Could someone tell me why

[BeachGirlFLA]

I do not expect everyone to love animals. What I do expect is for everyone to respect the lives of animals (i.e. not wish them harm).

I would never allow any of my animals near anyone until I ascertained whether or not they were ok with the animal approaching them. If my animal cannot be trusted to obey and not approach or jump on other people, they would not be in the company of people.

Likewise, I always ask the animal's human for permission before I approach the animal to pet.

Exactly....and I trust both of my roommate's/mine around people. Even the one who would escape would never hurt anyone. The other one has a very strong protective instinct and the only way I could see him hurting anyone is if he thought I was threatened in some way (he's possessive and will growl at the other dog if he rubs on me/asks me for attention, but as far as people go he just makes it clear by planting himself on my foot or my lap that I'm "his.") But I'm not going to force either of them on anyone.....if someone doesn't love them, that just makes one less person I have to share with

 

[princess momma]

Huh, I took our dog with us trick or treating last night. I hope I didn't offend anyone. I waited on the sidewalk for the kids and kept him on a short leash. I didn't let him get near anyone unless they clearly wanted to meet him. And lots of people did. He's a really good dog.

I think if you're really afraid of animals you should let people know, OP. Maybe they'll be a little more conscientious in the future.

 

[DawnCt1]

I feel there is a difference between being allergic and not liking animals. I'm sure there are allergic people out there who would love to be able to have animals..for pets, not meals!! I respect your right to feel the way you do but don't understand it fully.

My dad always said he "didn't trust people who don't like dogs". I don't think I would go that far. We have had relatives who are violently afraid of cats. Yes, violently. To the point when the cat enters the room they flip out. We confined the cat when they visited but it was a bit over the top.

I have had dogs and cats all my life and get a lot of love and companionship from them. DH and I always say we won't get any more when these live their lives but I won't bet on that. I enjoy the fact I am not alone and have something I can pretend to be talking to instead of myself. I like their soft fur and the loving glances I get..when I am eating popcorn. Really, they are always there for us and we for them. It just adds a dimension to our lives. Same for children. I guess until you have your own you really can't quite understand how they change your life.

I might be close to the same page as your Dad. That doesn't mean one has to LOVE all breeds of dogs, but I find it difficult to understand how some "segment at least" of the species might be lovable on some level. I understand allergies and feeling miserable might influence someone's opinion of canines, but there are hypoallergenic dogs. (poodles for example)
I think what makes us human, or at least more "humane" is to appreciate the "subspecies" who aren't quite to our level but offer us so much in terms of companionship and unconditional love. Dogs and "mothers" experience that, and sometimes cats. I like them too.

 

[taximomfor4]

OP, I Hear you. For us, this year's trick or treating was the worst EVER. Not sure why suddenly this year dogs went trick or treating too, but I was pretty concerned...not one owner stood far enough away from the driveway that my kids didn't have to get close to the dog to get back to the sidewalk. My dd11 will NOT go near dogs. She's ok enough now to get about 6 feet away (IF the dog is on a shorter leash)...but ALL the dogs we encountered last night were plopped right SMACK in the middle of the driveways.

I know none of the dog owners were aware of the traumatic dog attacks my dd witnessed a few months ago, but even I was leary around all those dogs -- even the nicest dog had to be a bit on edge, with all the costumed multitudes of kids, strange sounds, smells, candy wrappers, etc.

ETA: I just had dd hang out up the house's driveway till the family with the dog trick or treated at that house and then moved on. A couple of times, I ended up giving her permission to cut across the lawn (I am usually VERY strict with keeping off people's lawns unless it's someone we know who LETS people play on the grass).

 

[LaraK]

I might be close to the same page as your Dad. That doesn't mean one has to LOVE all breeds of dogs, but I find it difficult to understand how some "segment at least" of the species might be lovable on some level. I understand allergies and feeling miserable might influence someone's opinion of canines, but there are hypoallergenic dogs. (poodles for example)
I think what makes us human, or at least more "humane" is to appreciate the "subspecies" who aren't quite to our level but offer us so much in terms of companionship and unconditional love. Dogs and "mothers" experience that, and sometimes cats. I like them too.

There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. It's in the saliva, not the fur and it's protein based. My aunt had no idea why we were so furious when she brought her "baby" to a family gathering where my mother and I had paid for a hall so that we did not have to go to anyone's house who had animals or smoked. I'd driven five hours to attend this function and then had to watch my son have an asthma attack because there were animals there when everyone in the room knew he was highly allergic. Her excuse? "It's a hypoallergenic dog!". I had to leave and miss the family gathering. I will not go back, wonder if they'll be offended because I put my son's health above their dog. Oh well, I can't expect them to change so I will.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

My DH suggested taking our dog trick or treating last night and I told him it was a bad idea. For some reason, the area we live in is FULL of people that are afraid of dogs (definitely a cultural thing). Anyway, we have a giant, breathing rug of dog that is quite literally the laziest thing on the planet, but I wouldn't subject him to people that could very easily be afraid. Besides that, my dog would have had a nervous breakdown with all the commotion.

Now, my cat? Ugh, she can go anytime. It is a good thing that my son loves her.

 

[Tink9721]

my cat lives here, they do not. my cat will not be "put away" because someone doesn't like them. if they don't like my cat, we can go elsewhere. but i'm not locking her up just because someone "doesn't like animals." (of course, if there was an allergy, i think it would be better they not come to my house at all, since the cat is constantly in here, the dander and hair would be very irritating)

i would never force my cat on anyone, letting her run around outside my house, but in the house, she's not being put away.

I completely agree! I consider my cats and my dog part of the family. I understand if someone is afraid of them. Usually when we have company who doesn't like dogs, I'll put her on her leash and she'll just sit next to me. If the weather is okay she'll go outside and run around, which she has no problem with. My cats rarely come out when we have company. They're not very brave

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I don't much like running across people walking their dogs either. I usually just cross the street. Last night it was the large volume, you couldn't avoid them. Sometimes I know the person with the dog and I feel like I have to stop and talk. I cringe as their dog sniffs at me and then wants to "make friends". Seriously, I just don't like it and I don't know why people would assume that I do. If I know the person well enough, I tell them that I'm afraid of dogs and they understand. The people I know more casually, I just cringe and bear it so as not to be rude.

In terms of protection...sorry, but I watched my kid brother get mauled by a dog while I was pushing him in a stroller. Dogs are not protection in my world, they're a threat. I know that's unreasonable, but it is what it is.

So your phobic.....I understand you have a fear.

Pets are so therapeutic it's a
shame you will never have one in your life.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. It's in the saliva, not the fur and it's protein based. My aunt had no idea why we were so furious when she brought her "baby" to a family gathering where my mother and I had paid for a hall so that we did not have to go to anyone's house who had animals or smoked. I'd driven five hours to attend this function and then had to watch my son have an asthma attack because there were animals there when everyone in the room knew he was highly allergic. Her excuse? "It's a hypoallergenic dog!". I had to leave and miss the family gathering. I will not go back, wonder if they'll be offended because I put my son's health above their dog. Oh well, I can't expect them to change so I will.

Most likely your child is allergic to dander & not saliva.
Dogs are like people, not all "slobber" & not all are "threatening".

 

[LaraK]

Most likely your child is allergic to dander & not saliva.
Dogs are like people, not all "slobber" & not all are "threatening".

Um, yeah, I kinda think I know my kids allergies...I, you know, live with them every day.

I quite intentionally qualified my initial remarks to indicate that I was not classifying all pet owners in the same statement. It's the obnoxious ones who think that life is not complete unless you are being licked by their animal that irritate me in the same way that I expect that if I allowed my kid to run screaming through a store sniffing peoples crotches would irritate others.

Some people don't like kids. Some people don't like animals. I don't like animals, I don't think that anything is wrong with me that I prefer not to have hair everywhere and have my house smell and my furniture ruined. It's a personal choice. However, people tend to look at you like you are a pet murdering monster just because you don't like animals. What can I say, I guess I'm an evil person.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

So your phobic.....I understand you have a fear.

Pets are so therapeutic it's a
shame you will never have one in your life.

I never liked dogs either, for most of the reasons mentioned above. DH loves dogs and in a moment of sheer stupiduty or raging insanity he brought one home and introduced it to our young kids before I arrived home.

Needless to say, he stayed. For 13 years.

I found nothing therapeutic about living with a dog. I know that dog loved me and respected me but that was a one-way street.

Do I miss him? Not one tiny iota.

Does DH? Terribly. and that does make me sad. Though I am still hard-pressed to think of one redeeming quality that beast possessed. Ok, security, I'll grant you that one. Nothing a nice, quiet, non-drooling sturdy lock can't get you.

I was kind to the dog and he did teach me that dogs are not the brainless creatures I thought they were.

DH says he can never be replaced. From his lips to God's ear. Truth to be told, if he ever wanted another dog, I'd probably cave. The dog brought DH much joy and I'd just be wicked to deny him that, I think.

But I won't like it. Or find it therapeutic, I can guarantee you that.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Um, yeah, I kinda think I know my kids allergies...I, you know, live with them every day.

I quite intentionally qualified my initial remarks to indicate that I was not classifying all pet owners in the same statement. It's the obnoxious ones who think that life is not complete unless you are being licked by their animal that irritate me in the same way that I expect that if I allowed my kid to run screaming through a store sniffing peoples crotches would irritate others.

Some people don't like kids. Some people don't like animals. I don't like animals, I don't think that anything is wrong with me that I prefer not to have hair everywhere and have my house smell and my furniture ruined. It's a personal choice. However, people tend to look at you like you are a pet murdering monster just because you don't like animals. What can I say, I guess I'm an evil person.

So you know if your child is allergic to the saliva vs. the dander? Interesting.

You must have been in some pretty gross houses.

 

[taximomfor4]

here is a good, informative site about pet allergy. http://www.allergybegone.com/aboutpetdander.html

 

[Mickey Fliers]

So you know if your child is allergic to the saliva vs. the dander? Interesting.

You must have been in some pretty gross houses.

Actually, I am pretty certain that Lara knows EVERYTHING that her son is allergic to.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Everyone is not supposed to love animals. Some people do not. That being said, the animals we tend to take as pets are usually small, soft, with big eyes and, perhaps most importantly, are 100% dependent upon us. As such, they tie instinctively into those parts of our brain designed to love children and babies. As such, we tend to find it a bit odd when someone says they don't like animals. It's like saying "I don't like kids" or "I don't like cartoons". Some people don't, and there's nothing wrong with that, but the idea can be jarring.

 

[LaraK]

Actually, I am pretty certain that Lara knows EVERYTHING that her son is allergic to.

Yeah, I keep a cheat sheet.

Actually, many people don't understand that when you have a kid with multiple severe allergies you have to learn the biology behind the reactions. Intensely frustrating at times, but not something I'm going to waste emotional energy on trying to change.

Again, I don't want anyone else to stop enjoying their pets. I just want to point out there is another point of view.

Maybe I should be like Nitknots on Imagination Movers and get a "Mr. Rocky" pet. That's about my speed. I'm actually a little relieved that we can't have animals in the house due to allergies because I don't have to fight with the kids.

We did get lizards once...boy was THAT a mistake. Never own anything that has to eat live food.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Yeah, I keep a cheat sheet.

Actually, many people don't understand that when you have a kid with multiple severe allergies you have to learn the biology behind the reactions. Intensely frustrating at times, but not something I'm going to waste emotional energy on trying to change.

Again, I don't want anyone else to stop enjoying their pets. I just want to point out there is another point of view.

Maybe I should be like Nitknots on Imagination Movers and get a "Mr. Rocky" pet. That's about my speed. I'm actually a little relieved that we can't have animals in the house due to allergies because I don't have to fight with the kids.

We did get lizards once...boy was THAT a mistake. Never own anything that has to eat live food.

Is your cheat sheet laminated?

Oh, and duly noted on the lizards. Yuck.

 

[Minnie824]

When I was younger, I LOVED dogs...and cats but never had one. I always wanted one of the fluffy white cats like on the Fancy Feast commercials. I used to stay at my friends house, wondering why it was hard for me to breathe (parents smoked, so we assumed that maybe) until I got allergy tests and found out I was severly allergic to dogs. I agree w/the previous poster who said theres no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. I've been around poodles and what not and, depending on the kind of dog, I can't breathe either within minutes or hours. My friends are HUGE dog lovers and bug me all the time about getting a dog for my DD. And of course, my DD would like one as well. However, I don't get why no one understands my breathing is slightly more important than having a pet. I also don't like when people let their dogs jump all over you and lick you...for me, that causes hives, which I don't feel I should have to deal with. I've tried taking claritin before going to friends houses and it doesn't help either.

On another note...I've noticed alot on this thread people say 'you don't have to like animals, just don't abuse them'. Why would that even be the first thing to someones mind, that if you don't like them, you'd hurt them? I have nothing against animals, just don't want one as a pet. That doesn't mean I'm going to go abuse them. I also just don't want people to push their pets on me and act as if I'm a terrible human being because I don't want one. Its a personal choice...just like having kids.

Anyway, just wanted to say my opinion on the topic.

 

[PghLybrt]

Some people don't like kids. Some people don't like animals. I don't like animals, I don't think that anything is wrong with me that I prefer not to have hair everywhere and have my house smell and my furniture ruined.

I agree! I am on the other hand, I just don't like kids. Thats why I don't have any! I also prefer my house clean, my furniture to be intact and no sticky stuff from gooey hands left everywhere! Thats why I have dogs. To each their own.

 

[ma2jr]

I agree! I am on the other hand, I just don't like kids. Thats why I don't have any! I also prefer my house clean, my furniture to be intact and no sticky stuff from gooey hands left everywhere! Thats why I have dogs. To each their own.

.