Angelika- I completely agree with you! Pets are no more disposable than kids are. I am absolutly apalled that some people put their pets to sleep just because they can’t or don’t want to take care of them anymore. I understand and support the use of euthansia when a pet is obviously terminally ill (which ended up being the case with the dog I had as a kid) or injured to the point that it’s quality of life will be severely impacted if it does manage to survive.

However, to euthinise a pet just because you don’t want it anymore is, IMO, downright inhumane! There’s no reason an innocent dog, cat, or other pet should have to die because it’s owners don’t want to or can’t care for it any longer!

If you absolutly have to give up your pet, then give it to someone else or at least take it to a shelter! Even then, I believe that you should at least try to find a new home for the pet before you resort to taking it to a shelter. There are lots of people out there who would love to have a pet!

Those two will make beautiful babies. I hope they are able to conceive quickly!

I have to weigh in on the pets thing… although in my opinion the statement doesn’t carry much weight coming from someone with no kids, I have to agree that having pets did somewhat prepare me for having kids (well, I only have one right now but hoping to have more in the future).

Learning to live with a less-than-clean house, dropping whatever you are doing to take care of someone else, etc. Also, it gave me a glimpse of what my boyfriend (now my husband) would be like as a father. And gave us practice in resolving differences of opinion on how we should discipline and learning to present a unified front!

“. . . should never EVER be allowed to have a pet. EVER.”

I agree with you Angelika, but not everyone is as caring and compassionate as you are.

I have heard stories from animal shelters of pets being taken to the pound because they no longer matched their owner’s decor, SERIOUSLY! It’s just disgusting how people can be.

When I adopted my cat (now 10) from a shelter, I had to sign a piece of paper stating I would properly care for him and that he had to be an indoor cat, among a ton of other things. Of course it was just a piece of paper, but I took it seriously. I have had pets since I was born and I know how special they are and I know that it hurts like heck when they are taken from us unexpectedly.

It amazes me that so many adults have never had pets before. The only pet my husband had (before our cat) was a hamster, unfortunately.

What’s funny is that since we have had our cat, I see how great my husband is with him and I hope that it shows he will be great with our future children too. I won’t agree with the argument that having pets trains you for parenthood, but pets definitely add something to an ordinary hum-drum life and make life worth living and they do (if done properly) show you how to care for someone other than yourself.

Whoever said this: “…BUT if that thing gets on your nerves you can return it to the pound, people have the option of putting animals to sleep, and you can leave that animal unattended…raising a child is not the same as caring for a pet”

should never EVER be allowed to have a pet. EVER. I have three dogs and cats AND a young son, and my pets did somewhat prepare me for a baby. You have to be responsible and care for you pets – its not all about YOU when you have a pet. Is the exact same as having a baby? Well, no of course not. But can the comparison be made? Absolutely.

And for the record – my pets ARE my first babies.

when did this site turn into a place to argue and bicker over every little thing people say? everytime i read the comments i get knots in my stomach. everyone is so judgemental

I completely agree with you, happywindy. While having a child may be a far greater commitment than having a pet in the long run, the fact that people here are talking so carelessly about “getting sick of your dog” and sending it back to the pound is disgusting. Perhaps Teresa isn’t as off the mark as some are making her out to be when she says if you can raise a pet properly, you can raise a child properly. If people are so willing to take on the responsibility of adopting a cat, dog, etc. and signing a contract promising to love and care for that animal no matter what only to kick it to the curb when you don’t feel like caring for it anymore, what does that say for their sense of personal responsibility as well as responsibility for another life? Every pet is completely dependent on them for their physical and mental needs?

I agree with teresa and renee. This isn’t an issue. And I would say that having a dog does PREPARE you a little more for what it would be like to have a kid. Not saying it’s the SAME. Teresa I see the comparisons you were making with the stages and agree with you. And for the people who are saying there is no way it can prepare you, Maybe it wouldn’t help everyone but it would help some people to have a pet and know that added responsiblity.

I have to be home at certain times on weekends & every weeknight to feed and walk him (gets fed & walked twice per day). I have to pay his very pricey medical expenses. I am there to clean up his vomit and diarrhea. He wakes me in the middle of the night if he needs to go outside to the toilet- which if mostly at about 2am, and can take me a while to fall back to sleep. When we go on holidays we have to drop him nearly 2 hours away from our house and pay $33 per day! He also has anxiety issues that we are getting training for…..

So as you can see, its not exactly the same, but I definitely see the comparisons!!

I totally agree with HappyWindy. I’ve found that raising a pet is very similar to raising a baby, if you’re a true animal lover. I’m not going to create a list comparing/contrasting the two. lol. I will say that REAL pet owners who love their pets and their children know that both are lifetime commitments. When I take on a pet I plan to give it the best life possible for as long as it shall live. My human babies and my furry babies are both to be taught, cared for and adored. Plus, my first furry baby will always be my “first born”. I LOVE my pets.

Sara – you seriously need to chill out. This whole thing is a non-issue. You are blowing this WAY out of proportion. All I am saying is that it is COMPARABLE in the young stages, not the SAME. Having dog teaches you responsibility and on-going care of another being whether it be human or a pet. I’m not stupid. I know there is a difference.