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Some people think they do, but I think it's very rare to actually put a dog above or on the same level as somebody who is close to you. There are people who substitute children or partners with dogs, almost to an unhealthy degree. I think it's great to love dogs, and I'm sure dogs do have an intense affection, you could call 'love', but never equate it with human love. I think deep down, the web of life is connected and we are connected to all creatures, but I think this idea that dogs have 'unconditional love' is a bit over the top. Firstly, dogs were domesticated to be in a perpetual state of childhood: in other words, they were emotionally stunted, for OUR BENEFIT! They were basically made our slaves, totally depended and obedient to us. I don't want to make dog-owning sound sinister. We owned 3: my sisters were more the 'dog people' but I certainly developed a relationship with them and felt they were almost like people. But no, I don't think it's natural to put any pet on the same level as a person or substitute that for a relationship with a person. As much as people are easy to hate, they are still more intelligent, and 'more' aware, so thus deserve a higher regard. Just as you wouldn't treat an ant the same way as Fido, the same goes. Of course I still abhor any cruelty to animals, and we should definitely show the same kindness to dogs as to humans, but just not over-humanize them.
BTW unless that person's love for their dog crosses the line this should probably be moved to the non-RS forum, lol.
Dogs have been there with humans from the very start, and it's not so much that we domesticated them, they just showed up and domesticated themselves because they saw the advantage in hanging out with humans. It's not as though people were able to capture wolves and turn them into child like creatures, that would not be possible.
It might even be that people needed dogs. How many times would the barking of their dogs alert people to danger? And how many times did the aid of a dog help people find their way home, hunt meat to survive? We're kind of a inferior species when it comes to surviving on our own. We don't have good fur to keep us warm, we can't sniff out odors well at all, we're slow runners. It's possible humans would not have survived out in the wilderness without dogs helping them survive.
Dogs have been there with humans from the very start, and it's not so much that we domesticated them, they just showed up and domesticated themselves because they saw the advantage in hanging out with humans. It's not as though people were able to capture wolves and turn them into child like creatures, that would not be possible.
It might even be that people needed dogs. How many times would the barking of their dogs alert people to danger? And how many times did the aid of a dog help people find their way home, hunt meat to survive? We're kind of a inferior species when it comes to surviving on our own. We don't have good fur to keep us warm, we can't sniff out odors well at all, we're slow runners. It's possible humans would not have survived out in the wilderness without dogs helping them survive.
We owe them a lot.
Actually, there is some evidence that the last great evolutionary leap that was made by homo sapiens was due to the domestication of the dog. Dogs provided hunting and guardian services that allowed humans to devote their time to things like innovation and invention. The "Wolf In The Parlor" discusses how human brain size appears to have grown around the time that dogs became domesticated. No HARD evidence, but some interesting correlations.
I guess it's just different. Obviously if I had to choose, I'd choose my siblings over my cat. But I'd be sadder if my cat died than if my grandma died. Is that odd?
I guess it's just different. Obviously if I had to choose, I'd choose my siblings over my cat. But I'd be sadder if my cat died than if my grandma died. Is that odd?
Not if your grandmother has lived a good long life and is ready to go. Or if you're not close to her at all maybe.
My one grandmother checked out at 96 after a decade in a wheelchair and full-blown dementia for several years. I felt like celebrating when she died to a certain extent because she'd been suffering for so long. Her mantra was "lord take me now" said repeatedly whenever she became distressed. I cried, but it was only because I was finally able to mourn a death that had essentially taken place years before when her quality of life tanked. She was such a sweet and lovely woman who made kindness her daily goal, and she at least was able to hold onto that sweetness to the end of her days. But when she died I felt mainly relief on her behalf. And as I mentioned earlier, pet deaths are private while human deaths are shared: I had many people mourning with me. Despite her having been out of her mind for the better part of a decade, there were 100 or so people at her funeral.
Do you ever wonder if there are bad people who are punished when they die and come back as dogs? I had a standing joke with my now deceased Husky...Having a bit of a messiah complex - I would have little private chats with the mutt. I would refer to the dog as Pontius Pilate ....and myself as a little J Jesus...I would look the dog in the eye and say "So Mister Pilate who's laughing now?" - Kind of got a kick out the whole reincarnation idea...Maybe I could have a dog named Hitler ....If I was a little old Jewish lady...No one has to know...I could take Adolf for a walk and when no ones looking- give the prick a little kick once in a while...Who knows...When Steven Hawkings passes away I might get a reincarnated Jack Russell...with the mind of Hawkings...I would call the dog Stever....."So Steve....not so smart today are we?"
I see nothing wrong with loving a pet, but I agree that some people go overboard. A dog or cat is an animal, plain and simple - not a human being, yet many will treat the animal as if it were human. Perhaps those who are lonely and crave companionship, but are unable to foster human companionship, will substitute a dog or cat for that need.
Those who claim the animal returns love (the same way a human would) are way off base; sure, a dog or cat can be loyal, and be a comfort; but animals don't have the emotional capacity humans have. But I'll be the first to say there are many humans who are cruel and unable to provide the fun companionship that a dog or cat can provide.
Pets can be a comfort to people, and they can serve, protect, learn tricks, and just be fun entertainment.
We always loved our dogs so much we allowed them to be dogs and didn't try to pretend they were children or try to make them look like inferior humans (scarfs, strollers, dresses,etc)
And after more than a year, I still miss the last pair and still miss the others after much more than a year.
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