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?

It's giving " mental illness" let's be honest

Well firstly it doesn't matter whether you consent regarding what an actual family is does it? That's a legal and or blood status.
Secondly as I previously said, I do not have any expectation that random family members will buy my children gifts and I would think it highly rude if anyone had that expectation of anyone..
But I do expect it to be acknowledged they are family.. as that is a fact.
A dog being part of a family IS based entirely on consent. Because it's not related to you by blood or legally anything to do with anyone apart from the owner..
So yes you do need people's consent to have them consider that dog family. You can't just buy a dog and assume everyone in your family is going to now treat it as a family member. That's mad.

Actually, people do get to decide who they're going to buy presents for, and they are perfectly within their rights not to buy presents for someone else's pet.

It's so cringe I hate it. I have 3 kids and 3 dogs myself - I am mam to my kids and I'm my dogs owner. I am not it's bloody mother and it's not my "baby" 🤦🏻‍♀️

Even if I agreed with the general point you're making (which I don't) I'd still say she doesn't need to "make it up to the dog". That suggests the dog is upset at the lack of gift from OP, which clearly it is not.
And I'd also argue that as this dog is new, and they've never bought OP's cats a present, they've set the precedent for how pets are treated in their family and they can't now demand special treatment for their dog.
So many dog people think their dogs are more important to them than other pets are to other people.

The crazy ones are the people who are trying to draw parallels betwee animals/pets and actual human beings like adopted children, nephews and nieces.

BATSHIT.

They sound like the sort of people who say "oh he's just friendly" when their dog jumps around covering strangers in dirty paw prints and barking in their faces.

See, I don’t get where all this ‘pissing on belongings’ comes from. I’ve literally never heard of dogs pissing on peoples stuff whilst out and about on their walks. I just think it’s something made up to push a point. I’ve no doubt some dogs jump up at people, but seriously doubt that they cock their leg up on you for a wee whilst they’re at it.

What?
No, loving your dog is not a mental illness. Franky, fucking offensive to say it is.
From a person who lives with mental illness, and also has a dog.

My mums dog did this tbf.. he pissed on someone's bag in a cafe when i was there once. And he certainly pissed all over my house when he came to visit.
Not the dogs fault. She was not a good owner. He's happily rehomed now (due to her declining health)

I went through infertility over a decade as did several family member and friends, some who never had children and some who unfortunately buried the only children they did have... but non of us ever did this.

Yes, we pretty much all have pets but pets are just pets... infertile people aren't suddenly overcome with delusional mental illness where we magically think our cat/dog/hamster/goldfish is a human baby and act that out in public.

Its bizarre.

I don't think she means loving your dog..
I think she means having the expectation other people play along like your dog is a human being to the extent you get offended if they didn't buy it a Christmas gift

As long as the dog wasn't sitting at the table or licking food off the plates <not envy face - then they can call the dog what they please .

My cats don;t care what I call them as they don;t answer to their names anyway !

Calling each other mummy and daddy is really fucking weird anyway

This might be hard to hear but..... Not everything is about you

My mutt got a slice of turkey and 2 pigs in blankets. I didn't send a card or wrap the turkey.

Where did I say it was? A very strange reply from you.

Thank you

Like the dog actually cares.

your reply on my post stated that YOU have a dog and YOU have a mental illness. Ok...

Because you implied that loving a dog is a MH issue.
The problem lies with you, not me.

I bet he was really pleased with it as well - my cats got a little christmas dinner (with suitable foods), and they didn't care.

I feel that way when people go on about their children 😂

YANBU. Speaking as a dog owner that seems batshit.

You are NOT mum and dad