30 Heartwarming Moments Of Children Completely Unaware That Their Pets Are Non-Human

"My 8yo maintains that her dog is her identical twin."

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• March 15, 2023

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 as to 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, homebuying, 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.

Damjan