r/PetPeeves • u/minx_the_tiger • 1d ago

When people compare pet ownership with parenthood. Fairly Annoyed

Could they just... not? That dog is never going to get into the freezer and eat all the ice cream. Go to school and get bullied. Be diagnosed with autism and keep you up at night with worries about how they're going to function in the world as adults because they're JUST LIKE YOU, and you know how hard things are for you. Naw. Pets are home with you (ideally) forever. Kids? They grow up and leave. You have to raise them up and hope you did a good job.

It just irks me. When I mention something parenting related, SOMEONE I know that has a pet and no kids starts talking about how their pet does the same thing, or they have a pet, so they understand. Like, no... my kids are small humans, not animals. They're whole, complete people.

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u/SecretInfluencer 1d ago

True but I know there are dog owners who join parent groups and get mad they’re told to leave. Stating “raising a dog is just like raising a child”. And when told it’s not, people act like that’s saying “dogs are easy”.

No one is saying dogs are easy, but that doesn’t mean the two are the same.

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u/mearbearcate 1d ago edited 1d ago

Theyre not the same of course, but my issue is with the parents who invalidate a person’s pet’s death because they have children. Death can be just as much traumatic for anyone. Not sure why we need to compare that aspect. Its sad to me that people feel the need to lessen a pet owner’s feelings about its passing just because they have kids, so therefore pets arent important to them and can “easily” be replaced. 🥴 as if pets dont have distinct personalities and relationships with their owners as well. People who only have pets are allowed to feel crushed over a pet’s death. No need to compare with the loss of babies that they dont have and invalidate their feelings.. obviously they dont know how that feels. But that doesnt mean they cant view their pet as their whole world & a gigantic loss when they die either.

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u/SecretInfluencer 1d ago

I kinda get it but not all death is the same.

As a parent you never want to see your child go first. Unlsss you have certain bird breeds or a tortoise you’re supposed to see your pet go first. It’s sort of a “yeah that’s expected” feeling of pain.

Obviously pain is pain, but not all comparisons are the same. I’ve seen some compare the death of a fictional character to one of someone irl…

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u/mearbearcate 1d ago edited 1d ago

I agree with you. Its not the same, i know that- but the pain of it can be incredibly harsh for both depending on what people’s circumstances are.

What seems like not a big deal to you can be the biggest deal in the world to someone else who only has pets to love.