Pets as Babies
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get a little annoyed when people try to compare caring for their dogs or cats to what I go through caring for my kids. I particularly dislike when folks refer to their pets as kids and they aren’t kidding. It’s one thing to say jokingly, “Fido is my baby,” but to say “I would go away this weekend if it wasn’t for the kids” when “the kids” are a couple of cats…it boggles my mind.
The other day I was at a pet store to buy some cat food and I noticed one of the most bizarre things I had ever seen. I spotted a woman walking along the aisles with her small dog in her arms. She was talking to the dog like a baby – no big deal, I see people do that all the time – but then when I got closer I noticed the dog had a diaper on. I thought that was odd, but figured the dog had a medical problem.
As I passed by her cart I saw something else: She had a baby seat, but no baby. I couldn’t help but follow her around a little to see what would happen next, and sure enough when it came time for her to leave she loaded the dog into the baby seat and left for her car.
I was amazed. She was treating this dog exactly like a baby. I’d read about anthropomorphism in school, but this was strange indeed.
If she had psychological issues then I feel really bad for her. If she lost a baby and needed something to nurture then I can see this sort of thing developing. If, on the other hand, she just thought this was a grand time to dress a dog up like a baby and tote the poor thing around in a baby seat then I’m mystified.
I have a cat, and I love my cat, but it’s just a cat. Besides, if I tried to put a diaper on it I would probably wind up with claw marks across my face.
Maybe someone can explain this one to me.
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Melissa H says...
My husband has an aunt who literally thinks of her animals as her children. So much so that when he was little he used to get dog and cat toys for christmas from her. She is obviously a little off. I can see that for some people though it is a way for them to have what you and I have in our children. I had two early term miscarriages and delivered two prematurely before my daughter made it safely to this world… so I can understand the hurt. I also have several friends who have had such trouble conceiving that they have “given up” due to costs. Some times it is a matter of needing to share a large quantity of love and not knowing where else to put it. Also think about how astounded you have been by the love that you feel for your child. YOU are taken by surprise sometimes. Someone who doesn’t have a child can only IMAGINE that love. And trust me fall short. A year after she is born I am still at times shocked by HOW MUCH I love my child.
Shauna says...
There are many people in this world who are unable to have children of their own. I know we say things like why don’t they adopt. This is a great idea for those who can afford all the red tape and time but sometimes we do not fit the requirements to adopt. My husband and I have been trying to conceive for quite sometime now and untill a few weeks ago had had no luck. We thought of adopting but because my husband is 55 he is considered to be too old to adopt even though I am only 29. And we can’t afford to adopt from another country. So for those people who have lots of love to give and share and no baby of their own they find solace in caring for pets like children. my mother thinks of her bird as her son even though she has 4 children (we are all grown) and there are no close grandchildren for her to share her love with so she shares it with her cockateel. She loves this bird so much that it gets a birthcake and christmas presents each year. One year she even dressed it in a halloween costume. And thanksgiving and christmas dinner includes him sitting at the table. Maybe this will change though when i give birth to a grandchild for her around the first of june 2009./ Heres hoping however I will not take away her love for the bird if this makes her happy then I have no right to interfer I am just glad she is content and not upset all the time. Seeing someone depressed is hard for me especially when it comes to my mother. So why not let them enjoy their life even if they do have what we consider strange quirks.
Jessica says...
I have a couple friends who truly believe that having dogs is the same as having kids…they’re always squawking about how they have to be home within a certain amount of hours to let the dog out. Like I should be able to relate to that since I have two small kids. My kids didn’t learn how to pee outside over the course of six weeks. And, after adding in a sitter, it costs me a small fortune to leave home without them. That’s okay though, I know that one day they will find out the difference.
Colleen Rivera says...
What amazes me is when parents (people who HAVE CHILDREN) say upon the loss of a pet: “It’s just like losing a child.” I’m sorry, What? Seriously? Your dog dying is the same as your child dying? I know what it is to love a pet, to take great joy in them, to feel my life enriched by them, to feel that they are an important part of our house, to grieve their passing. But under no circumstances would I ever consider a pet to be on the same level as one of my children.
Amybee says...
I have actually received Christmas cards with photos of somebody’s dog-”children” dressed up for the holidays, in front of the Xmas tree! There is a large gay population where we live and for many of these people, their pets truly are their kids (some do, however, adopt human children)…I also saw a woman pushing a small dog in a stroller!
I understand that those without children long to nurture and love someone even if they can’t have children but let’s face it: human children need care 24/7; we can’t leave them at home or put them in kennels when we go on vacation…There is a big difference!
Wireless Dog Fence says...
Hi, although i agree about what you said, but i disagree at some point. Yes baby is different with pets. Sometime, they just anyhow put dipper for their pet but did the pet really like that ? i guess no. We shouldn’t threat them as the way we threat our children. However, talking with your pets had nothing wrong with it. I talk with my pet when i am not happy, or when i am bored. although she might know or don’t know what i am talking bout, but at least i feel comfortable to share my unhappiness with my pet.
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