30 Heartwarming Moments Of Children Completely Unaware That Their Pets Are Non-Human
If you’re a dog owner, you probably don’t think of yourself as an owner. Your beloved furry friend is not your property.
They’re your best friend, your partner in crime, and perhaps, to your children, they’re your equal. Kristen Mulrooney recently tweeted about her 3-year-old’s realization that their dog was a pet, and many other parents chimed in with stories of their own children’s hilarious mistakes.
These stories are an adorable reminder of the bond between children and their pets. Kids see their pets as part of the family, and their innocent misunderstandings regarding their status can be both amusing and heartwarming.
Bioethicist and writer Jessica Pierce, Ph.D., believes that seeing pets as family members is a positive thing. “Pets can be members of the family,” she said, “and it is important to recognize that they can also be family members with rights.”
She’s right—our pets are family, just as much as our kids, parents, and siblings are. It’s important to remember that even though our pets may not be human, they should be treated with the same respect and kindness that we give to any family member.
This means providing them with a safe and comfortable home, the best possible nutrition, and plenty of love. In return, they’ll provide us with unconditional love that’s unlike anything else. No matter how we choose to label our relationship with our pets, we should all strive to treat them as a part of our family—because that’s what they are.
Pets bring us joy and comfort and deserve to be treated with the same respect and kindness that we give to any other person or animal in our lives.
When your kid wants a pet...
1. It makes a healthier relationship
2. My friend, Waffles
3. Henry
4. A small, fuzzy roommate
5. Identical twin
6. That's a dog!
7. Not a pet enough
8. 3-year-old
9. Humans vs. non-humans
10. Sister
11. A family member
12. Brother
13. Stan is people
14. Brother
15. Adorable
16. We remember them always
17. Luke and Leaia
18. "I wish we had a dog..."
19. 6 dogs
20. The tribe
21. Pink sister, furry sister, and furry brother
22. Big brother
23. Babe
24. Maybe...
25. Woofwoof
26. People share these feelings
27. The baby might want a dog
28. Big brother
29. Two sisters
30. Siblings
Sociologists have been debating whether human-animal social interaction exists, mainly because of the lack of a shared language. However, the way pet owners treat their furry friends suggests otherwise.
Americans, for instance, often take their pets into account when making decisions regarding their own lives, such as child-rearing, home buying, job location, travel, and budgeting. In 2020, the amount Americans spent on their pets was astonishing, reaching upwards of $103 billion.
It's clear that pets have become an integral part of our lives and that our relationships with them go beyond mere ownership.
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