22 Comments
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Wise Old Woman in the Woods's avatar

When I am referred to as my dog's mom, I respond that I am bitch, but not that kind. I see young people pushing their pooches in baby carriages. I will give into the elderly old lady pushing her 15 year old dog in a carriage but no one in their 20s and 30s should be doing this. I feel like I am watching something from the Twilight Zone.

Hoist The Black Flag's avatar

Ya, the pets in baby carriages... I don't know what to say.

I was at a restaurant sometime back and it had a small menu that we took for a Happy Hour menu. Nope. It was for people's pets. You can now bring your pet to a restaurant and order food for it.

SMH.

Wise Old Woman in the Woods's avatar

But could you order from it? Or do they discriminate against humans?

Hoist The Black Flag's avatar

lol. I didn't try, I was too dumbfounded... and petless.

John Olson's avatar

I am an adoptive father. People irk me when they say they "adopted" a dog. No, you do not adopt a dog any more than you buy a child. It's a dog, not a person.

Hoist The Black Flag's avatar

Way back when I was in the navy, my buddy and I both had our first kids at about the same time. We were talking about our toddlers one day and the other guy in our cabin tried to join in by talking about his dog. We both kind of gave him a look that said "are you kidding me?"

Warmek's avatar

> No, you do not [...] buy a child.

Well, clearly *someone* here isn't from Hollywood... 🤣🤣🤣

Kate's avatar

Thank you for writing this! Many years ago when i was a child i do not recall anyone calling themselves a pet parent because most were too busy having human children.

Hoist The Black Flag's avatar

Only "fur babies" makes me cringe as much as "pet parent."

Kate's avatar

Yes!!!!!!

GenderRealistMom's avatar

The bar is on the floor but "fur babies" are better furry kids...

Jake Wiskerchen's avatar

I eagerly await Phil's article about homeless people who own pets...

Hoist The Black Flag's avatar

Oooh, I completely forgot about those people.

Jake Wiskerchen's avatar

I can't not be reminded because my kids point it out every time we see it.

Hoist The Black Flag's avatar

Ya, I used to notice it when I went downtown but I don't really go there much anymore.

Of course, I'm not about to argue that the homeless shouldn't own dogs because they should start having kids.

There are many ways to address this including not giving money to "homeless" people who own animals, requiring a license to own a pet (my preference), and having animal control confiscate the animals for public health and/or pet safety reasons.

Yes, I'm a heartless SOB and people are going to hate me for those suggestions.

Jake Wiskerchen's avatar

Funny thing. In my county pets do have to be licensed. Like someone once said, laws and rules are merely suggestions until enforcement is required.

And no, no kids. Something something Jordan Peterson make your bed first.

Warmek's avatar

> Something something Jordan Peterson make your bed first.

Yeah... I'd really like a cat (OK, likely *two* cats, so they at least have companionship during the day) but, well, A.) Finances, and B.) I kinda don't trust myself to take care of *me*, let alone some poor animal that requires me for its every need.

Warmek's avatar

And, finally responding to the actual *point* of the article, some five or so comments in, this is also why I have limited myself to uncledom. But I have three siblings and nine nieces and nephews among them, so, I think that on *average* we're still doing OK for replacement values.

GenderRealistMom's avatar

OK... if I were braver I'd say something like You are a pet parent? Awesome, I am an owner of a young adult daughter!

Rose_Anne's avatar

Hilarious! (You're not wrong, or at least I agree with much of what you say.) Thanks, Phil.