Saying Your Dog Is Your "Baby" Is an Insult to Moms Everywhere (from Facebook article)

[patricia92243]

I personally find this stupid beyond words. What do you think?
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I have a dog. Two dogs, in fact. We got our puppies before we got our kids, and we loved them. We kissed them. We cuddled them. We bought them too many toys; we overindulged them with treats. We gave them silly pet names and let them sleep in our beds.

But never did we call those beloved canines "furkids" or "furbabies." Because the last I checked, dogs ain't people.


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Your puppy is not your child, so stop saying that he is. I have three children now, and I know this for certain — kids and dogs are not same.

Think about when you got your puppy. You probably picked him out at the local ASPCA, or selected him from the local breeder. Basically, you pointed to a dog and said, "That one."

On the other hand, most mothers went through nine months of body invasion, followed by one of the most intense physical experiences of her life. Then they dropped a baby on her chest. It was all agony and joy and angels singing.

And even if you adopt, you go through paperwork and waiting hell before you find yourself weak in the knees, hands atremble, as you weep with joy when someone hands you your child for the first time.

Getting a dog just doesn't stack up.

Yes, both puppies and newborn babies wake up in the night. It sucks to wake up and let a dog out, but it sucks more to wake up and attempt to latch an unwilling, wailing infant to your breast.

Then once you've managed to feed your bundle of joy, you have to get him back to sleep. The puppy doesn't decide to party until 5 a.m., at which point, it's time for another feeding.

Then there's babyproofing. You puppy-proofed your house — you removed all things chewable, took up poisonous plants, and provided appropriate chew toys.

When I babyproofed my house, I had to make sure little hands couldn't gain access to caustic cleaning fluids. I had to look for strangulation hazards (goodbye, Roman blinds) and put safety locks on all the cabinets (which are a giant pain in the ass).

If I failed in my duties, I'm not facing a chewed-up family heirloom; I'm looking at a dead kid and a DSS inquiry.

The stakes are a wee bit higher.

Not that owning a dog isn't high stakes. You're responsible for the feeding and caring of your dog. Pet ownership is a serious commitment that should only be taken up by those who really mean to care for an animal for the rest of its natural life.

You're stuck with your dog . . . except you're not because you can leave. Before my husband and I had kids, we traveled all the time — dropped the pups by the doggie spa, payed extra for playground time, and hopped the plane guilt-free.

I can't just leave my toddlers. Sure, maybe one day I'll be able to leave them with relatives for some overnights. But it's not quite as simple as plunking my credit card down at the kennel.

You can mostly ignore your dog. Yes, your dog lives in your house, and yes, you love it. But your attention is not focused on the dog every moment it's awake.

Five minutes of inattention on my part, and my toddler's drinking bleach and bathing in the toilet.

If my kids are awake, I need to know what they're doing, where they're doing it, and what they're doing it with. I don't have to follow them from room to room, but it helps.

And at the risk of sounding like an annoying parent here: kids do some amazing things dogs just can't stack up to. Sure, you can teach Fido to fetch, but that pride is nothing compared to your kid learning to read.

Both give sloppy kisses, but only one lisps, "I wuv you, mommy."

Potty training's more of a milestone. And can your dog draw you pictures with hearts on them?

None of this covers the myriad of things I have to do for my kids every day. My dogs watch me prepare lunches, read The Cat in the Hat, and wipe snot off people's faces.

While my pups take their business outside, my kids require constant diaper changes.

The dogs don't melt down when their favorite Star Wars figure breaks, and they bite me a hell of a lot less. They don't call me a "poop-head." This is just one of the reasons I love them.

I know you'll say I sound like a self-righteous parent here.

Maybe you don't ever want kids, which you'll somehow make germane to the discussion, but which is neither here nor there.

Say you love your dogs. Say they make your life worth living. Say they're your one-and-only. Call yourself a dog person.

But don't call your dog a baby. Don't call him your "furkid" or "furbaby."

Because baby, it's not even close.

[skylucy]

1. Stupid beyond words....+1000

[hlthe2b]

2. I say people who have this as an issue (that some consider their pets children) NEED

to get a damned life and let others live THEIRS!

[lunasun]

3. Crabby mommy take a nappy

[CatMor]

4. Wow......is it OK with her if I call my cat a baby...

she doesn't say. I call my cat my baby all day long.

[janterry]

5. No need to author a screed on how others should live their life.

I knew a Buddhist teacher who used to say that the longer you sit on the cushion (and meditate), the more you realize that that finger you are pointing at others is really pointed towards yourself.

[Akoto]

6. I'd say the author wasted some minutes they can't get back. n/t

[Merlot]

19. Fortunatly, I got fed up around the third paragraph, so didn't waste to much time.

[Phentex]

22. Yep. Too much time on their hands. Hence, Facebook.

I didn't even read the whole thing as I've seen such drivel before. I guess it makes her feel better.

[Skittles]

7. what a fucking asshole

[smirkymonkey]

40. "Sanctimommy"

Why should she even care if someone wants to refer to their pets as babies. Get a life, woman!

[Skittles]

42. when we say our pets are members of the family

we absolutely mean it

[KT2000]

8. Just another -

It's all about ME!!!!!

[avebury]

9. My dog is my furbaby and it does not

matter what anybody else thinks. She is family and my home is her home. It is as simple as that.

[MFM008]

10. I have had a baby

And I have a cat age 7.
Both are my babies.
My son got married last night age 34.
My kitty never leaves me.
He is always here for me while he lives.
People who worry about this
Need to STFU.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. The fact that pets are not children is a positive attribute, if you ask me.

I do not regard my cats as my children; I have too much respect for them. They are sentient beings who do their own cat things - they are not baby cats but adult cats who know how to do adult cat stuff. They are accomplished grown-up cats, not inexperienced child cats. And because they are cats and not human children, they do not, and will never, pee and shit in their pants for two years, draw on the walls with crayon, kick the back of the seat on an airplane, throw tantrums in the grocery store, flush their toys down the toilet, crash my car, sneak out at night to drink beer with their reprobate friends, get pregnant and run off with their no-good drug dealer boyfriend, or live rent-free in my basement until they're forty.

They will puke up hairballs, stand on my face and howl for breakfast, shed fur on everything, sleep most of the day, and allow me to pet them. They are my family but not my babies; they are my weird little roommates and buddies, and that's what I love about them. Of course, if I did want to call them my "babies," that would be my right, too.

[Boomer]

44. Beautifully said!

I don't equate my dogs and cats with children. They're different beings, and deserve to have those differences respected. But I love them to pieces and I do refer to them as my furkids to honor the deep place they hold in my heart. I don't mean it literally, ffs. The OP author needs to chill.

[Squinch]

12. The "I'm a mother so no one is more important than me" set is full of assholes who secretly hate

their children and their lives.

This is exhibit A. She is seething with resentment for those kids.

[REP]

38. Entitlemoms

The “everyone stop what you’re doing and worship me being a mommy!” type.

[Squinch]

39. Yep. And it's never really about the kids. It's all about them, and how the kids reflect them.

[smirkymonkey]

41. Exactly!

I am so tired of this type! "Everyone worship me! I have given birth!"

[procon]

13. What a narrow minded and self centered woman.

Here's the thing, as a normal human being, a woman, I have a huge capacity to love. I need to give love as much, if not more, than I need to be given love. Love is shared. I can, and do, love many, many things, the living and the departed, some long cherished inanimate objects, the spiritual and the profane, and everything in between.

My love isn't limited to just children. Everything that touches my life, that gives me joy, heartbreak, and every other kind of chaotic human emotion, can find room in my heart. Love is boundless, but it comes in many different flavors, each to their own, without stint or condition.

So, please, you poor blighted woman, don't tell me who or what I can and cannot love, instead, go ask yourself why you are unable to love freely and openly.

[FM123]

14. I can call MY kids anything I want, thank you.

(Some of my kids bark and some speak, but they are all my "babies&quot

[Bluepinky]

15. Maybe somebody cannot have a human baby. Why would you care if they call a beloved pet their baby?

[zanana1]

45. What if somebody doesn't want a human baby?

Is that a sacrilege? If it is, may God and the saints and the mommies and everybody else in the whole damn world forgive me. I don't have kids. I have cats and I feed the strays. I love them all and yes, I call my cats my babies. When I had dogs, they were my babies. What does it take away from that woman when I call my cats babies? Is she comparing her work and suffering to the relative ease of taking care of pets? She made a choice to have human babies. I'm glad that she's happy being a mommy. Now let me be happy being a mommy, too.

[Bluepinky]

46. Thats fine too.

Can’t have or don’t want is okay, not everyone wants to have a human baby, and I’m glad we have that choice. Your cats are lucky to have a loving, devoted mom/caregiver. You can call them whatever you want, it’s none of that woman’s business.

[elfin]

16. My pet is a family member

And as such I am responsible for it in exchange for unconditional love and amusement.

No, not "human", but deserving of loving care.

I never degrade those who call them "furbabies" or other endearments, because I acknowledge the deep love for pets, that can be equivalent, despite the OP's opinion.

They are as dependent on us as a baby or small child for their needs.

They can be our "everything" when tough times hit and humans disappoint.

I wil call my dog whatever I want. Take a hike. Then take a hike with a dog. Better, right?

[Xipe Totec]

17. I don't have a dog or a cat now, and I've never thought of them as my children

But I don't really care that other people think of them as children.

I mean, it seems weird to me but, in the end, it's none of my business.

[LakeArenal]

18. Even IF I didn't call my dog my child...

He is totally convinced he is.. Who am I to disillusion him?

Love ya Ace, baby. Who's Mommy's good boy? Youz Mommy's good boy. Yes you are..

[Solly Mack]

20. Yeah, well, if there was a fire I'd save my furbabies over her babies without a second thought.

And I'd sleep soundly at night for the doing.

[REP]

37. Hells yeah

High five!

[Ferrets are Cool]

21. Mind your own business. I will call my "Babies" whatever

the HELL I want to. If you don't like it, FUCK OFF.

[williesgirl]

23. Try minding your own business or my furbaby won't like you.

[LuckyCharms]

24. Facebook is 99% horse shit, and if someone wants to call their dogs...

their babies, then they should be able to call their dogs their babies.

[ploppy]

25. Well that was to boring to read through

But I can offer an opinion - waaaaaaah!

[mindem]

26. Jesus,

Insulting much. Mind your own business.

[Alpeduez21]

27. I knew this woman who lived alone

Said she got Mother's Day cards from her dog.

True story

[LoveMyCali]

32. A friend of mine

has always thoughtfully sent me e-cards for my birthday and Mother's Day from my kitties. She swears they asked her to because they can't type.

[MontanaMama]

28. This woman needs to

get a grip and get a life and stop wasting time on FB with her crap. I have a 12 year old baby who is doing his 7th grade homework at the moment while his 10 year old and 2year old canine siblings sleep at his feet. My son is an only child and has always referred to our dogs, cat etc as his "litter"...wonder what this FB crackpot would think of that?

[d_r]

29. awww, Wupert

http://www.b99.tv/video/dog-gone-people/

[MustLoveBeagles]

30. Oh boy

If this women doesn't want to call her dogs furkids and furbabies fine, but she shouldn't be shaming the pet owners that do. Why is she making such a big deal about it anyway?

[no_hypocrisy]

31. My sister and her husband can't have children.

They tried for years, using everything available in medicine and technology.

But they both loved dogs. They have had four rescue dogs at any given time for more than two decades. Those dogs are their children. They have not left Long Island to take a single vacation since their honeymoon in 1992 because they won't board their dogs or leave them. They take excellent care of each one and have photos of them around the house. I make sure I ask about "the kids" when I call her.

Our mother once made a bad mistake. She wasn't nearly as wowed by dogs as my sister, who brought them over when she visited. Mom exasperatedly said, "Those dogs aren't your children!" My sister left, angrier than she's ever been in her life and didn't talk to Mom for four months. They eventually made up.

One of my sister's dogs was run over literally minutes before we were going to sit down for Thanksgiving. She screamed and wept as well as my brother-in-law. They looked like La Pieta with the limp body of their beloved chihuahua in their laps. That will haunt me forever.

So my point is if my sister bonds and loves another being with all her might, has made personal sacrifices for that being, and wants to call that being a child of hers, good on her!

[irisblue]

33. Furbaby Furbaby Furbaby Furbaby Furbaby

Furkid Furkid Furkid Furkid Furkid
GrandFurKid as my mom says.

Seriously lady, go volunteer at a food pantry. Go find something else to do.

[MicaelS]

34. Talk about touching a nerve.

The posts are almost exactly what I thought they would be.

[IrishEyes]

35. This is pretty insulting.

I wouldn't want to know someone who would write something like this. She seems like an unpleasant person. My brother just had a baby boy and they refer to their cat as his big sister.

[REP]

36. Its an insult to dogs and cats to call them babies

Unless they’re puppies or kittens; then they ARE baby dogs or cats. And superior to human infants in every possible way.

[alarimer]

43. I know the difference between pets and kids, but pets ARE family members.

Anyone who says otherwise has never had pets.

I get what the author is going for, but I doubt this person has ever had a pet in their lives. Or is the kind of person who really shouldn't have pets, because they will dump them at the drop of a hat, when it is too inconvenient. Our pets are completely dependent on us for their well-being (yes, even cats). Food and water are just the beginning. We worry about them when they are sick because they cannot tell us what is wrong. And then we worry we've let them hang on too long, if it becomes more about us not wanting to let go than about sparing them needless suffering.

In return, we get a great deal of joy.