If I see any more comments on Mumsnet of it's just a dog

[Lifeneedsaresetagain]

Do people not realise that for those who welcome them into the family they are part of the family. And if you have a dog and say it's just a dog, I'm not sure you should have one.

I have found this talk that people must be mentally ill for having/loving dogs offensive too. I have never met anyone who thinks their dog is human, and I have spent a lot of time with other mentally ill people. It is being used as an insult. That is what is offensive.

On this thread, we have been called emotionally stunted, loons, mentally ill, lacking humanity. Most based on an impossible hypothetical situation that people do not agree with the answer to.

My original comment was people who think dogs are equal to people are mentally ill. Posters before that had compared dogs to children.

I didn't said anything about people who simply love dogs.

I stand by my comment.

You know perfectly well that no one has said people who love dogs are mentally ill.

That poster knows that full well. They know full well exactly what the lunacy comments were in response to and it certainly wasn't for loving dogs.

You have called me all of those things because I would choose my dog over a baby that I don't know is there. Real insults for a hypothetical situation.
That is the real lunacy if we are going down that path.
Frankly, if a baby was going to grow up with the same attitude as some posters on here then leaving it in a burning building would be doing us all a favour.

That is not a mental illness, nor a symptom of one.

So not because you love dogs then.

Why would I know about a baby? I don't have a baby, just my dog.
Where are the parents?

This will go in circles. That scenario will never happen. It is stupid dishing out insults to people about something that is never going to happen.

Nah they just sound very unpleasant.

I don't know you and honestly do not care.

Fab

Isn't the point that they aren't human anyway? If I wanted a human I'd go hang out with another human. Dogs offer something else.

That too. I have suffered too much hurt from humans. None from a dog. But I am not silly, and know they are different.
Some people on here think we are stupid and are thinking dogs and humans are the same. No one on here has said that. They might have equated the relationship they have as the same or similar. There is nothing wrong with that, and does not mean someone is ill or lacking humanity or the other insults being thrown out on this thread.
Having a dog companion that you love and share a bond with is a beautiful thing. I am not standing by and being called all the things I have for something that does not actually affect other people, especially when it is something that improves my mental health and well being.

Yes, we know they aren't human. They're not equal to humans but are often better. I know they're dependent on us but I can trust my dog in a way I can't trust humans.

A dog is just a dog though....like a cat is just a cat and a baby is just a baby.
They each mean different things to different people, I'm not going to tell anybody they are wrong for preferring one over another.

I don't think you should trivialize the impact pets have on people though. They can be a lifeline to the lonely or sick. People have literally killed themselves over losing their pets.

Yes obviously, because your dog doesn't have the depth and complexity of emotions and personality that humans do.

Neither do some of the people on this thread.

They do, because they're humans.

Yes, and sometimes that's nice.

Sometimes, of course, but not as your main relationship(s).

You have referred to some dog owners as emotionally stunted. So which is it to be?

I mean I still think that, if the reason they prefer dogs to all humans is because they find dogs easier to emotionally relate to.

I have stood by that consistently throughout the thread 🤷

I have a husband, children, extended family, friends and acquaintances for that.

Right now I can sit on the couch, on Mumsnet, my dogs cuddling up next to me. No mental or emotional demands there. They don't demand conversation. I can give them a belly rub and then get up without a word and do some cooking. They will sit there starting at me with a cute and hopefully expression on their faces, knowing I'll be cooking them a bit of meat on the side. If I go outside, they'll follow me and sniff around the garden, no demands, just being happy. It's so - easy. That's why they offer something humans can't.

For some people who lack other relationships or who don't have the mental or emotional resources to cope with more demanding relationships for a time, maybe it's not such a bad thing they have something? I won't judge someone for their struggles and how they fill the needs they bring.

I'm not disputing that dogs and cats and other animals are fantastic for mental health and immensely valuable and enriching. What I'm saying is they should not replace human relationships and connection. If you are in a situation where your most important relationship is with your dog or your cat, then no I don't think that's a healthy or desirable situation to be in. Animals are trustworthy because they simply do not have the emotional depth that humans do, not because they are innately more kind or moral. And as I've said many times and I stand by it, I do think it's extremely worrying that so many people on this thread value the life of an animal over that of a human, any human (in general - there are certainly SOME specific humans I know whom I would pick my pets over every time).