My dogs eat better than I do, I have spent thousands on serious medical expenses and abuse towards animals makes me very sad. What does that say about me?

 

I love my dog and spoil him rotten, but he is not my child. He is my dog. I have a child and whenever I hear a child abuse case, I want to snuggle my daughter close and protect her forever. I don't condone animal abuse and I will be devastated when Scrappy dies (hopefully of really old age!). I guess I don't fit in either of your catagories. I want what is best for him...and I read up on food and allergies...care...and protecting him in disasters...and all other health issues. However, I don't put his needs above my child's (maybe my DH's LOL ).

So, I guess put me in whichever catagory I fit best!

 

My life does revolve around my dogs, but I don't think of them as children. I love them because they're dogs. I still want to do the best for them, either way.

 

Parents who feed their kids microwave meals five nights a week don't necessarily love their children less than people who cook elaborate family dinners every night and people who don't research dog food or training techniques don't necessarily have a weaker emotional attachment to their pets. They simply don't express it the way you seem to think they should.

Even if I could qualify my emotional attachment to my pets, I don't believe I could describe it to you in such a way that you could accurately compare my emotions to yours. Unless your love for your animals is interfering with the rest of your life (your ability to sustain human relationships or hold down a job, for example) or hurting someone around you, it is perfectly fine.

 

I guess I should clarify my questions: I meant to ask if people could share HOW much their pets mean to them and what it would be like if you lost your pet or if you would go beyond your means to care for your dog.

Of course you can't compare kids to pets (unless you're not planning on having one like me . This question comes about because I find that since I am so attached to my dog, I think it would be worst when I have kids such I constantly feel the need to protect them day and night.

My love for my dog doesn't interfere with my daily life but when I do read disturbing stories, I stay disturbed for the entire day! Maybe I'm weird.

 

I sometimes tell the story of two great losses that happened about the same time.

I lost my 14-year-old lab. Then, about a year later, I lost my father.

I was very close to my father, and his passing was very hard. But losing that dog almost killed me, and I couldn't understand why that would be harder than losing my father.

A very wise friend told me that she thinks it's because my father had a very long (99 years) active life, lots of friends and left a real mark on the world. Though we were close, we weren't 100% dependent on each other.

My dog, on the other hand, was totally dependent on me, and we spent nearly every waking moment together. He went to work with me. He watched over my family when I couldn't be with them. He trusted me and I spent ten years trying to earn that trust. And, while 14 years is a good long life for a very large dog, it was MUCH too short. I simply could not visualize life without him and, for a while, I couldn't think of a good reason to get up in the morning.

 

I had the same experience with my dog dying and then my dad died. I couldn't stop crying about the dog, but held it together when my dad died. I think it was because my dad knew he was dying, and towards the end, welcomed the release from pain. He understood. My dog didn't understand, and that really bothered me (She had congestive heart failure, and the meds were no longer working, so her lungs were filling with fluid.)

 

I don't put my pets above my kids. They eat better than me because I can make them do so... I can tell my kids what is best...but as teenagers...well...you know. Since I have fed my pets better it has cut down on vet bills and they are healthier and happier...and it is actually less expensive to buy better food. Our pets are a part of the family though...we all feel that way. They have their place. But I do know people who think less of animals. They don't think they are worth taking "better" care of them. For these people an animal just serves a purpose...like as a watch dog, hunting...etc. I'm not saying these people are bad ....just that there is a difference.

 

RonE: That's a great story. My mum sometimes jokes that if she died, I would shed less tears for her than if my dog died. I publicly deny it, but deep inside, I know it to be true! Do you think if you lost your current dogs now, it would be as disturbing to you?

I'm not judging anyone on the way they feed their dogs/treat their dogs, I'm sure everyone loves their pets in their own equal way, but I'm trying to gauge why some people are so much more attached to their pets emotionally than other people are.

 

I'm not judging anyone on the way they feed their dogs/treat their dogs, I'm sure everyone loves their pets in their own equal way, but I'm trying to gauge why some people are so much more attached to their pets emotionally than other people are.

I guess it seems like a bit of a moot point. I'm not even sure how you can claim that some people are more emotionally attached to their pets than other people. How could you possibly know how emotionally attached anyone is to his or her pet? By what criteria do you measure emotional attachment?

Having said that, I would think the same combination of inherent and learned factors contributes to a love of pets as it does to anything else a person enjoys. Why are some people so much more attached to their jobs than others? Why do some people want kids and others don't? Why do some people prefer chocolate ice cream to vanilla? Part of it is clearly the way a person is born and the other clearly the circumstances under which a person was raised.

Maybe I'm still not getting the question.

 

Well said RonE. I agree. When grandpa who passes on at 90 and lived a marvelous life...it's not a tragedy. It's sad and I'm gonna miss him....yes. When my mom got diagnosis of cancer and passed within 8 weeks...I was devastated. When my 5 year old beagle who really helped me through her passing ruptured a disc and surgery did not help...I was devastated again. I had to put dogs down in the past, but they lived long, happy lives. It is different...for me anyway. When a human or pet is a part of your daily life....it will affect you more when they are gone.

 

I own Sakima and a parrot.

They both get fed and taken care of before I do.

I know this might sound stupid but I don't like it when other people touch Sakima or give him attention, even if it's my family. Sakima will usually not bother with anyone touching him anyway and has a VERY strong bond with me. I show different emotions towards my animals, I usually treat Sakima as a dog would be to another. Sakima gets light rubs on his head and the odd hug/kiss, I do not let him lick my face. He means the world to me, words cannot describe how much I love him.

I compare humans to animals a lot, they are so much more innocent and won't ever think bad of you unless you hurt them. My mom yells at me and says things like Sakima smells when he uses the washroom but I'll go right back and say '' Do you think human s**t smells any better?''. I do not think of animals greater than humans but I have more respect for them.

 

I love my pets very much (except maybe last night when Enzo and Kitty had me up at 4 am) but over all my parent's dying would kill me way more then my animals dying. Although, my parents dog Tara has been part of our lives for 14 years now and her passing will be very tough it still doesn't compare to my parent's or my step son. A dog is a fantastic companion who cares about you trully and honestly. It is agape love pets give to their owners. We draw a human emotion to the attachment our animals give to us because they need us. It is nice to have a friend around who will almost always have a smile and a lick for you, but for me it doesnt compare to the warm embrace and shoulder of my DW or my family!

 

I think I get what you're asking. But you can't exactly measure how much someone loves their dog in any real way that would produce accurate results. I have an example that demonstrates what I think you mean.

My friend has a Beagle, and I have a Beagle too. Mine stays inside, is microchipped, spayed, utd on shots ect. Hers has had puppies and still isn't spayed, isn't microchipped no tag either, stays in the backyard 24/7 and barely ever gets a pat on the head, hasn't had any vetting. She loves her dog but I'm tempted to say I love my dog more. I know it sounds stupid, but there's a big difference. There's so much she could do for her dog that she doesn't do. Is that someone who doesn't love their dog? Not necessarily. A bad dog owner most certainly.

 

I get very attached. My dog died last May. I still cry when I think about not having him. My preschool aged children still talk of him often and he's still included when they draw pictures or count out the family members. I think my kids will have the same "obsession" that their parents do.

 

I think in a way, some people like RonE feel more devastated when they lose their pet than when they lose a family member because a human can never BELONG to you. Sure, you love your child, but that child grows up, has his own life, makes new friends, gets married.. he doesn't belong to you, eventually, he will not be dependent on you anymore. Same goes for parents and siblings. They are a part of your life, but they don't belong to you.

A pet, on the other hand, belongs to you and you alone. You wake up and he's there. You go to bed, he's there. He dies if you don't feed him, and he will always be dependent on you. There is a bond there that is different than with another human being. Your pet is with you all the time, and it's incapable of betraying you, lying to you, or breaking your heart. I think this is why we feel so heartbroken when they pass. They have short lives, just a fraction of ours, and in a way, we feel sad for them because at only the age of 10, they're considered old already.

 

Its actually weird to come in here and see this posted.

I have never considered my dogs as my children or compared my love of my dogs to children...But...

My husband works a few weekends out of the month in the spring and summer at remote cabins that you can only get to by small boat, he installs solar and does the electrical. Last night while he was packing up to go, he informed me he was taking Maggie with him for the weekend, his buddy he works with was taking his dog and asked him if he was going to take Maggie too...DH said he would ask me if the dog could go LOL. Anyways when he did I got a bit panicked and immediatly worried about her as I would not be around to watch her . I finally decided maybe I was being silly...I asked DH what she was going to eat?? (she is raw fed) and said I guess I could get some kibble at the petstore before he left (I didnt even want him picking up kibble for the weekend as he wouldnt know what to get) LOL

After discussing this for a while (and I was actually willing to let her go) we decided she would be better off at home, I would hate to have her wandering around and take off after a bird or something, while he is working.

So I guess I am very attached to my dogs LOL...I lost a dog in Oct and it was devastating to me, I am still not over it Because of this I am terrified to give my dogs any sort of freedom.

 

I don't think of my dogs, or other pets, as kids, but rather as companions. My kids have been raised properly (imo) & moved on to have lives & familys of their own. My dogs will always be with me as companions.
I love them very dearly & my life does revolve around them - everything has to planned around them. I took on a a responsibility to take care of them, emotionally, physically, & mentally the very best I can & I feel I'm living up to that

 

I don't think any of us can judge our emotional attachment with our dogs until they are gone.

When we had my Irish setter put down, my father wanted to spare me, so he took her in. The fact that I wasn't with her at the end literally haunted me for 17 years. I would have recurring dreams that she was alive and well and then I'd wake up an lose her all over again. It nearly drove me insane. The dreams finally stopped when we got another great dog. He wasn't a replacement, but he helped fill a very large hole in my heart.

I was with my black lab. I saw him slip away with peace and dignity and his ashes are in an urn three feet from where I sit right now. I miss him every day, but there was "closure" and I don't regret the way it ended. In his own way, he let me know he was ready.

When we made the decision to euthanise Cubby, and I told my father, his first words were, "You're going to be with him, aren't you?"

I don't know what will happen when I lose Esther or Molly. I'm actually more concerned about what will happen to one of them when we lose the other.

 

I wouldn't consider dogs my children, because I hate children and I love my dogs. And dogs in general. With my own I'm pretty sure the attachment is something to be concerned over. I'm panicing over the fact I will be in Vegas this summer for 5 days. Do I know the dogs won't really realize that I'm not around the whole time? Yes. Do I feel like they won't be OK? Totally. I also recognize the fact that they could easily adjust to another home and be taken care of, but to me no one can take care of them like I can.

I also feel tremendously for dogs that are not mine. I met a lovely Pit at our local kill shelter last week. I literally almost took her home, but was able to reason that she would not be a good fit with our dogs. So I spent the night contacting various folks trying to get her pulled. The very next day she was gone and I got word she was euthanized. I am going to be agonizing over it for a while.

 

I wouldn't consider dogs my children, because I hate children and I love my dogs. And dogs in general.

Um. I love you.


Plain and simple:
I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for dogs.

 

My life pretty much revolves around my dogs and dogs in general (cats, too ) As far as those who have died...I heard it said perfectly once that you never get over them, you just get used to living without them. I have said time and time again that when Dudes time is up, mom might consider having me committed for a few weeks so I can burn off some steam. I've had a real problem with worrying about this since Dude started showing his age, but I don't want the rest of his life being nothing but a preparation for death. Not fair to either one of us.
Abuse cases make me feel sick, but I'm talking REAL abuse (tying dogs/horses up to starve/die of thirst, being beaten, dog fights, etc). I know of too many people who consider a dog living outside as abuse, and feel justified in taking the dog or calling AC, and that is crap IMO and a great start at having the gov't being able to dictate what's right and wrong when it comes to caring for dogs and cats.
Most non-dog people would probably say I am too emotionally attached to my pets. I'm also not addicted to drinking, drugs, sex, or shopping, and I'll take an animal addiction over all of the former. As much as our species have relied on dogs in the past for so many things, I'm really not surprised we've gotten this way. Dude is my "go-to-guy" when I need someone around who won't judge or whine or feel like putting their two cents in when I've had a bad day. He's just there, and is sweet about it. He's just a good, good dog. Tag is the one who makes me laugh, constantly. Everything he does is cute, I swear. Even when he's being a total butt head, he's making me crack up. (Last night at agility I tossed my leash to the end of the course, Tag, who NEVER breaks a start line wait, saw the leash go flyin' and took off after it. I busted up, everyone else started laughing hard, and then he decided he would jump on TOP of the tunnel, run the length back and forth while "saying hi" to the people sitting behind it. I couldn't stop laughing. He was being SUCH a brat, but shoot...it was funny). Auz is the dog I rely on most, in the best sense of the word. He can spot a fly landing on something that might belong to us 1/2 mile away in the pitch dark. If Auz barks, I look out the window. If Auz runs out the dog door, roaring, I call in a priest...
It's really no loss until (JMO) dogs aren't allowed to put their precious paws on the ground and must be carried everywhere, or are made to be SO dependent on US that they absolutely cannot function alone, or are denied being able to "be dogs" for the sake of what makes us comfortable or uncomfortable. I'm well aware some adult dogs come with baggage, but dealing with people who WANT to help their dogs is wonderful. Saying "well, my dog barfed in the car, so I just won't take her anywhere anymore. She hates other dogs, so I won't walk her. She's scared of the mail man, so I have to stay home every day from 12:00 til 1:00 and hold and comfort her in case he comes by" is a form of mental abuse to me.
My dogs aren't allowed to leap all over me, nip me or others, or pee and poop inside. But they ARE allowed to roll in the grass, play with one another, chase toys, and wrestle.

 

I don't consider mine kids (even though I don't have kids) - but they are family, and in my world (as a middle school teacher), better than kids. They don't talk back, they don't ask to borrow the car, and I don't have to send them to college.

They love me unconditionally, and the two times I've had to make the "big decision", it nearly killed me. In fact, we just passed the first anniversary of losing my Norwegian Elkhound, Zoe, who was quite possibly the greatest dog I have ever or will ever own. I still miss her desperately, even though I have 4 other "kids" to keep me busy.

I think I worry about my dogs more than any of the humans in my life because they are more vulnerable than the humans I know and depend on me (and my husband, but mostly me) to ensure they're fed, watered, safe, warm, and loved. Humans, even kids, can ask for help when they're lost, cold, hungry, or hurt, but dogs can't. And granted, there are plenty of bad people out there who will hurt children, which is evil and deserving of our outrage, but too often those who are (justifiably) outraged over child abuse will shrug and say "it's just an animal" when they hear about animal abuse. To me, both types of abuse are equally horrible, as their victims are so innocent.

 

If you asked anyone who knows me to describe me I can guarantee everyone would say something about my dogs. My dogs are a big part of my life. I don't think I agree with either 'they're just a dog' or 'they're like having kids'. They are just my dogs and that is why I love them so much.

As far as losing them, I have lost a lot of dogs over the years. It hurts a lot, but it's not like losing a person who is close to you. None of the dogs' deaths have affected me the way that my mom's death has. It's just not even in the same league and I don't think that means I love the dogs any less.

 

I don't have kids and I don't feel like most of my dogs are kids- just Gingerbread. I have the closest relationship with Gingerbread than any other dog ever. I would die before giving him up. I do know that when I was hospitalized and wasn't "with it", they were telling me what I couldn't bring with me and I told them that I have a dog named Gingerbread that I care more about than "this one" gesturing to my husband, who was right there. I feel really bad about that. I guess it's the way I feel deep down.

 

Sometimes my kids come 1st...Sometimes my dogs come 1st...It depends on the situation...Like the dogs always eat before we do because they depend on us...That said, I would obviously be more devastated if I lost one of my children but would be devastated if I lost one of my dogs.

 

im going to college because of my dog.


what does that tell you?

 

Very very much...nuff said.