Is having pets a good thing?

[kval07]

Saw this question posed on animals.com. What do you think?

Some people argue that in this day and age, pets are a frivolous luxury and that it is unethical to spend money on free-loading animals when environmental resources are scarce, and there are people who go without decent living standards. Others say that we learn a lot about compassion and responsibility by having pets, and that sometimes pets fulfill needs other humans can't. Does having a pet make you a better person? Is it simply a luxury? Do you haven any other arguments in favor or against having pets?

[joshmamabear]

I don't look at pets as JUST an animal that are free loading; I grew up in a family with dogs that were treated like family members. It may look weird to some but the companionship, loyalty of our dogs were more than enough compensation. They were a part in all significant events in our lives. It was unthinkable growing up without them. It was my paternal grandma that had lots of dogs in her home and she made sure they were treated well. She had a lot of help in caring for her dogs so they were well-kept.

I can't say it is luxury but it takes a lot to be a responsible pet owner, too. They should be treated like human members of our HH and with that, it entails a lot of expenses to keep them healthy.

For now, due to DHs and DSs severe allergies, we can't keep dogs @ home but we have DD's horses in barns outside.

[Katane]

My pets (4 cats and a dog) don't freeload, they have jobs. It's their responsibility to amuse my family and me, to help lower our stress levels and blood pressure, and to show us unconditional love as well as accepting ours. Unfortunately, they also think it's their job to scratch furniture and eat my socks :)

I can understand how some can say that pets are a luxury item and people shouldn't 'waste' limited resources on them but if you're going to go down that road you could say the same about people who have multiple children.

PS I'm not saying you shouldn't have multiple children if you want to, just using it as an example of ridiculousness.

[Doglover8180]

Pets are like kids - Kid's cost money - they don't bring anything in to the family - but we love them and take care of them and spend money on them - same thing with pets... we love them too - I view my pets as my babies - They bring joy and pleasure in my life.

[cheynesnana]

Luxury or not.. my cat was a great source of comfort to me this past year, so she's paid her dues...

Plus.. if I didn't have her.. people would think I was talking to myself!

[lasab]

My brother is a vet....this is his take on dogs in particular.
"Every family that has kids needs a dog. When the kids are teenagers and they won't talk to their parents, and they won't talk to their friends, and they won't talk to their teachers....they will talk to their dog. There is an unconditional love and loyalty that kids can get from their dog that they cannot get anywhere else."

Of course there are limitations to his take on the subject, but you get the idea. Like previous posts, I think there is something that pets give us as humans that we cannot get elsewhere.

[momof2inohio]

I can't imagine not having any pets. I grew up with dogs, bunnies, hamsters, frogs, turtles, etc... not all at the same time but we always some kind of animal when I was a kid.

We have a dog and she is like another kid to us. She is very spoiled and she knows it We used to have a neighbor who had 2 dogs that she just kept in the backyard all the time. I felt so bad for the dogs, we get some pretty nasty weather in the winter. I think those types of people should NOT have pets

[kval07]

My pets (4 cats and a dog) don't freeload, they have jobs. It's their responsibility to amuse my family and me, to help lower our stress levels and blood pressure, and to show us unconditional love as well as accepting ours. Unfortunately, they also think it's their job to scratch furniture and eat my socks :)

I agree. I think of my dogs as an investment. They cost a lot of money (expecially since I just had Invisible Fence installed...) BUT they are worth it.

They add more value to my life than any thing I could buy myself with the boatloads of cash I'd have if I didn't have dogs to pay for.

[Lori63]

My cat is invaluable to me. I'm going through a VERY rough time right now, and she knows it and has been extra loving towards me.

[fungirl2727]

I have a pug that is so cute and brings so much joy too my family! My kids love her so much and take such good care of her. My hubby and me fight over who gets too hang with her. My hubby drove 16 hr in one day too pick her up and paid 600 bucks for her. Yes she is expensive too keep up with shots and food and everything elce but she is worth every penny! We have spent maybe 2 grand in the last 2 yrs on buying her and everything elce. Just got her shots and checkup for the yr and it was 150 bucks. I think someone that can't feed themselves and kids should not get a animal. We spend about 50 month on her with food heartworm flea and treat!