Pets are not the same as babies

[EasterJoy]

There are people like you who are hoosiers. Fortunately, my husband and I disagree with your statement. Like I said before on the previous page:

The majority of Americans consider them to be a member of the family according to a Harris poll. harrisinteractive.com/NewsRoom/HarrisPolls/tabid/447/ctl/ReadCustom%20Default/mid/1508/ArticleId/814/Default.aspx

EasterJoy, derailing the topic again. (#151) I answered the OP on the previous page. I already mentioned canine babies on the previous page. Now, you write, “I am only referring to people who don’t make a distinction between a pet or a hobby and a fellow human being, particularly those human beings we have been blessed with byGod as our sons and daughters, whose eternal souls have been placed in our care. The worst are those who defend their obliteration of all distinction, and find it offensive when someone will not raise their dog to the same level as someone else’s flesh and blood, as if the dog were an adopted human child.”

My only comment to you is that I would rather take my canine baby girl that is 89 lbs. that I raised. She was sick and only two weeks old since her Mother and siblings died. She was given to me on Christmas day. A real blessing to me and my husband. She has been blessed by a priest. She is sweet and has good manners not like some folks here! Toodles~~~

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church (underline mine):
*Respect for the integrity of creation

**2415 **The seventh commandment enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity.194 Use of the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from respect for moral imperatives. Man’s dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation.195

2416 Animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory.196 Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals.

**2417 **God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image.197 Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice, if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives.

2418 It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons.*

Animals are the beloved creation of God, and deserve to be treated with kindness. It is contrary to Catholic teaching, however, to make no distinction at all between even the most beloved pet and a human being, let alone to imply that a dog is another Christ, someone we are bound by the second great commandment to love as we love our very ourselves, as we are bound by moral law to love other persons.

If you disdain to give the love due to any other person because you think it would unjustly take love that is due to your dog, reconsider that. In that case, it is not your love for your dog that is too great, but your love for the sons and daughters of God that is too meager.

 

[severus68]

They are not forever “babies” To equate a baby with an animal is a product of the culture we live in. And I am sorry that some may never know why the two can not be close in emotional value. But can you see that it may be offensive to those of us who have children when someone equates an animal with a child. This is especially noticeable when someone loses a dog or other animal. And in our rush to compare our canine and feline property to human status even the most loyal dog owner or cat owner usually sees this affection for what it is when transferred to another less relateable animal. Like a snake or a pet eel. Or even a coyote. Pigs are kept as pets as well and many pig owners swear they are even better companions than dogs, but yet we all love bacon right? It is a displacement of the affection that belongs to humans as children of God. And sometimes that displacement is therapeutic and comforting. But it is not equal to the relationship that humans should have with each other. While we buy sweaters and food for our dogs, our neighbors go starved for love.

Why is a pit bull different than a coyote, lion, snake, or mosquito or Jack Russell? What makes it the recipient of human love designed to be for the smallest and most fragile among us? What makes owning an animal equal in some minds to co creating life with God and being responsible for a human soul gaining heaven?

Dogs/other pets will never grow up and I know you know what I mean. Whether you think its right or wrong, you cannot force anyone not to feel emotions. BTW I do not love bacon. I do not love any meat. Human flesh, I don’t know. Sorry, a pathetic attempt to inject some humour.
It is not displacement of affection or misplacement. The people I know who love their pets love their children. No one has to love or even like any animal but if you are responsible for an animal, you are obliged to treat it well.
Does anyone here live only with the basics, with no hobbies, no car, no treats, no presents?
Why is someone who loves his pet responsible for anyone who is starved for affection unless he chooses not to help . Would still not be the pet’s fault.
Would you grudge a couple’s affection for their pet when their grown up children seldom visit?

What has affection/caring for an animal have to do with a soul gaining heaven?

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Dogs/other pets will never grow up and I know you know what I mean. Whether you think its right or wrong, you cannot force anyone not to feel emotions. BTW I do not love bacon. I do not love any meat. Human flesh, I don’t know. Sorry, a pathetic attempt to inject some humour.
It is not displacement of affection or misplacement. The people I know who love their pets love their children. No one has to love or even like any animal but if you are responsible for an animal, you are obliged to treat it well.
Does anyone here live only with the basics, with no hobbies, no car, no treats, no presents?
Why is someone who loves his pet responsible for anyone who is starved for affection unless he chooses not to help . Would still not be the pet’s fault.
Would you grudge a couple’s affection for their pet when their grown up children seldom visit?

What has affection/caring for an animal have to do with a soul gaining heaven?

I don’t think a single person here has a problem with affection for a pet. I know I don’t. I have cried at the death of a horse or dog. But it is not even close to losing my father. Pets die. We know that when we buy them. Parents should not have to watch children die.

It is a sad world when we talk of ABC and abortion like it is a political issue but we all cry at the Sarah Mclaughlin commercials.

Love your pets. Like I do. But please stop humanizing them…

 

[severus68]

I don’t think a single person here has a problem with affection for a pet. I know I don’t. I have cried at the death of a horse or dog. But it is not even close to losing my father. Pets die. We know that when we buy them. Parents should not have to watch children die.

It is a sad world when we talk of ABC and abortion like it is a political issue but we all cry at the Sarah Mclaughlin commercials.

Love your pets. Like I do. But please stop humanizing them…

I empathise with the loss of your father.
You cannot know how others feel at the death of whoever or whatever. Yes, a child should not die before his/her parents.Everyone and everything dies. Death is the consequence of the Fall, animals had nothing to do with it.

What have animals/pets to do with abortion etc?

So animals/pets are the cause of abortion etc?

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

So animals/pets are the cause of abortion etc?

How on earth would you draw that conclusion? however, the boom in the pet industry and the seeming increase in people assigning childlike status to an animal is most certainly a product of a culture that does not value human life, or children. One might even be able to see that we are following in the footsteps of our pagan fathers of Rome and Egypt in our “worship” of beasts.

 

[DarkLight]

I don’t think a single person here has a problem with affection for a pet. I know I don’t. I have cried at the death of a horse or dog. But it is not even close to losing my father. Pets die. We know that when we buy them. Parents should not have to watch children die.

It is a sad world when we talk of ABC and abortion like it is a political issue but we all cry at the Sarah Mclaughlin commercials.

Love your pets. Like I do. But please stop humanizing them…

I think the bolded has more to do with how humans react to different ways of putting things. It’s been shown pretty commonly that humans simply don’t react the same way to generalized or statistical discussions as we do to specific, even fictional, stories. And how strong a personal connection we feel to something, in the sense that it might happen to us, matters.

 

[EasterJoy]

…Love your pets. Like I do. But please stop humanizing them…

Some “love” for the “babies” is more pleasing the self than pet indulgence. I don’t think there is a dog who dreams of dressing up for Halloween. That doesn’t meant that no one ought to ever do it–it does not hurt the dog, and the ones who mind it terribly find their way out of those get-ups, I’m sure–but just that it is silly to think you’re spoiling your dog rather than pleasing your own sense of fun. Dogs do not want weddings, given the choice between a sparkly collar and no collar at all, they’d go without, and so on and so on. They want your bed, they want your bacon, but they don’t have the eyesight to appreciate your efforts at color coordination!

Actually, though, the same could be said of the way many people treat their actual babies. Babies do not care about Halloween, either. That dressing up is entirely for the enjoyment of the adults.

The other mistake people make is to put their dogs in unfair situations because they forget their dogs are dogs and not people. People do this with their children, as well, when they put adult expectations on a child. Animals and children act according to reaction and understand little or nothing of explanations offered to them, but people who “love their babies” sometimes assign much more understanding to both pets and babies than either one is capable of.

 

[severus68]

Some “love” for the “babies” is more pleasing the self than pet indulgence. I don’t think there is a dog who dreams of dressing up for Halloween. That doesn’t meant that no one ought to ever do it–it does not hurt the dog, and the ones who mind it terribly find their way out of those get-ups, I’m sure–but just that it is silly to think you’re spoiling your dog rather than pleasing your own sense of fun. Dogs do not want weddings, given the choice between a sparkly collar and no collar at all, they’d go without, and so on and so on. They want your bed, they want your bacon, but they don’t have the eyesight to appreciate your efforts at color coordination!

Actually, though, the same could be said of the way many people treat their actual babies. Babies do not care about Halloween, either. That dressing up is entirely for the enjoyment of the adults.

The other mistake people make is to put their dogs in unfair situations because they forget their dogs are dogs and not people. People do this with their children, as well, when they put adult expectations on a child. Animals and children act according to reaction and understand little or nothing of explanations offered to them, but people who “love their babies” sometimes assign much more understanding to both pets and babies than either one is capable of.

You are absolutely right.

 

[severus68]

How on earth would you draw that conclusion? however, the boom in the pet industry and the seeming increase in people assigning childlike status to an animal is most certainly a product of a culture that does not value human life, or children. One might even be able to see that we are following in the footsteps of our pagan fathers of Rome and Egypt in our “worship” of beasts.

I do not know anyone who worships animals. If you say being overindulgent is worship, then what about those spoilt children who lack manners and run wild? Hopefully, they learn better and grow up to be decent adults. Some dogs who are overindulged, allowed to do anything they want are thrown out or put to sleep when adultwhen the stupid owners find they cannot handle them.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I do not know anyone who worships animals. If you say being overindulgent is worship, then what about those spoilt children who lack manners and run wild? Hopefully, they learn better and grow up to be decent adults. Some dogs who are overindulged, allowed to do anything they want are thrown out or put to sleep when adultwhen the stupid owners find they cannot handle them.

Hmmm I have no idea what you are saying. Sorry.

 

[severus68]

Hmmm I have no idea what you are saying. Sorry.

That’s alright. I think we are all over the place and its time this thread had a merciful death.

 

[EasterJoy]

That’s alright. I think we are all over the place and its time this thread had a merciful death.

Maybe we could answers the original question.

What do you say when you are talking about your child’s sleep problems and a dog owner says, “” I never go to my dog when he cries due to a bad dream, he usually soothes himself."

How do you take that? I’d probably say, “OK, you’re right–enough about my parenting problems. How is…?” and just change the subject. I would take that as a very obvious statement that the other person has nothing to say on the topic of my problems with my kid’s sleep issues. Even if the person were serious, I certainly would not have any interest in getting parenting advice from someone who doesn’t know the difference between a baby and a dog.

After all, if I said I was having trouble with my Doberman jumping on the counter and they said their bird was in a cage and never got onto the counter, what could be less relevant?

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

That’s alright. I think we are all over the place and its time this thread had a merciful death.

Hear Hear!

 

[DarkLight]

Maybe we could answers the original question.

What do you say when you are talking about your child’s sleep problems and a dog owner says, “” I never go to my dog when he cries due to a bad dream, he usually soothes himself."

How do you take that? I’d probably say, “OK, you’re right–enough about my parenting problems. How is…?” and just change the subject. I would take that as a very obvious statement that the other person has nothing to say on the topic of my problems with my kid’s sleep issues. Even if the person were serious, I certainly would not have any interest in getting parenting advice from someone who doesn’t know the difference between a baby and a dog.

After all, if I said I was having trouble with my Doberman jumping on the counter and they said their bird was in a cage and never got onto the counter, what could be less relevant?

I think you’re right that 90% of the time it means the person has nothing to say on the subject but felt like they had to say something anyways.

For most people, a little chuckle and maybe something like “yeah well my kid can’t get up and run around the house either” or something. And then change the subject. I probably wouldn’t say anything that makes it obvious that you’re doing it in response to what they said though.

 

[EasterJoy]

I think you’re right that 90% of the time it means the person has nothing to say on the subject but felt like they had to say something anyways.

For most people, a little chuckle and maybe something like “yeah well my kid can’t get up and run around the house either” or something. And then change the subject. I probably wouldn’t say anything that makes it obvious that you’re doing it in response to what they said though.

Yes! Or “on the other hand, Billy doesn’t leave hairs all over me when I wear a black sweater, so I shouldn’t complain! We each have our little trials in our life, and the ones caused because we love someone are nothing to complain about!”

Then change the subject, and look for something you and your conversational partner have in common to talk about!