[The Gazette]

Recently at the Canal Street Recreation Center, parrots, parakeets and even a visiting crow were squawking and flapping with their parents. The Pet Parrots and Their Parents Club, formerly known as Parrots R Us, held its first meeting under its new moniker. Karen Orlando has taken over as the club’s head, organizing a new name

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[Hiltongrizz11]

These people that actually consider themselves parents to pets??

The only thing more ludicrous than that are the people that actually consider their dogs children.

[Pilodent]

You apparently have never experienced the love & loyalty of a dog. You think we're nuts? We think you live a loveless, monolithic existence. Millions of people must be wrong, huh?

[DaleDivine]

Originally Posted by Hiltongrizz11

These people that actually consider themselves parents to pets??

The only thing more ludicrous than that are the people that actually consider their dogs children.

Our fur baby is definitely just as important to us as our human children.
I always say when I'm reincarnated I want to come back as my wife's doggy.

[DaleDivine]

Originally Posted by Pilodent

You apparently have never experienced the love & loyalty of a dog. You think we're nuts? We think you live a loveless, monolithic existence. Millions of people must be wrong, huh?

You're exactly right... I feel sorry for that person.

[Girlcopper]

Originally Posted by Hiltongrizz11

These people that actually consider themselves parents to pets??

The only thing more ludicrous than that are the people that actually consider their dogs children.

Agree. Some people really go overboard

[Darield]

Originally Posted by Hiltongrizz11

These people that actually consider themselves parents to pets??

The only thing more ludicrous than that are the people that actually consider their dogs children.

Why do you need to start off this thread with a nasty comment? Can't people just enjoy their lives the way they see fit without someone inserting judgmental nasty comments?

We waited two years after our dog died to get another one. She brings so much joy to our lives. My husband and I laugh more. We just had some friends lose their bird after many years. Their bird enriched their lives.

[GOLFER54]

No matter what animal one may have for a pet, they give you laughter, joy and companionship.

[GRACEALLEMAN]

Smartest reply We've ever heard. Hey dog owners that think that their dogs are human.., repeat after me... your dog is not a child. It is not a human. A dog is a canine. It is a pack animal.
Dogs come to understand the world, and each other, in the same manner as human children are introduced to the world, through visual cues and scent clues. They are particularly keen observers of body language, and the amount of information they can glean from another dog's posterior is astounding. Unlike humans, whose main form of communication and comprehension is vocal, dogs rely predominantly on scent, followed by sight, then sound, and finally the use of their voice. As an example, a dog will learn a hand gesture - a visual cue - far quicker than a verbal command. If you tap your leg, they will learn that means 'come here' far more quickly than they will understand you speaking the words. In fact, once they understand the visual cue, it is the association of the sound with that hand gesture that teaches them what the words mean.

[shirleyjerez]

If you don’t have anything nice to say you must be board silly. I feel sorry for you. Pretty sad when people look for bad things to say .
No life I suppose.

[Spalumbos62]

Originally Posted by shirleyjerez

If you don’t have anything nice to say you must be board silly. I feel sorry for you. Pretty sad when people look for bad things to say .
No life I suppose.

This is one of those funny post... can somewhat understand both sides.
Don't get me wrong, I love dogs, have had one every day of my life, all special in their own way.
They are spoiled, walked, allowed on the bed, not the couch, etc etc
They do not wear outfits, sit at the table, get expensive human food or have bows in their hair.

I have gone as far as calling my daughter to dog sit and ask her if she can watch her brother.lol

I do know what might upset my dog, when he's anxious or wants to communicate something.

My point is, letting them just be a dog may be better than turning them into a semi-human

[CarolynL]

I’m glad pets bring joy to many. In my case I can barely make it to the BR in time let alone worrying or tending to a pets ’ BR needs!

[Darield]

After reading the article, nowhere did I see mention of pet owners thinking their pets were their children. Yes that does happen, but this thread has gone off topic. I have owned dogs most of my life and I can remember saying, I never had to run a dog to the emergency room at 1am with 105 fever or been called by a friends parents letting me know that my child had a bad fall.

Having said that, many animals have been domesticated and they can contribute many wonderful life lessons. In retirement they can be an amazing source of comfort and joy. If I meet a 70 year old neighbor who wants to act as if her pet is her child, why in the world would that make me so upset as to judge and criticize her/him?

Moving back to the topic of the original thread, I had no idea there was a group for bird owners. Next time they have an event, I would like to go. I had a parakeet as a child and it would sit on my shoulder while I did homework. As an only child, the companionship of my parakeet was very important to me and I have fond memories of that time.

[Prism]

Originally Posted by Hiltongrizz11

These people that actually consider themselves parents to pets??

The only thing more ludicrous than that are the people that actually consider their dogs children.

They're not actually trying to make you think pets are human children; they're simply letting it be known they have a huge supply of kindness and love for sentient beings who have added so much joy to their lives. Love is good. Kindness is good. Joy is good.

[stadry]

[QUOTE=Pilodent;1998794] growing up we had dogs on the farm i used a border collie to get cows at milking time. several times that dog prevented a wild dog from biting me but it was still a dog-- in the army, i was a dog handlermp 'bear' my assigned german shepherd @ 150 # almost outweighed me. as close & interdependent we became, he was still a dog, he sniffed out the enemy & silently alerted us to their presence he probably saved my life but he was still a dog.& i shall always honor him.