Anonymous wrote:I've run into a number of people (let's be honest, they're mostly childless women) who think their dogs should be treated as children. It will impact you when she expects her dog to be invited to gatherings in other people's homes if children are invited. Her dog should be allowed to sit on your furniture as well.

Yep, this. People treating dogs as children has a negative impact on our entire society. I’m sorry op but I find these people can’t be reasoned with. Does she expect a Mother’s Day card???

Why doesn’t your sister have kids?
If she wants or wanted to be a mother but life hasn’t worked out that way, and she’s poured her love into a pet, just have some compassion.

I wouldn't bother debating it, because I firmly believe that these people know, deep down, that there are significant educational and financial differences. They just like portraying themselves as pet parents.

All you can do is what PP said: push back against requests to welcome their pets in your home, if you don't want to, and push back HARD against pets in the vicinity of your family if one of you is allergic to those pets. Medically, that's a huge no-no.

I've run into a number of people (let's be honest, they're mostly childless women) who think their dogs should be treated as children. It will impact you when she expects her dog to be invited to gatherings in other people's homes if children are invited. Her dog should be allowed to sit on your furniture as well.

Anonymous wrote:People who think dogs/pets and kids are remotely the same, are mentally ill.

- childless woman

People really need to stop throwing around the term “mentally ill”.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, why does it matter to you if she believes that? She can go around being wrong without it impacting your life.

It’s kind of annoying that she thinks having a dog is the same level of difficulty, effort, expense, etc. as having kids.

She’s a very self righteous person. She think she’s right about e writhing and is always weighing in on things she knows nothing about.

So then whatever you say will be irrelevant. She sounds dim. Just ignore.

You can't help someone who believes this. If you could, you might ask what her parents did for her that a dog "parent" doesn't ... but honestly not worth getting into.

The only way it impacts your life is if she's trying to make family gatherings revolve around her pet. Work with it the same way you would any other scheduling conflict, like if she played a team sport.

I have teens. To me, I he biggest difference is that you don’t have to prepare dogs to leave the nest for an unknown future.

Let. It. Go.

People who think dogs/pets and kids are remotely the same, are mentally ill.

- childless woman

Anonymous wrote:I mean, why does it matter to you if she believes that? She can go around being wrong without it impacting your life.

It’s kind of annoying that she thinks having a dog is the same level of difficulty, effort, expense, etc. as having kids.

She’s a very self righteous person. She think she’s right about e writhing and is always weighing in on things she knows nothing about.

Anonymous wrote:What would you say to explain to someone that raising a child is very different from having a dog?

My SIL is convinced that it’s the same thing. She’s childless of course. I didn’t want to get into it with her at the time so I just kind of laughed and made a joke about not having to save for college with dogs.

But seriously, how would you explain to these “fur parents” that it’s not the same thing?

Don't bother debating. She is an idiot.

I mean, why does it matter to you if she believes that? She can go around being wrong without it impacting your life.

It depends on the dog and depends on the kids. Our rescue puppy honestly felt like more work than bringing home a baby with the primary difference that at least I could sleep at night and or put puppy in the crate and walk away for a bit, though the hours interacting and training were harder than interacting with a baby. Eventually dogs calm down in a way that kids don’t and being able to be left alone is a huge difference.

What would you say to explain to someone that raising a child is very different from having a dog?

My SIL is convinced that it’s the same thing. She’s childless of course. I didn’t want to get into it with her at the time so I just kind of laughed and made a joke about not having to save for college with dogs.

But seriously, how would you explain to these “fur parents” that it’s not the same thing?