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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Thread about a thread, don't mind me, having a moan

31 replies

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 21/10/2015 22:31

Someone's asking in chat why some people don't like animals. The responses are quite sad. I feel sorry for some people that they'll never understand the joy that a dog can bring. Mind you I don't think I'd trust some of them to look after a goldfish.

OP posts:
PacificDogwod · 21/10/2015 22:36

I've been too cowardly to go near that thread…

I suppose if people at least have the insight that they are not animal people, they'll hopefully not go near one and potentially treat it badly

Original poster
MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 21/10/2015 22:55

That's true. How people can be so dismissive of something that brings so much love and happiness. So ignorant.

OP posts:
PacificDogwod · 21/10/2015 23:31

I dunno, I think it's more something you either 'get' or you don't 'get', so I truly believe people who do not like smelly, expensive, annoying, time consuming loveable and loving pets should better stay away from them Grin
DH loves all forms of motorsport; I don't get it. At all. Nothing he says about how exciting and technologically amazing it all is, will change my mind Grin

Folks/strokes...

standclear · 21/10/2015 23:36

I find that a lot of people who say "they don't like animals" often haven't actually been around them much; so it's the fear of something unknown that makes them say what they do.

Also, it's a bit wierd generally to say "I don't like animals". Just as I find it strange when people say "I don't like children".

After all, we would look at someone very suspiciously indeed if they said "I don't like adults". Surely, you like some and not others ... ?

All I can say is that since we adopted a dog a year ago, we have met some of the loveliest people through him!

treaclesoda · 21/10/2015 23:39

The thing is that dogs don't bring love and happiness to people who don't enjoy the company of dogs, only to those who do.

And I'm not anti dog at all, I like dogs. But people who don't like dogs aren't missing out, they just have different interests. As long as they're not actively cruel to dogs, everyone is a winner really.

Toughasoldboots · 21/10/2015 23:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Costacoffeeplease · 21/10/2015 23:48

I also loved growing up with animals, my parents had dogs before they had us kidsSmile and I have never been without a dog in my whole 50 years. I feel sorry for people who weren't brought up to love animals, but yes, thank goodness most of them have no inclination to get a pet

Original poster
MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 21/10/2015 23:55

Absolutely. My dds adore our new puppy. He adores them and follows them about. They get so much happiness and comfort from him, it's lovely to watch. It's a way of life that they are used to. And I have to say he is cleaner, tidier, less hassle and much more obedient than they are.

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 22/10/2015 10:45

I'm another one who has avoided that thread ,I love animals and in the last couple of weeks have suggested riding lessons a couple of times on threads about children with low confidence /friendship issues - there really is nothing better than cuddling a pony and they really understand little humans . My DH is not an animal person - left to his own devises he wouldn't have any pets but he loves our dog and got very attached to a Belgian Hare that we rescued ( pre dog) ,he was also very good with our horses - so I think everyone has the capacity to love a specific animal even if they are not an animal lover .

pigsDOfly · 22/10/2015 16:04

I think the idea of being 'an animal lover' and professing to 'love' all animals is a bit OTT tbh.

I adore my dog and adored my cats, when I had them, and my life has been enormously enriched by having them, but I can think of a lot of animals I really wouldn't want to have a pets that other people would love to have: rabbits, chickens, fish, giants snails etc.

I haven't seen the thread you're talking about OP, but if the people saying they don't like animals have enough insight to know that animals are not for them then fair enough. Far better they know that they don't like them and keep away from them than claim they want an animal and then treat it cruelly or neglect it.

How many people get something fluffy for their child because the child claims it would love a hamster or rabbit and then once the child has lost interest the poor thing sits at the bottom of the garden in a cold cage until it's lived out it's miserable life span.

I don't think anyone on here needs to be told about the amount of cruelty so many dogs are subject to from people who, for whatever reason, decided to go out and get themselves a dog and then proceeded to make its life a living hell.

People don't have to 'love' animals, they just need not to treat them badly.

Outcomesthebunnyofdeath · 22/10/2015 16:11

My brother is like this, although we were both brought up with dogs and I had various pets throughout the years.

He is just indifferent towards them, totally ignores my dog and my parents' dog when they greet him, even when mine is sooo excited to see him! He just isn't bothered. He would never be cruel to an animal even if he doesn't care for them.

I'm a vet nurse so we are polar opposites!

Original poster
MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 22/10/2015 22:33

It's got nearly 400 posts now. I saw one where someone said they actively disliked dogs. I mean all dogs. Surely that's like saying you dislike all people? They're not all the bloody same!!

OP posts:
Costacoffeeplease · 23/10/2015 07:14

Have you seen the horrid comments to the vet on there - gobsmackingly awful

And the multiple 'ew dogs jump up and slobber and smell' Hmm

Hotpatootietimewarp · 23/10/2015 07:41

Ok I replied on that last thread but no one really answered me.

I like animals in their natural habitat and would never harm or wish harm on animals or pets but I have no interest whatsoever in having a pet in my home.

Reason: when me and my Dsis were younger my mum would appear home with all different animals, cats, dogs, rats, hamsters, we even have a terrapin, lizards, ferrets and she had horses in stables elsewhere. Unfortunately that's where her involvement ended and it was left to me and Dsis to care for, feed, walk and clean up after all those pets. I despised having to go and muck out the horses on a freezing cold day, always stuck with me.

So now as an adult after seeing first hand how much work they are, how expensive they are to feed, vet bills etc and the impact on the house i just do not want any animal in my house.

Friends have cats and dogs which is totally fine and I'll fuss them initially on going in and I often let MIL dog out if she is away which is fine but that's where my involvement ends. I think DH would like a dog but it is absolutely my line in the sand. I have enough work with my job and 3 DC we wouldn't have the time to give to a pet anyway.

So I grew up with pets and just have no interest. What got my back up though was posters saying that if you have no interest in pets then you can't possible have empathy for your fellow human. No one answered when I said that I work in healthcare helping people get better everyday and have a ton of empathy for other humans but have no pets so that is utter rubbish

RudyMentary · 23/10/2015 07:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Costacoffeeplease · 23/10/2015 07:48
Grin
treaclesoda · 23/10/2015 07:50

As I said upthread, I like dogs generally.

But what I can't identify with is why so many people who identify as dog lovers are hurt by other people not feeling the same way? As long as the people in question aren't being cruel to dogs, how can they find it so offensive?

tabulahrasa · 23/10/2015 09:16

Hotpatootie....

IMO not wanting a pet is different to being uninterested in pets and different again from disliking them.

I have pets, for me the work of having them is either enjoyable or for the things that aren't fun, worth the hassle for what my pets bring me.

I have friends that have pets, don't have pets because they're not currently willing to have the hassle of them, aren't particularly interested in pets in any way and some that are scared of pets.

I don't have an issue with any of that.

If someone's coming to my house, they can interact with the pets, ignore them or if they're scared I'll make sure they're out of the way...

But I don't understand people who actually dislike them, that I'd struggle with...the people who post on threads sometimes going on about how dogs are disgusting and people shouldn't keep them or that they'd poison cats for being in their garden, that I just don't understand and I would definitely think less of someone with that attitude.

That to me is different from either quite liking them but not wanting one or just not being interested in them.

iloveeverykindofcat · 23/10/2015 09:24

I'm still waiting for someone on that thread to address my point that humans are animals, and that pretending we are magically separate from and above other species is not only arrogant but just factually wrong. Other great apes have legal personhood in several countries. So do dolpins in a few places.

Cel982 · 23/10/2015 09:27

I don't dislike animals, but have no desire to have a pet. The argument that "at least they recognise they're not animal people and won't go near an animal and potentially treat it badly" is pretty offensive, though. There's a vast difference between not loving animals and actively abusing or neglecting them. People who don't particularly like children or want any of their own aren't generally considered a threat to any child who might stumble into their care for whatever reason.

LittleFeileFooFoo · 23/10/2015 09:30

Tabula, that's like saying you don't understand people not liking math, or fiction books. Ok, you don't get them, but they arent less human, or less nice or less good because of that. There's a big difference between not liking animals and being an cruel. Most of the animal cruelty cases I hear of are by people who claim to like animals!

No one on the other thread said they wanted all animals too die or suffer, just that they don't want them in their homes or to live with animals. I don't have a problem with that, I have lots of animals, and I completely understand some people would never live like I do. I wouldn't live like they do, but there's nothing inherently wrong with either position.

Owllady · 23/10/2015 09:32

I think it's fair enough to say you don't like cats/dogs/pet but actively dislike all animals and birds is a bit extreme

Madblondedog · 23/10/2015 09:32

I think its often a lack of understanding.

Before DP moved in I decided I wanted a dog as my house didn't feel like a home without one having grown up with dogs. I got him and for ages DP was along the thought lines of "what did you do, this means we can't be spontaneous ever again". He'd never had pets as his parents aren't into animals either. That was nearly 3 years ago, he moved in not long after I got the dog and whilst he will always be MY dog DP loves him and often says he can't imagine life without him and he'd never experienced the love for an animal before.

His parents now love the dog and he is always asked about, even his sis who was scared of dogs now loves him.

tabulahrasa · 23/10/2015 09:40

"No one on the other thread said they wanted all animals too die or suffer"

Not on that thread no, I was talking generally - it has come up before.

What I was trying to do was say that I do understand not liking as in not being someone's thing...but not actively disliking.

For example there was once a thread about someone having a visitor who wanted them to remove their elderly sleeping dog from a room so they didn't have to look at it, no fear or phobia, no allergies, just such a strong dislike that they wanted it out of the room.

Or the people that jump in any dog thread that appears on AIBU basically to go on about how much they dislike them...or cat ones.

I don't wait for football threads and jump on those telling people it's a complete waste of time and should be banned because as a sport it has anti-social side effects (hooligans, sectarianism). I don't get het up by seeing people have a kick about when it's not affecting me.

I'm not interested so I don't pay attention to it.

LittleFeileFooFoo · 23/10/2015 10:01

But it wasn't a thread about liking animals, it's a thread about not liking people who don't share the same views about animals. Which is goady in itself, and will get responses as it was designed to do.