Do you treat your animals like children? Do you have human children?
By 911Ricki
@911Ricki (13588)
Canada
October 1, 2012 8:29am CST
This lady I work with was saying about this lady who had come in. She was carrying her dog, and picking out toys. To me I thought it was cute, I would do this with my cats.
She was whining and complaining saying this is pathetic why dont people just go have kids and deal with it. I just was shocked at her negative attitude, especially for *liking* animals.
I told her I know some people who can't have children and their pets are their children. I was told I couldn't have children, but honestly I dont have patients for whining screaming kids. I was joking and saying its legal to baby your pets, and you can leave them at home (which is true). Kids you have to drag them everywwhere, and well more annoying.
I was saying how the people I petsit for never had kids (I dont know if they cant have them), but they are older, and the 3 dogs are their kids. They pay me to babysit, and walk them. Also, spoil them and pamper them.
She just kept carrying on how its ridiculous, I told her most who do have kids dont have respect for animals. They are usually the ones that toss them out the door. She being one of them, she has told me she got a few animals such as dogs, cats, and small animals she didnt want and just opened the door and let them out.
3 people like this
16 responses
@rebelann (112959)
• El Paso, Texas
18 Jul 20
But I'll bet your babies love up on those pets which makes up for that, right?
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Oct 12
I do have human children as well as 2 dogs and I treat them all as my kids, their all my babies! Don't get me wrong, if one of the dogs hurt my human children they would be gone because my human children come first but they are all my babies! I don't treat them badly at all. Their very well cared for and spoiled with new treats and toys all the time! So, not all mothers of human children treat animals badly, not at all. I could never be mean to an animal...
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
18 Jul 20
@rebelann Thank you, my fur babies are very loving! =)
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112959)
• El Paso, Texas
18 Jul 20
Furbabies are the best @LovingMyBabies they never become rebellious teens 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
2 Oct 12
Ricki, I object to this generalization. I have pets, and I have had children. I hope my children learned about responsibility and compassion from having pets.Most people who have children do not disrespect animals. This is not a war between pet people and children people. I will take care of my pets until they die, but I do not want any more right now. I have adopted strays and I have taken care of them and had them stolen from my yard and home. I do not baby my animals, but I do make their food from scratch and make them homemade yogurt. I do not treat animals like children or babies, because they are animals. I feel like I have taken on the responsibility of making sure they have a good life because they live with me.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112959)
• El Paso, Texas
18 Jul 20
I agree with you, many of the people I know have pets and grown children and they love their pets and give them good homes. Those grown children now have their own children and pets as well and those pets are spoiled by the whole family.
@dainy1313 (2370)
• Leon, Mexico
1 Oct 12
Hello
Ricki, I love my pets. Since I was bornt there were already pets at home, dogs and rabbits. When my husband was my boyfriend he gave me two kitties. When we got married I avoided to have pets, but I just simply couldn´t live without them
. We have three children.
We have tought our children the love for pets. We have 5 cats, 2 dogs, 2 turttles, 2 canaries, and 3 parroquets.
They are part of our family. We couldn´t live without them. We love and pamper our pets.
My smallest kid uses to ask me - Mommy why God made pets?- I answer him- God did pets to make life sweeter -
Pets may be so tender, lovely and innocent!
Blessings Ricki... dainy
Ricki, I love my pets. Since I was bornt there were already pets at home, dogs and rabbits. When my husband was my boyfriend he gave me two kitties. When we got married I avoided to have pets, but I just simply couldn´t live without them. We have three children.
We have tought our children the love for pets. We have 5 cats, 2 dogs, 2 turttles, 2 canaries, and 3 parroquets.
They are part of our family. We couldn´t live without them. We love and pamper our pets.
My smallest kid uses to ask me - Mommy why God made pets?- I answer him- God did pets to make life sweeter -
Pets may be so tender, lovely and innocent!
Blessings Ricki... dainy
2 people like this
@rebelann (112959)
• El Paso, Texas
18 Jul 20
Yes, God gave us pets so we can learn to love completely and innocently without malice.
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
2 Oct 12
You were a lot more polite to your co-worker than I would have been. I don't think that I could have restrained myself from telling her exactly what I thought of her.
My cats are my children. All of my fuzzies have been my kids. Even if I had human children, my little fuzzies would still be my children.
I would like to adopt. One of my requirements for any human child I would adopt? Must love animals.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112959)
• El Paso, Texas
18 Jul 20
Some people are just plain animal lovers but you can't tell that about them when they are babies.
@bembzee (768)
• Philippines
2 Oct 12
Well, i really love kids and i can deal with them but I do love my pets too. As of the moment I don't have a kid of my own so I give my attention to my pets. Pets can be helpful anyway, I feel relaxed and happy whenever I see them. I feel sorry for hearing that, pets should be treated well.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112959)
• El Paso, Texas
18 Jul 20
Most people with pets are not inhumane to them but sometimes there are exceptions.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
3 Oct 12
well actually people with kids have animals and are responsible, but you never hear of the normal you hear of the horrid cases because that is what the news like to deliver.
Yes I had a child and yes I have pets and we my son and I treat our cats as babies. When I was a child I was brought up with dogs, and I couldn't stand a house without an animal or two.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112959)
• El Paso, Texas
18 Jul 20
That sounds like a normal house hold to me. I think all children should be raised with pets so they can learn the meaning of pure unadulterated love.
@ElicBxn (63638)
• United States
7 Oct 12
I'd've been tempted to b!tch slap her for that kind of attitude.
Honestly, I had offers to... get married... but I didn't want children and I knew that the pill wasn't 100% effective - even before the MORONIC nurse at the OB/GYN's office told me. Then the stupid git didn't BELIEVE me when I told her I wasn't pregnant!
And, as I was at Walmart today and there was some screaming BRAT there the whole time I was trying to shop, I would've gone postal on a child if it had been mine - I get fed up with my brats starting stuff with each other as it is!
Is this at the pet store? Maybe you need to talk to your manager about this woman not being an animal lover... how DARE the stupid git doing that to an animal - she should be turned over to the animal POLICE!
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
28 Oct 12
as one who can't have kids,yes,they are my kids.
i'll take a happy purring cat anyday over a whiny brat who screams for the newest cellphone or $300 dollar sneakers anyday.
and judging from what i've seen at walmart,my "kids" are better behaved.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112959)
• El Paso, Texas
18 Jul 20
I've seen a few like that at Walmart too but luckily not recently .... the beauty of covid is that parents are finding babysitters so that people like me don't have to put up with them.
@lynboobsy11 (11343)
• Philippines
1 Oct 12
My Odie is too spoiled form us we always treat her like a baby.
He got his own shampoo and vitamins he also have his own food.
I love him and also his wife that I gave to my mom. I can't leave
without him around he always makes us happy even where only 3 here.
1 person likes this
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
3 Oct 12
Idiots constantly tell me that when I get married I will get rid of all my animals. 
They say a man won't want all the animals in the house. I won't want him in the house. The animals moved in first. They stay!
It won't happen. First all I doubt that I'll marry. If I ever did marry, it would be to a man who loves animals. And most important, I would never get rid of my animals for any reason or any person. I know some people do, but those are the same people who get rid of their kids because the new husband doesn't want them.
Better to send them away rather than kill them as some women do.
I have 2 dogs ans 7 cats. They are part of my family. I made a commitment to each and every one that I will care for them forever. Now that I am ill, I need to make a will and set up trust funds for them. It is part of caring for them forever. I hope I will outlive all of them, but we all die sometime and I will always have pets. I could not live without them.
As far as kids go, I have a 19 year old girl who has adopted me as a second mother. She is a sweet kid, but it is trying at times.
They say a man won't want all the animals in the house. I won't want him in the house. The animals moved in first. They stay!
It won't happen. First all I doubt that I'll marry. If I ever did marry, it would be to a man who loves animals. And most important, I would never get rid of my animals for any reason or any person. I know some people do, but those are the same people who get rid of their kids because the new husband doesn't want them. Better to send them away rather than kill them as some women do.
I have 2 dogs ans 7 cats. They are part of my family. I made a commitment to each and every one that I will care for them forever. Now that I am ill, I need to make a will and set up trust funds for them. It is part of caring for them forever. I hope I will outlive all of them, but we all die sometime and I will always have pets. I could not live without them.
As far as kids go, I have a 19 year old girl who has adopted me as a second mother. She is a sweet kid, but it is trying at times. 1 person likes this
@rebelann (112959)
• El Paso, Texas
18 Jul 20
I agree with your statement that if you were to marry you'd want a man who also loves animals, I feel the same way
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
3 Oct 12
Before my children were born, my pets were very much my children and I babied them in every way. However, when my daughter was born, I do have to admit that my pets were no longer the center of my life. The reason that they are no longer the center of my life is because of the fact that animals don't have nearly as many needs as a small human being has.
However, I do have to say that I don't agree with your saying that people who have kids don't have respect for animals because though my life doesn't center around my pets, I do still spoil them in every way that I am able to.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112959)
• El Paso, Texas
18 Jul 20
That's the way it should be and because of that I'm sure your children have learned how to properly treat their pets.
@katie0 (5203)
• Japan
2 Oct 12
Being a Vegan I guess I treat even Animals I don't know well 
, love them 
but yes, my 'pets' are even called my children and I talk to them, I make as much company as I can, I sing for them, have all their needs taken care of and there are a LOT of them. About human children I would never have biological children if I could, if I have the money and the means I'll adopt. There are 2 million orphans in this world.
, love them but yes, my 'pets' are even called my children and I talk to them, I make as much company as I can, I sing for them, have all their needs taken care of and there are a LOT of them. About human children I would never have biological children if I could, if I have the money and the means I'll adopt. There are 2 million orphans in this world.1 person likes this
@natliegleb (5175)
• India
2 Oct 12
there are some dogs which we grow and i treat them like my children and pets,its so close to my heart,i dont know what i will do after it goes.they are so lovely and adorable too
@phoenix1344 (698)
• United States
7 Oct 12
No offense but this lady you are talking about sounds absolutely cruel. If she doesnt want the animal, first off why on earth did she accept responsibility for them? and second, all they need to do is take the animals to a shelter. Some people are so inconsiderate! Animals HAVE to rely on us. They are like children in that respect, we are their world. We feed them, love them, play with them. My fiance and I dont have kids yet but we do have our Brooklyn (shes a springer spaniel) and we treat her like our kid! We even refer each other as Mommy and Daddy and she knows who we are. So seriously, that lady needs to stop being so rude to us animal lovers!!
@rainizday (2)
• United States
9 Oct 12
I have always treated my pets like children, ever since I was a wee-little sprout. As a child my parents bought me two ducklings that followed me around as if I was their mother. That in itself probably set the stage for my inevitable 'mommy to pet' instincts.
I don't yet have human children but I certainly want them some day. I'm not sure if that will change my attitude towards my pets being my kids, or if I will simply adopt the whole idea into having both human and pet children, but for now it works! I'm even fortunate enough to have a boyfriend who insists that our dogs must know us as 'Mom' and 'Dad'.
(I even consider my pet fish as kids or legitimate family members, which may be border-line crazy!)
