby, alone.

Same here, I only got my pets presents because they love opening them, which is fun to watch, especially when they are much more interested in playing with the wrapping or box than in the gift itself.

Everyone grieve how they like - but no one should be receiving bereavement leave, that is for family loss, because a pet has died.

An owner - that has chosen and bought a pet they know they will outlive, is very different from losing a family member. This is why keeping boundaries is important, once owners start thinking of a pet as a child they open themselves up to a whole world of loss, and yes - people are going to think they are crazy.

Thankfully I worked with kind, understanding people, not people like you

My dog is every bit my child, sorry not sorry! She has 4 beds, a treat drawer and about 6 different songs 😆

She brings our family together and makes us laugh every day. She's company to my teen DSs when they need it. She's enriched all our lives beyond measure and yes we treat her maybe too much as a human but it's not hurting anyone!

Why? I live alone. Why should I not get bereavement leave for a pet that is my companion?
I am not talking a goldfish here... I am talking about a pet that has been there for a third of my life... been there for break downs and break ups. Has been a rock for me, and she has been very poorly recently, and I have been there for her.
When she goes, I will be bereft, and I will be no use to anyone... employed or not.