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Everyone's wired differently. I love animals and I have almost always had a pet of some sort... up until recently. I can't be "moderate" when it comes to my pets. I worry about their safety and well-being to the point where it almost becomes a burden. After my elderly cat passed last year, my husband was diagnosed with cancer. In order to keep the stress levels down a bit, we opted not to get another pet. I knew I'd not cope well with taking care of my husband... AND moving in the midst of his treatment.. and then having a pet to keep safe and happy? Nope. It was the right decision. But it feels... weird and unnatural to me, too. I can't even have a goldfish or hamster. I get way too attached! I know I take it over the top, but it's just the way my brain is when it comes to critters, I guess.
But I think it's perfectly natural for others to not want pets. I understand that not everyone takes it to the level I do.
I'm indifferent to dogs/cats. Don't hate them, but don't like them much either. To me, pets are just extra work because I don't get any enjoyment out of them. I don't like the smell, hair, poop, having to walk a dog, paying a pet sitter when traveling, etc...
But what really chaps me is people who HAVE to bring their dog with them everywhere, and even worse when they expect everyone else to love their little "fur baby" (puke!) like they do.
Newsflash dog lovers... dogs shouldn't be inside restaurants, grocery stores, department stores, etc...; yet I see them inside those places constantly. Drives me nuts, especially the 20 something girls that think that because they bought a vest off the internet that they can now take their purse-dog with them inside the grocery store. Ridiculous.
That said, some people are doing their pets a disservice by thinking they are being so caring and loving, but not treating them as the animals that they are. They aren't people, and they have different emotional needs than people. Dogs especially that don't have their "dog-ness" respected often end up being insecure, ill mannered, and hard to handle. Then they end up at the shelter because no one can stand to be around them.
This is what I was coming here to say. I know people who treat their dogs exactly UN-like dogs. They treat them like babies or baby dolls even.
If you're going to have a pet, respect it enough to treat it like the animal it is.
I like cats. Can't wait till I can have one (or a couple) again. I go back and forth about wanting a dog. Right now, when furry things are impossible, I keep fish, which I love as much as you can love fish.
I had a cool dog when I grew up that stayed outside, he was a spaniel and liked to run, chase birds, and rabbits. My family rarely let him come in the house, he had a part in the garage that was warm, when it got to cold.
I can't understand why some people treat pets like human beings. They also spend massive amounts of money on pets, and let them sleep in bed with them, and even pay people to babysit their pets.
I don't like the smell of cats or dogs in a house, and would not want a dog unless he stay outdoors.
Can anybody understand there are still people like me, that don't want a pet inside, or think of pets like actual people. They are only animals.
That's cool. Some people like pets, some don't. Neither side should be chastised by the other. We have always had at least 1 indoor pet, and they always lived a pretty long spoiled life because we took care of them like they need to be. We spent $1800 on tests, vet fees and cremation fees on our 16 year old cat 4 years ago when he got really sick and we had to eventually put down because we loved him since he was 6 weeks old. A really sad time.
It makes me think though. When I was growing up in the 70s and 80s, it seems as though people "rarely" had indoor pets. At least where we lived. Now it seems as though 1 out of 3 families have indoor pets. Those stats aren't concrete, just what it seems like to me.
Last edited by Remington Steel; 09-18-2017 at 09:51 PM..
I had a cool dog when I grew up that stayed outside, he was a spaniel and liked to run, chase birds, and rabbits. My family rarely let him come in the house, he had a part in the garage that was warm, when it got to cold.
I can't understand why some people treat pets like human beings. They also spend massive amounts of money on pets, and let them sleep in bed with them, and even pay people to babysit their pets.
I don't like the smell of cats or dogs in a house, and would not want a dog unless he stay outdoors.
Can anybody understand there are still people like me, that don't want a pet inside, or think of pets like actual people. They are only animals.
No offense, but people like you are weird. The only people in my life that I know of that don't have nor want pets are strange (objectively, not just because I say so).
No offense, but people like you are weird. The only people in my life that I know of that don't have nor want pets are strange (objectively, not just because I say so).
Oh come on, I know a lot of people who do NOT have pets and these people are pretty well rounded normal people. With a lot of interests and since they choose not to own pets, doesn't make them strange.
Some stores, restaurants, and breweries have official dog policies as well that allow dogs to accompany their owners. I've been to many of these types of establishments and have never been harassed by someone else's dog.
I love animals, but I don't agree with letting them in restaurants or grocery stores (unless they are service dogs). But that's just my opinion.
Oh come on, I know a lot of people who do NOT have pets and these people are pretty well rounded normal people. With a lot of interests and since they choose not to own pets, doesn't make them strange.
Okay, admittedly I overstated the case perhaps. But I will say in my life, from what I've gathered in my 35 years, the "stranger" people (to me at least) are the ones who don't like nor have any animals.
I could say the lady in my apt bldg who died some yrs ago in her 50's and had 3 cats and when she died the landlord had to find homes for these cats. The one cat died and turns out was cremated and the cat's urn was buried with the owner. I could say she was strange, but I won't, as this is what she wanted. I might do the same if I had dogs/cats that I loved and they died, I would seriously think about cremating them and keeping them in urns in my apt. People do that with people...not strange....
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