Not long ago, an article titled, “Pets are not children, so stop calling them that“Appeared on Cut. The post attracted 929 comments directly on the page, not to mention the countless readers who weighed in on the matter via social media. While many expressed an ability to understand both sides of the argument, the majority of responses drew clear lines between the two poles of opinion.
We live in a world where the definition of “parent” has been stretched and redefined many times to fit our modern families. With stepparents, birth parents, surrogate parents, adoptive parents, foster parents, extended family and friends acting as primary caregivers for children, allowing pet owners to enjoy Is mind most within really a crime?
After all, isn’t it the level of commitment to work that really makes a parent?
Since this topic definitely seems nerve-wracking, let’s explore Cutof the article a little further using a direct quote from the author.
Point one: “When people call themselves pets ‘parents’, they’re not just having fun. They sincerely believe that what they are doing is parenting.”
A recent study by rover.com found that 94% of pet owners in the US consider them part of the family. But only because we shouted “Mommy come home!” When we walk through the door, it doesn’t mean we don’t understand the difference between raising a dog and raising a human!
The author provides no data to show how many pet owners are unlikely to find that raising a human is not the same as loving and caring for a pet. However, he or she describes people who say “pet parents” as continuing to have “gentle delusions” or experiencing “a withdrawal from the world.”
Second point: “Your pet has a parent and that parent is not human. That parent is another animal…”
Again, I suspect that this fact is lost on most pet owners. Anyone with even the slightest understanding of biology knows that it really is an animal gave birth to their dog or cat. The author distinguishes between animals and humans to illustrate his point that we love our pets because they are not like us, but we treat them as hairy humans.
“We wanted them to be like us, but quieter and more predictable. Something we can control,” he/she wrote.
Third point: “Pets don’t change. Your pet may slow down as it ages, but otherwise the time you spend with it will always be the same. “
This seems to be the main point of the argument to the author, and the one he or she makes with the following statement about children:
“In stark contrast to pets, children are always trying to be bigger, better and better than their parents. Children are cunning and cunning children, with long memories and big plans. Not only do they grow, they grow.”
Pets never betray you, the author notes, but the same certainly can’t happen to humans – at least in all species of ever-changing juveniles!
Fourth point: “We should remember that pets are an extension of us. We keep them to meet our needs, not theirs.”
Some people may add a pet to their family on a selfish whim, but for others, caring for the world’s abused, abandoned, and unloved animals is a call they can’t help but answer – often at the expense of their carpet, their wallet, their sleep. and stay awake!
To say that people who choose to have pets over children are simply trying to “meet their own needs” is a big generalization. Not all breeders deserve the title of “mom” or “dad” and not all pet owners deserve to be called “pet parents”!
Fifth point: “You cannot “parent” a pet because you have not taught it how to leave you and become an independent being. Your pet has no choice but to love you. “
The author goes on to suggest that our pets “love” us because we are their source of food, shelter, and safety. While this is certainly true, anyone who has experienced falling in love with a pet knows that it goes much deeper than survival instincts.
Point Six: “We now prefer simulation to reality, where petting is like playing with a live doll, an opportunity to enjoy parenting activities and rituals without any purpose, consequence, or hard work.”
Our dogs and cats give us a huge sense of purpose and they sure do the hard work! Is a dog mother a parent in the same sense as a human mother? Absolutely not! There are clear differences in the responsibilities and standards of each job, but to say that pet ownership lacks “purpose, consequence, or hard work” is simply not true.
If you take biology out of the picture, the words that come to mind when I hear the phrase “parent” are unconditional love, nurturing, responsibility, devotion, sacrifice, purpose… Sound like anyone you know?
You can read Cut‘S Full article here. Please let us know what you think about this discussion-worthy topic in the comments!
Featured images via Flickr / BrightEyedMedia
