Confessional: I’m Anti-Pet
There.
I said it.
And not anti-pet as in, “I hate touching my husband’s wee-wee,” but rather, I’m anti-pet as in, “I don’t like your dog licking my face, and I don’t like the cat hair all over my new black pants from sitting on your couch.”
I’m anti-pet. Or should I say anti-animal-companion to some of you? Because seriously, your pet doesn’t give a crap if I call it a “pet” or “animal companion.” The term “pet” is not derogatory to an animal who speaks “Ferret.” Some animal lovers are just taking it too far with their dog strollers and fancy new terms.
Go on ahead and hate me.
I’ve tried so hard to provide my children with various pets. They never work out. We’ve given away fours dogs and one cat. The hermit crab pulled all of it’s legs off and committed crab suicide within two days, and the goldfish died when my three year-old fed them Degree deodorant and batteries.
I know some people love their animals like they’re children, but I just can’t bring myself to it. Maybe it’s because I have allergies. Maybe it’s because I don’t like dog nose shoved in my crotch when I walk through a door. Or maybe it’s because I think animal slobber is disgusting. But something inside of me makes me not even want to lean down and pet Fido when I come over for a visit because I know my hand will stink afterward.
Actually, can you just send Fido outside when I come over so I don’t have to watch it clean its butt with its tongue and then lick the face of my baby? Thanks.
My sister-in-law recently spent all kinds of money to give her 13-year-old dog a blood transfusion. I watched her stress over the situation as she spent her savings trying to save her dog’s life. I wanted to be really sympathetic, but I just couldn’t. I advised her to just put the dog down. I mean, the dog had lived for 13 years. That’s like a million in dog years. Why spend all of that money just to watch your dog die of old age in a year?
I’m not evil, and I don’t eat cat brains for dinner. I’m just practical.
When you have a pet you can’t pack up your kids and go anywhere you want for a weekend. You have to find a pet sitter. When you have a pet you have to add to your list of living things that you’re suddenly responsible for. When you have a pet your house starts to stink like cat pee. I don’t want a stinky house, a bevy of pet sitters, or hermit suicides and fish homicides on my conscious. I struggle enough trying to keep my children alive and from peeing in the corner.
I’m pretty sure the only pet I’ll ever like is a pet rock.
The Perfect Pet
Are you the same way? Or did I just infuriate you?
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Meredith Soleau was supposed to be a famous country singer, but her parents made her go to college and major in something “real.” She graduated with a B.S. in business, and landed a gig as a Human Resources Director at a large car dealership in Ohio. 
Pingback: Pets Are Gross
Some thoughts:
1. With your track record with your children and their escapades, you should NOT own any type of living pet.
2. Not all dogs stink. Some owners actually bathe their dogs.
3. I have a cat and challenge you to even locate the litter box. Again, it is a cleanliness of the owners issue.
4. Excessive medical treatments for old dogs are cruel and are done solely for the owner who can’t let go (my opinion).
1. Agree
2. True
3. I’ll bet I can’t.
4. Probably (but I had the age wrong – I was scolded – the dog was nine, not 1 million).
My almost 10 year old dog got sick with liver disease in June. We’ve spent $1400 this summer just trying to find out WHY she’s sick so we can figure out what treatment to give her. She’s been with our family since she was one. Taking care of her into old age is our responsibility.
I think painful treatments that only prolong suffering are cruel, but not all treatments or illnesses requiring treatment are painful or cause suffering.
I love love love dogs. I mean just look at my blog and Facebook and all you’ll see is my new puppy. Lol but I would never spend tons of money on saving an older pet.
I still love you.
It’s cool. I still love you, too.
I’m so with you. My dogs are 11 & 14, and when they start to go, THEY GO. I’ll pay the $100 to put them down rather than any other amount to keep them alive.
That just means I get to have a puppy.
Exactly!
Dog strollers are ridiculous. A friend of mine has one, and I could not convince her that it’s good for her puppy to WALK. It’s bright pink and ridiculous.
But I can’t agree with you on the blood transfusion comment. That was kind of cruel. Especially telling your SIL to save her money. Just because you don’t get it doesn’t mean you get to be down on it. I understand that not everyone is an animal lover, but deciding that someone else’s animal has lived long enough is just mean.
That having been said, yes dog slobber is disgusting, the hair can get everywhere and be annoying, and some people who have pets and don’t know how to clean have smelly homes. That I will agree with you 100% on. But it’s totally worth it to have a companion who loves you without any reserves.
Yup. She thinks it’s mean of me as well.
Yes. We may or may not have done something similiar with our dog…..but she was like 7. I said it back then though and I still feel this way – I would sell my freaking car if I had to to save one of my pets :)
Amanda that was perfectly said. Just because you don’t get it doesn’t mean you get to be down on it. Do you mind if I put that on a t-shirt?? It’s very multi-purpose.
Not everyone is a pet person. Just like not everyone likes kids. You don’t want my dog to slobber on you, but, while I love kids, I don’t want to listen to one shriek like a banshee while I’m trying to have a nice dinner out. Different strokes for different folks.
Also, your whole pets tie you down argument doesn’t hold water. Pets don’t tie you down anymore than kids. If I want to go on vacation, I rent a beach house that allows dogs (and there are tons). If I decide I want to see a movie tonight, I put Winston in the basement with a chew toy and go. Whereas you have to either find a sitter or take the kids and watch some children’s movie that’s going to make you want to gouge your eyes out with a straw.
You did not seriously just compare having a dog to a living human child, did you? Really?
I’m speechless…
^^^THIS^^^
Because… why?
Because dogs aren’t living? They are.
I’m thinking she was comparing *responsibilities* and making accomodations for the ENTIRE family.
Thank you, Danielle. I wasn’t comparing having a child to having a dog. I was *responding* to Meredith’s last paragraph where she said having a pet means you can’t just pick up and go somewhere. I hear my friends who do have children complain that BECAUSE they do have children it limits where they can go and what they can do.
It’s not what I meant… It just seems like an inappropriate comparison, that’s all. I love pets! Grew up with 7 dogs and 14 cats… And I have 2 kids.
But no, I see no comparison, possible.
I love pets more than people. True story.
I love people more than pets. True story.
Your reasons for citing why you don’t want a pet (they smell, they slobber, you can’t go away for the weekend) are all the resons why I don’t think I want children, ha. But my fish tank limits me in none of those ways.
HAHAHAHA! Exactly. This fish tank thing doesn’t sound too bad. Hindsight…
I’m with you. Though we do have a cat and had a dog til he went to doggy heaven. When this cat is gone, which can’t be soon enough, we’ll be pet free for a VERY long time. I’m over the hair, the feeding, the getting a sitter when we want to go away for a weekend… I’m with you. I don’t HATE them, I just don’t want any more pets.
Yes. How you said it. That’s me. Being the poop picker-upper and the general pet mom makes me not want anymore. Ya know?
I’m with you on this one! I have a cat who is 13 and while I do love her most of the time. (not at 5am this morning when she was having a senior moment and crying at the top of her lungs for no reason) I am a little excited for when we can be pet free again!
Gosh I do feel awful saying it though!
Mind you, we didn’t really have a choice when we got her, she was my Mum’s cat and my Mum got too ill to look after her, so we took her in.
I get this … as a kid, I never understood why my dad never let us get another cat after ours died. But now, with two cats of my own, I GET IT. I love, love, LOVE our two cats. We’ve had them for 8 years, adopted from a friend of mine who had them for 3-4 years prior (so they are getting up there in years now).
They shed like crazy and leave hair EVERYWHERE. I can’t keep up with it. The little one throws up EVERYWHERE, and the big one is always underfoot and I worry that someday I will crush his internal organs by stepping on him accidentally. And keeping up a little box is gross.
I love them dearly and will be quite sad when they die someday, but I also dream of the day when I will have a pet-free home.
We have pets, and I like them (although I don’t consider them at the level of my human family members). I find it very irresponsible that you continued to get pets, even though you knew you hated them. I mean, really, you’ve given away that many animals? Grow up. You let your kid put toxins in the fishbowl? Way to teach.
I will say that I hate, hate, HATE it when people bring dogs into stores. I’m not talking aid dogs, that’s different. I’m talking these fools who bring their stupid little mutts in. I’ve even seen people put them in SHOPPING CARTS. Where the rest of us put food! I hate those idiots, and the stores that let them do it.
Well, I didn’t allow him to put toxins in a fishbowl. He just did it and I found it the next day. I have tried this many pets over a number of years and all were sent to much better homes than mine. So it’s not like I’m dropping them off in the country.
I don’t like pets in stores either unless it’s a seeing-eye dog or something.
I’m with Allison, I love my dog more than most people. However, I totally get it that some people aren’t pet people, so kudos for being so forward about it. I love my dog and he loves most people, but I know not everyone loves him, and I respect that. And yeah, drool is gross, but it’s kind of like baby spit-up, it sucks, but you start to cope with it fairly quickly (because it’s all for love).
“And yeah, drool is gross, but it’s kind of like baby spit-up, it sucks, but you start to cope with it fairly quickly (because it’s all for love).” This is where the line is for me. This is what’s fascinating to me. I have steeled myself to human grossness so much at this point. My current job will include adult diapers. It’s fine… And I can adjust to a baby’s poop or spit up to the point that it doesn’t even seem like a “bad” smell… I mean, ultimately it’s just a hang up you can get over… as long as you make sure to wash your hands so you don’t get sick, it’s all natural. But for some reason I can’t imagine adjusting to a pet like that. There is just a wall up, it’s a different level of grossness. I wonder what the difference is?
Thank you! I am anti-pet too but am always too afraid to say it because I will sound like a monster. ALL dogs have a smell (I have friends who *think their dogs don’t smell, but they do.) It is a dander thing and it totally makes your hand stink. It is also not the dog’s fault… it’s a DOG! It’s not like I wish harm upon other people’s pets…I just don’t love them like they do. I really hate people who bring their pets to other people’s house-we don’t all love your pet! Thank you, thank you, thank you for writing this- I feel the same way for all the same reasons.
You feel differently then I do and are I applaud your honesty. People that don’t like my dogs don’t have to come over and subject themselves to them, Easy solution!
Now, here’s the flip side. I don’t like bad kids but have no choice but to deal with them in stores and restaurants every day. We are childless by choice and are bothered by people who think their demon children are cute when they clearly are out of control.
True story! This is why we don’t take our kids to fancy places. We’re more of a Chucky Cheese crowd for now (until they can sit still and behave better). It is rude when kids are out of control and people are paying good money to eat somewhere in peace.
I’m pretty sure she didn’t hand her son deoderant and batteries and said, ” let’s see how goldy likes it.” :p
I’m off the same mind. Down with pets.
I do like pets. We have a cat, and my kid longs for a dog the way I long for George Clooney. We regularly dogsit for friends’ critters in our home for the time being (the husband has said no dogs of our own ’til our back yard is fenced in, and “fencing in the back yard” is so far down the priority list of Things We Need to Do to the House that there is no Lassie in our imminent future). I grew up with cats, dogs, guinea pigs, gerbils and fish for pets. At one time, I considered becoming a vet when I grew up (until I met organic chemistry, at which point I opted for the ever-so-practical English major instead).
So, yeah, I love animals. That being said, whenever I have company, I am quick to check if *they* like cats, and if they don’t and/or are allergic, I sequester my cat in another part of the house. I also vacuum everything prior to company’s arrival, because hey, I may love my cat but that doesn’t mean I want to wear her fur as an accessory any more than you do. (I likewise am anti-dog smell, anti-dog nose in the crotch, and find it abhorrent when dogs lick anything in the face. I will wash my hands pretty much immediately after petting a dog or if one licks my hand. Gack.)
Last but not least, I’m pretty sure the tag on this post said “humor” so, honestly, people…. lighten up!
Thanks for the morning chuckle. By reading over here, I’ve now successfully squandered away the time I was going to use to do some housework before I leave for work. Woot!
It’s fine if you don’t like animals, the only issue I take with your post is the fact that you didn’t realize after the first dog that you weren’t a pet person. Why’d you have to try 4 more times?
I tried different KINDS of dogs. Everyone was like, well, that dog is too big. That dog is too sheddy. That dog is too yippee. I was listening to suggestions because my kids & husband want a dog so badly.
One dog is with my parents. Outside. She is a farm dog and very happy. The German Shepard is living on a farm as well and chases ducks all day. One went back to the breeder who had a good home for her. And the other one went to a friend. All dogs are doing well. It’s not like I just abandoned them.
I don’t like dogs, but I gave it a college try. Also, I’m a dick. But not a huge dick.
I had the same question as Elizabeth. I think it’s time to stop getting dogs. Even if you find a good home for them when you realize they’re not working out, it’s still very hard on them — like a kid getting shuffled between foster homes.
I’m a crazy dog lover, but have no judgment for people who aren’t. They’re definitely not for everyone.
Yeah, again, I tried all different types of dogs. Now I am never going to have a dog ever again (no matter how badly my husband and children want one).
Also, I don’t think it’s the same as shuffling kids between foster homes. I would consider this more of a permanent adoption situation. I was very careful that each doggy had a good home. A better home than it had with me in the city.
Like kids getting shuffled between foster homes?!! Really? I honestly don’t even have words….that is an incredibly insensitive and inappropriate comparison.
^^^^TRUE^^^^
Lora, I’m sorry if my comment offended you. It wasn’t meant to be insensitive, but I stand by the comparison. I’m someone who was shuffled between homes as a kid. I also once gave away a dog I adopted because I realized I was too young (17) and not ready to care for a dog. Instead, I started volunteering at shelters to be able to spend time with dogs instead of taking on the commitment of having one. I’ve been doing that for 13 years, and have also added two shelter dogs to my family, but waited until I was sure I was ready for the commitment before I did so.
The bottom line is that all living things do best with consistency. I’m nowhere near the first person to compare shelter dogs to foster children (a Google search results in articles that describe it far more articulately than I have). Just as good adoption/foster agencies will decline prospective parents who have taken in and put out multiple children, the shelters I’ve worked with all decline adopters who return dogs multiple times.
Finding a good home for the dog(s) is great, although she shelters I’ve worked with also prohibit that and make adopters sign a contract agreeing that if they can’t care for the dog, they will return it to the shelter rather than try to find a home for the dog on their own. Everyone wants the dog to end up in a good home, but I’d like to believe we can all agree that being in the right home from the start is what’s best for all living things.
“I’d like to believe we can all agree that being in the right home from the start is what’s best for all living things.”
I like that statement. I know some parents of humans who could use that statement.
I wan ANTI-PET too.
Until I got my dog.
He is a shih-tzu and he’s the laziest dog on the planet.
He doesn’t smell.
He doesn’t shed.
He doesn’t bark.
He doesn’t need to be walked.
He doesn’t lick.
He doesn’t sniff crotches.
He is awesome. I think even *you* would like him.
exactly, Ali. I have the same dog (Shih-Tzu/Bischon) that seems to have the same attributes. I used to feel the same as Meredith. Until my kids begged and other people thought I was a monster for not letting my kids have a pet. My friends couldn’t believe I got a dog since I hated them so much.
You have simply gotten the wrong dogs.
He enjoys naps more than me and sometimes even entertains the kids so I can nap! And now the kids can’t complain that they don’t have a dog anymore either, win- win.
He DOES, however, eat underwear. hee.
touche.
I had a shih-tzu named Mickey. He was the best dog ever. No shedding, totally house trained, never smelled bad, no licking. I would walk him in the evening until he got too old to go far. Then we would just go to the dog park and other dogs would visit him. As strange as this may sound to you…..he was my best friend when I was going through the end of a ver bad 16 year marriage. He knew my feelings and, I loved him completely. He has been gone for 2.5 years now and I miss him a lot. I now have 2 Yorkies who are 3 and 7 pounds. No shedding, house trained but they do bark at anything or anyone who dares enter our neighborhood. What can I say? Love dogs….. Small ones…..can’t stand cats. I almost bought one of those little pigs 2 years ago but I like pork chops too much. Kidding!
I am not a dog person, yet I know we’ll be getting a dog within the next year. Stupid kids and husband’s who like dogs. I WILL NOT BE PICKING UP THE POOP! That will be their job thankyouverymuch.
I do agree they leave a smell and a gross feeling on my hands after petting them.
I don’t have issues with cat’s though.
We haven’t done so well on the fish front. 1 committed suicide by jumping into the garbage disposal, another was killed by Grandpa over feeding it while fish sitting and I sort of boiled the last one (cleaned the tank and the water was to hot, guess it wasn’t room temp). I think we are done with fish.
I have a dog that I love, but I’m the same way I am about animals that I am about children. I love my own, but other people’s….not usually.
We put our dog in another room when we have company because I know he can be overly friendly and I appreciate that not everyone wants my dog’s nose in their personal regions.
So very with you. I actually love pets, but as a mother, I realized pets are just more kids to take care of. I started loathing the pets we had when we brought the twins home from the hospital. The PPD made me really need less responsibility, and pets are more.
Anyway, we moved from Texas to Poland and could not take the dog or cat. My parents took the dog, but the cat had to be put to sleep. The last 2 months were awful. He went blind. He was a mess. Poor thing. We could not make someone else deal with that.
I like being able to take weekend trips. I like not having to take them to the vet or give them medicine. I’d given the cat an IV before! (Also pricked myself while doing it so I may have feline AIDS.)
The sad thing is that my kids love cats. They have already been promised one when we return to Texas. Whee.
I think your last comment there speaks to a truth about pet ownership. I firmly believe that allowing kids to have a pet makes them more compassionate to all living things. I think owning and caring for a pet is an important lesson for children developmentally.
I agree. Plus, my boys are beyond cute with cats. They adore them and love them so much. I can’t say no to that.
When you seriously add up all of the costs of owning a dog over 10 years, food, veterinary, emergencies, replacing material possessions ruined by the dog and most important of all, the time it takes to care for the dog, in other words, if you granted yourself 20 dollars per hr for the time you spend on dog associated things: taking the dog outside, walking the dog, travel time, gas money to go buy the food, etc… It all adds up to one child’s college tuition. A dog is a horrible investment and when you really think about it, a parasite.
You must have a large expensive dog.
My mom had a little dog and it cost 20 dollars a month for food. Added up over 10 years, like I said, that’s 2400 dollars alone in food. And I’m guessing 20 dollars is a conservative estimate.
I am on Team William!
But, really, it’s all relative. Some people can drop that much on their pets and not blink an eye…
I’ve dropped that much on the stock market before without blinking an eye but it still made me an idiot.
There is no doubt that owning a dog costs money and time…but for some people the payment of unending love is worth it. I’ve never looked at my dog as an investment in anything other than my mental health. The average cost of owning a dog is approximately $2000 a year, which, for some people is worth and is always an average. I walk to buy our dog’s food, we walk to the vet, and he’s never chewed anything up or destroyed anything so a lot of the costs you outline might not be relevant to every pet owner.
I love the idea of investing in mental health and I agree it’s the most important investment we can make. That’s why I’ll be spending that $2000 on 20 more massages next year and a fully paid meditation retreat in New Mexico.
As someone else mentioned, dogs smell like dog. They can’t help it, the just do. Even dogs who are frequently bathed (friend’s lab, friend’s shih tzu, parent’s mutt) still stink of dog from time to time. I grew up with dogs and really dislike the smell of dog on my hands. I also really dislike how much they slobber. But I love my cat. We have a Cat Genie, so no litter box smell (it self cleans after each usage). And I know that cat hair gets into places, but I’m ok with that. If I had a friend who was very allergic, or just didn’t want to get cat hairy, I certainly wouldn’t hold it against them if they didn’t want to come over. To each their own. I don’t care if you don’t like animals, as long as you’re not cruel to them, since no animal deserves that (and the author is obviously not torturing animals). I will say, though, that I would draw the line at a blood transfusion. We recently had to make the decision for one of our cats. She was only 6, but she had been sick her whole life, she was getting worse, and we’d already spent a lot of money on diagnostic tests that yielded no results. The next step was exploratory surgery, and we simply could not afford it. I’ve never had to make a more difficult decision, and I cried and cried over it. My husband cried over it. It was awful. And because of that, when our remaining cat passes on, I’m not sure if we’ll get another. We probably will. But that was a horrible decision to have to make.
OMG my boyfriend feels the same way you do – to the point where he rarely comes over to my house because of my 2 dogs, 1 cat, 2 turtles and a rabbit (which, yes, I know is excessive – and I won’t be replacing them when they go to the great pet heaven in the sky). But when people find this out about him they make it seem like he’s some awful monster. No one EVER says anything about my excessive number of pets, but they sure feel the need to villify my boyfriend for his dislike of pets. I, on the other hand, get where he’s coming from and just deal with the situation. I’m not sure what will happen in the future though, because the pets are a definite barrier to taking our relationship to the next level. He can’t see moving in with all these pets, and I can’t see giving my child’s pets away for some MAN. I’m sure there’s a compromise in there somewhere……..
But really, when did not wanting to have pets/not liking pets make you some sort of awful person??
I’m with you. I don’t have any pets and don’t want them. Which is weird because I grew up with a dog and cats in the house. I always say I don’t need pets, I have children. ;)
Well I’m dog sitting two dogs right now… I don’t appreciate their fur either so I dress for the occasion. And my roommate has two dogs that I frequently offend because I don’t feel like petting them, or them laying on me, or their dog slobber or fur on me. I like dogs like I like children… at arms length.
Even though I sit on the complete opposite side of the fence as you, I can’t say you are wrong. Pets are a personal choice, you are either into them or you are not. My dog is a member of our family and I can’t imagine life without him, but that doesn’t mean I expect everyone else to love him the same way I do (even though most people who visit do love him becuase he is a sweet snuggle bug). All I expect is for people to let me take him to dog park to run free and not act aggressively towards him when we are out on a walk. I do my part in being a good owner, keeping our dog from jumping on people, I pick up after his messes and always keep him on a leash unless we are in a dog park.
That said, jerks who bring their kids and set up a picnic at the dog beach in Chicago can kiss my butt. IT IS A DOG BEACH. Sorry if my dog just stole your kid’s Pringles, but there is a PEOPLE BEACH twenty yards to the right, separated by a fence. GO OVER THERE. Gah.
I agree totally
Honestly, I am so laughing about this post. Good job. I would so like to be your friend. Not because you don’t like pets in your house (I don’t care and neither do I believe that I have a chance in hell on advising you on what you have/do in your own house) but because you are able to speak a somewhat explosive opinion in such a public way and respond reasonably to folks who want to judge you and push their lovey-dovey pet attitudes down your throat- “You just have the wrong dog.” lol Long live the honest person who knows her limitations as well as her aspirations and finds peace in the midst of it all. ♥
{high five} I’m anti-pet too. We actually have a dog right now that my kids begged for (but never, ever play with) and my husband okay’d. The poor thing never gets any attention. I feel sorry for her.
We also have a guinea pig, but he is kind of cool. We take turns cleaning the cage so it isn’t that bad. Plus he loves me best so that makes me like him more.
I’m with you, I know my dislike of pets stems in some way from the ridiculous allergies I have, but I’m a no pet kind of girl…it sort of makes me a little happy that I have the ridiculous allergies because it means we CAN’T have pets.
YES! THIS!
I am so on the same team as you. We are not a “pet-friendly” home, we are “pet-free” home. No, your dog can’t come in my house, sit on my couch, or sleep in my spare bed. I will not look after your dog when you go on vacation, I will not feel sorry for you when you spend your savings on having your dogs, that you paid $75 for, leg amputated because another dog ran it over at the dog park. I don’t care how often you bathe your dog, to me, it ALWAYS smells (like dog). Hair? disgusting, my own included. While you call the dog licking your face “kisses”, I call it revolting and would rather you stopped it from doing it, rather than me having to yell at it.
That being said, I will respect that you choose to have a dog and I will not complain about it when at your home. But more than likely, I will just invite you to my house instead.
The only dogs I have ever liked are the ones that are EXTREMELY well behaved, don’t lick, sniff, rub up against and basically ignore me just as I ignore it.
I in NO way compare dogs to kids and have a hard time conversing when other people do. I don’t care how much you love your dog, it is NOT the same as someones kid. Period.
A girl after my own heart! Amen and Amen!!!!!
My daughter just this morning told me she thinks she is old enough for a pet. I am just like you- I am not a pet person! We had two cats and when they died, we decided we were done owning pets. Mostly because we don’t like poop. I don’t want to clean up any animal’s poop ever again.
I think I’m gonna order us a pet rock. They don’t poop.
totally agree Meredith. we recently moved and i banned the pets outside as they’re both old and cannot hold their bladder anymore. we lost our cat last week when he apparently decided to fight at his old age and lost badly. the dog is actually happy outside these days and comes in for about 30 minutes a day and is banned from all carpeted rooms. i’m happier cause, like you said, the house doesn’t smell anymore. after the dog passes on, i do not see us owning anymore in the future.
I don’t need people to like my pets to make me like my pets. I usually assume people hate animals when they visit so I put my dogs away. Unless I hate the person visiting, then all bets are off.
I’m fine with people not liking animals. I don’t try to talk them into getting pets. All I want is the same in return–the acknowledgement that I do love pets, that they are worth it to me. Definitely a “to each her own” kind of thing.
That said, my house=my rules. If you’re bothered by the hair, you should probably stay off my couch.
I have two dogs and a cat and I have many days that I want to kill them but I can’t imagine my life without them. I am one of those crazy people who spent $4000 fixing my 3 year old dogs two torn ACLs. And I will spend $300 at the yearly vet visit very soon. I would have a million pets if it wasn’t for the money. I don’t have a problem with you being anti-pet but I do have friends like you who have issues with the pet hair in my house. I feel like telling them my pets live here you don’t and it’s August. I could vacuum everyday and there will still be hair, I can’t help it and if you don’t like it you probably shouldn’t come into my house!
I love my dog. My kids love our dog. My new husband loves our dog. I don’t give a shit if anyone else loves my dog and I don’t try to force him on anyone. He is 7 years old and most likely we won’t get a new one when he is gone. Although- i imagine he will pass about the time my youngest graduates HS- so we will definately have an empty nest and may reconsider. But for now- it is a pain to find pet sitters, so once Russell has lived his wonderful spoiled life on earth- I think we will be done. (We still have 4 birds…those are another story altogether- they belonged to my husband before i came along- but they don’t need a pet sitter for short trips!)
Since you are so caring to know about my dog that greets you at the door and wants you to share your food with her….
She was 9 not 13…
Thank you to those that understand the love I have for my dog…
When you are in a situation and take your dog to the vet on an emergency case… and you are told you need to make a decision… I chose to save her life!
I do not have children (another one of my choices)…. and she is way easier to take care of then kids…. she doesn’t talk back, I can leave her alone to run to the store… and the cost of her blood transfusion was way less than it will ever be to raise a child…
See you at Thanksgiving. It should be nice and awkward! Next time you come over, Sassee will be taught to attack Aunt Meredith. HA
I was never very good at Math.
That’s nice you saved her life.
I am going to teach my children to toilet paper your house. HA!
I hate smelly dogs who don’t get baths and I hate when people let their dogs and cats shed all over everything and it gets all over everything and me. BUT I love my dog and I love my brothers cat who he left with my family when he moved so now its my family cat. My parents paid an obscene amount of money for our previous dogs and while it did give them more time, in the end I felt it made it that much more painful for them.
I know people who don’t have kids or can’t have kids so they treat their pets like children, which I completely understand, to an extent. No doggie strollers. Thats just weird.
I partly agree with you.
I hate inside pets, for all the reasons you described- the shedding, the smell, etc. But I really like animals. We have two cats and a dog, and they are outside pets. When it is cold, they sleep in a shed with a heat lamp. When we get home, we play with them, sometimes take a walk with them, then go in and wash our hands. Luckily my husband is anti-indoor pets, too.
My family had a wide variety of pets growing up, including a cats, dogs, a deer, and several bottle calves. I can’t imagine growing up without any pets at all!
I know. THIS is where I struggle. I really want my children to have pets. But I also want to keep my shoes in tact. I think I need to fence in our yard. Maybe the outside thing is the way to go.
Noooooo. I thought you learned your pet lesson 5857587544 comments and one post ago! The solution to, “I Hate Pets! and send them far, far away everytime they don’t work out!” is NOT to get an outside pet. Unless you count wild animals that you view from a distance. That might be okay. Maybe.
OKAY! You’re right. I’ll just look at chipmunks and pretend I own them from my kitchen window.
I am right there with you. I don’t like pets. Never have. My friends all know this, and think I’m terrible, but love me anyway. We got a dog a year ago because my husband and kids wore me down with their incessant pleading. I tolerate her. I am never mean, unkind, or cruel to her, but I don’t love her. She smells like a dog, she slobbers, she drinks out of the toilet, and she poops in the yard. Ick. But, she makes the rest of my family happy. So there is that.
Some of the same things could be said for kids.
I grew up with dogs and I love our current dog, but I fully understand where you’re coming from on the anti-pet stance. I have an anti-child stance myself, to each his own.
We are quite strict with our dog, to the point where a friend of ours has commented on this, but then I look at his ill-mannered dog and chuckle to myself. I think it boils down to the dog owner and the rules/training that has been put in place when guests arrive and just in regular day to day life. We don’t want to be *those* people with the annoying, barking, slobbering, jumping dog.
That being said, if you come over to our house, rest assured the carpets will have been vacuumed, the floors swept et al to minimize the amount of hair you take home with you :), I have a corgi, they shed. And, if my dog is being an ass, which he does from time to time, we are not shy from putting him in his crate for a while.
YES!!! OH MY WORD. I’m anti-pet and struggled to help my family/friends with animals to understand that I don’t HATE their animal, I just don’t like ANY animals. Totally agree!
Way to go trying to have your own pets for your kids, I won’t even go that far. We’re a no pet family and some folks get more disdain from that decision than if we were to announce (before kids) we would be a no-kid family. I don’t get it.
(We are a kid family, with no pets just to clarify)
YES! I don’t hate YOUR animals, I hate ALL animals!!! True Story.
I don’t hate you, because if my dog stank and stuck his nose in my crotch and slobbered, i’d hate him too. Sounds like you are surrounded by BAD pet owners. I happen to love pets, but I realize not everyone feels that way and I’d never try and persuade someone who isn’t a pet lover to have a pet.
The way you feel about pets… I feel about kids.
I have 4 cats, 4 chickens & a dog & yet I agree with you. I like the cats the most, I tolerate the dog that DH insisted no child should grow up without & the chickens at least produce eggs but overall I am not an animal person
I am an animal lover! I have 3 dogs and 2 tree frogs right now but I have owned every pet except cats because I don’t want to be the weird cat lady.
That being said, my dog was licking his penis the entire time I was reading this post so I totally understand and no, I am not infuriated.
I have four dogs and three cats so I guess you can tell I really really like animals and no, I´m not infuriated because I understand we are all different people. I can tolerate cat hair and dog slobber but not a diaper full of poop!! So there´s that.. and I´m not anti children, I just don´t like doing some sutff myself. I guess I´ll have to find someone to help me out with dirty diapers and vomit when my baby arrives the same way I have people helping me out with my pets cleaning after them, bathing them and taking care of them while I´m away for whatever reason.
Nanny. Get a nanny. I have one. I love her.
Maybe I would like dogs if they made a dog nanny.
this is why you do like me and have a nanny that changes diapers and dog sits. win win :)
I like animals, grew up with them (dogs, cats, gerbils), even have a cat right now, but somewhat agree with you…as long as they are properly taken care of, then I would think most people wouldn’t have a problem with pets. You could come over to my home and not smell the litterbox, and also not have hair all over the place, and since she is also well-groomed, she doesn’t stink…it just depends on the quality of the owner…you will see evidence of a cat though…toys and a food dish, same is if I had a human child…toys, highchair, and whatnot, just different supplies for a different type of ‘kid’…also, when it’s her time to go someday, I will let her go, I won’t be cruel and make her hang on for my benefit; that is wrong…I wouldn’t do that to my future husband or kids, so why would I do that to a pet?
my cat has a facebook page.
that is all :)
HAHAHA! Tell your pussy to “friend” me.
LMAO!!!…..FYI…….October comes really fast for the soon to be dog lover! HA!
I KNOW! I have to *oh the pain* dog sit my dog I gave away.
Yeah….kids are nasty too. Just as gross, more expensive, and at some point they’re supposed to actually act like humans and they never do. I wouldn’t ask you to lock up your kids outside when I come over….it’s the same for me when people come over to my house. It’s THEIR house, too. Not our guests’ home. THEIRS and OURS. And with all those people who said you just never got the right dog—they’re wrong. Don’t get a dog. Ever. It’s like having kids…if you HATE kids, don’t have them. It’s everyone’s own choice.
Yeah, I HATE pets. I won’t make that mistake again. I like kids. I keep making those little suckers.
You should NOT have said that to your sister.
She forgave me. Plus she totally “gets” it that I don’t “get” the whole pets are like people thing.
But, yes. I should have not have said that to my SIL. It’s a good thing we love each other so much.
I still love her.
Even if she doesn’t love my dog.
I still love her kids too, even though I don’t want any of my own.
I really admire your honesty. I don’t hate animals, but I NEVER want a pet. EVER. And if you admit that out loud people act like you’re some kind of seal-clubbing monster. My family keeps telling me that someday I’ll change my mind because “the kids need a pet”. Um, no. They don’t “need” a pet. I know damn well who would end up taking care of it, too. ME!
Amen. I am not a pet person either. Never have been, never will be.
I have never ever ever met a dog that didn’t smell. Just saying. SO not a dog person. They are just gross, even when well-behaved and pretty clean. I get so annoyed that my sister’s dogs have to spend Christmas with us, opening presents like they were actual grandchildren.
I do like having a cat. But we’ve had a series of cats since every couple years or so they seem to get hit by a car or eaten by coyotes. And nobody here gets too bent out of shape about it. Some would say it’s cruel to have an outside cat knowing its likely to have a short life around here, but I think they have a good ‘nough life.
I love cats because they are easy to care for. Make sure they have food and a relatively clean litter box and you’re good to go! Want to go away for a week? Go for it! Want to pet something soft and fuzzy? Do it! Don’t want to pet something soft and fuzzy? Not a problem (usually)!
I like my dog, but I’m not a dog person. I cried when the last one died, but not for a week or anything… Dogs are a lot more work than cats. Having dogs is similar to having children – especially when they’re puppies.
The animal fur can be a problem… We have four cats (one is a long-hair) and one dog; the fur can be a bit much around here. No wearing new black pants, to my house, I’m afraid. When I’m in my work clothes, I don’t sit down. But, I generally change immediately after getting home anyways, so it’s not an issue. Besides, that’s what they make lint brushes for!
I can’t see me ever being completely petless… I will always have at least one cat.
I too like animals more than I like people. Animals don’t lie to you. They don’t judge when you eat a whole pint of Ben and Jerry’s. They miss you when you’re gone and are always happy to see you when you come home. They don’t ask to borrow the car. They don’t experiment with drugs. They love you more than anyone in the whole world and it’s pure unconditional love.
You mean my husband is staring at me, while I’m eating this tub of ice cream for breakfast, and judging me? DAMN HIM!
Yep! Bastards!
I absolutely love dogs. I grew up with dogs, once we had 8, 2 cats, a bird and a rat insanity. But I won’t get a dog or any pet for that matter, because I will have to be their sole caregiver and I already have my hands full with my kids. They are more work than I’m willing to deal with right now. My kids tell me when they’re hungry, will eventually use the bathroom on their own as well as cloth, bathe and feed themselves, a pet never will. I am also allergic to all cats and most dogs except the super short haired ones; pittbulls, rottweilers, bulldogs, and my renters insurance would skyrocket with one of them. I would make the exception for a Sphynx because my friend has one and they are awesome, but expensive.
No one should hate you for your opinion, that’s ridiculous. You have your own thoughts and just because they aren’t the same as everyone else doesn’t make you a monster it makes you an individual like me and every other damn person.
Ps; sorry punctuation isn’t my strong suit at 3:59 am
Nothing is my strong suit at 3:59am. I see you used a semi-colon up there. Those things freak me out. I am giving this comment an A+!
I agree more than 200% . Although I am not afraid of dogs in the least, my daughters are freaked out by them. So I’ve been trying to make an effort to be nicer about dogs and even stop to pet some as they are walking with their owners around us….. but I hate it. I hate the way they smell and lick….. yuck.
I just got to say, I am with you sista! :)
I am so glad you posted this! I am anti-pet too (for all of the reasons stated above) and people act like it’s the same as hating dogs or wishing evil upon them. I’m sorry, but no, I don’t understand why you act like your dog is equal to a child. And for every person who swears their pets are problem-free, inevitably they post on Facebook about dog diarrhea, cat puke, or my favorite – expensive medicine for MENTAL ISSUES like anxiety. Seriously?!! When people choose not to have children, I don’t treat them like evil kid-haters – I respect their decision. Unfortunately, I don’t get the same treatment.
I have three cats and I love them with all my heart. They are beautiful, smart, hilarious, loving creatures and I am so grateful to have them in my life. In my heart, they absolutely are my family and I feel so incredibly blessed. Sure, they shed some, they puke some, they pee and poo which sometimes smells (whose doesn’t??), but it’s all a very small price to pay to feel how I do when I know they trust me completely and love & adore me as much as I do them. It’s simply amazing.
My parent’s have a dog that sleeps next to my dad’s dirty socks or his shoes at night for the smell… my mom scarred me for life once by telling me when i was a teenager that the dog, who slept in the laundry room, was intentionally sleeping with his nose nestled up to my used pantyliner that he’d found on my laundry… she said that so I’d remember better to take them off.
Sorry.
I’d rather read your story (a non-pet person who admits it) than the story of someone who feels like they should have a pet but can’t stand it. My aunt is the latter. She has a maltese that spends 20 hours a day in his kennel. He was never socialized and her kids are afraid of it. She got him “because every family needs a dog, right?” Wrong. She ruined that animal and it’s going to die miserable. Better to know who you are and what you want than be an oblivious nut job.
I have always had lots of pets. I worked in a shelter in college, and was a vet tech to pay my way through a semester or two. That said, here are my thoughts:
–First and foremost, getting a dog and then leaving it alone in the backyard for 23 hours a day is solitary confinement, and incredibly cruel for a pack animal. Please, please don’t do this unless you have a farm with other animals your dog can interact with.
–Second, I love my cats and dog dearly, and will provide *reasonable* medical care and companionship for them until they die
–third, since I had my baby 12 months ago, the CONSTANT fur and hairball puke and scattered litter and noise is making me fucking crazy, and I sort of can’t wait until at least the cats kick the bucket. The dog and baby love eachother, and the dog is a good watchdog (for a Golden Retriever, that is), so he bothers me less. I wish I could just keep him shaved all the time, though
–I wish I could keep my house clean and hair-free. I own every Dyson and Spotbot in existence, but it’s not in the cards right now. So for the time being I just can’t wear black, keep a lint roller in my purse, and pick the fur off of my baby’s food whenever I can.
–fucking pets…
–but I still love them.
I don’t hate you for not wanting pets if your own, don’t hate you for thinking that you would not spend money on what you consider excessive medical procedures. However I do find it offensive that you seem to want to judge those of us who have pets. As long as I am not asking you to subsidize what I pay for my pets, that is not for you to judge. I would never pay for the things some people buy, but hey, it is their money.
As for the pet fur at my house, I always tell people I have pets, so they can decline to come to my house. I understand if they choose to decline, and I do not judge them for it.
I love my pets, they make my husband and I happy. So they are more than worth what I spend.
Oh my word, you absolutely read my mind!! I say this all the time!! I’m telling you our downfall as a society was domesticating animals!!! The hair, smell, sober, poop, pee, dander, NO THANKS!!!
Well, that’s ok. Not everyone likes pets!
Let’s just say I would not invite you over.
Oh, and in a choice between having you put down or my cat put down..
Let’s just say that my cats would still be around, and leave it at that.
Is that acceptable?
Or did I just infuriate you?
:P
Wow. I’m speechless at how far you took a post about me not wanting a pet. I’m not furious. I’m shocked.
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I tried to post a reply but don’t see it hear so here goes again.
The Great Pet Debate:
As a breeder/trainer/handler of dogs and horses, and as a mother of 3, grandmother of 3 let me post a thought on pets.
I agree that pets should not greet guests with a sniff up the crotch or jumping all over you. Guests that are allergic should not be subject to pet hair and such. If someones pet has not been trained then it should be removed from the room before the guests arrive. If you know someone is coming for a visit vacuum the house and clean that litter box. After all, you would like your friends to feel comfortable and wanted.
That being said, and remember I have kids and grand kids, I too should not be tormented when I come to visit. I don’t need your kids screaming in my ears, grabbing my cloths with jam covered hands or trying to sit on my lap with a long over due diaper change. I have been driven from stores shopping from screaming, crying kids that their parents refuse to do anything about. I have had my long over due evening out ruined by a child misbehaving in a restaurant after 9pm (I blame the parents entirely. After all the child is only hungry and tired.)
If someone chooses to indulge themselves by spending money on frivolous items for their pets, how is that any different than someone that insists on buying Tommy H. for their kids? The pets don’t care about the expensive items and neither do the toddlers.
Think first before you tell someone to “just put their sick dog down”. To someone that seriously loves their pet this is akin to you being told “just let nature take it’s course” when you have a sick child. Even if your child is not seriously ill (as my first child was and died) you don’t need anyone telling you to make light of the situation. It’s their beloved pet or your child and no one, not even those meaning well spiritually or otherwise, should impose their beliefs on another.
My suggestion is if you don’t like others pet’s, let them know as diplomatically as you’d expect someone to tell you that they don’t like kids. If you put the shoe on the other foot it gives a whole new perspective.
I used to love animals, we had a cat, a dog and a fish. Then, all of a sudden, we had 2 cats, 2 dogs, and the damn fish is still alive after 2 years! I grew up with dogs and cats in my family, took care of them, never had any issues with either. But now that I have kids and a Hubby, pets just don’t appeal to me anymore. When I clean my house for 2 hours, sweeping up 3-4 dustpans worth of dog hair, picking up pieces of chewed up flip flops and anything else the puppy can find, I don’t really want any pets anymore! I told my husband, that when our oldest dog goes, (she’s 13), if he even thinks of bringing another animal into this house, I will leave!
I think my bitching and yelling while cleaning all the hair and chunks of flip flops is getting to him, he hasn’t hinted around anymore about the cute puppies his friends dog had! I am SO with you, the only pet I ever want to have again is a pet rock!!!
I don’t necessarily “hate” pets, but I can do without for sure. It’s just one more thing on my already extremely long “take care of” list.
We’ve had gerbils, fish, cats, and dogs. We now are down to only a dog but the spastic licking and extreme shedding have me at my wits end. I mean, I opened my freezer door and there was dog hair just inside the door! Gross! She’s bathed, brushed, and taken care of but the shedding is out of control!
The other day she chewed my carpet while I was in the shower and then there’s the dog sitter thing. I can’t always take her with me when I leave and I’m not paying a doggy daycare to doggy sit so I end up having to beg friends to take care of her while I’m away.
I love her to pieces, don’t get me wrong, but if it weren’t for my boys I think I would be just fine not having a pet at all.
It’s such a fallacy that pet owners are animal lovers. It could not be farther from the truth. People own (read: OWN) animals to satisfy their own psychological needs. I’m an animal lover, but NOT a pet owner. Why would anyone want to castigate, castrate, and incarcerate an animal and still call themselves ANIMAL LOVERS?
Wow! Never thought of it like this! I love this point of view.
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I’m pretty much right there with you, but our 11-year-old golden retriever whom my daughter just exclaimed is “practically Dad’s best friend!” It’s going to be a long night, I’m afraid…