I began thinking about this when I read part of a post where someone said that their pets were as important to them as a human child would be.

It made me wonder how many people who agree with this also have "Human" children.  I'm interested in seeing how the opinion differs between those with and without "human" children.  

I voted not as important as a child.  I have no children yet, but I hope to be a mommy someday.

In ordinary circumstances, I would consider my pet as important as my child.  However, if I could only save my child or a pet from a fire, I am sure I would pick my child.  I only hope I am never in a situation where I have to pick.  I adore my pets.  I would never forgive myself if I was forced to choose, even if I had no control over the situation.

I don't have children, but I do think my pets lives are as important as a human's. I love my animals just as much as I love my parents or my grandparents or my brother. If I had to choose between them, I can see myself choosing the pets.. because their love is unconditional, while a human's love is always conditional (it's human nature).

To me, my pets ARE my children, so of course they're as important. I love them just the same (many parents don't buy this, but I know in my heart that I do love them just as much, and it makes me very very angry to be told otherwise because I "just don't understand").  

When my animals are all I think about every waking moment, when I put their well-being before my own or my biological family's, when all of my money and time and energy goes toward their happiness, and all that matters to me is to know they are living happy, healthy, fulfilled lives.. I know these are my kids.

I don't understand getting mad at someone cause they have a different viewpoint as me.  That's just stupid.  

No hissing from this corner.

We only have animals, and they are our children.  (We're "mommy" & "daddy" "oh, that mean daddy yelled at you, didn't he?  He's a ****head, isn't he?  yes, yes he is...")  Once we have human children (or start popping out brats, as my oh-so-romantic husband says), though, I would think in a situation where I was forced to choose one or the other I would choose human child.  The choice would probably be instinctual - preservation of the species and all that jazz.

If somebody wants to have "fur kids" (pets for children) or love their pets as much as or more than their human children, providing they're actually caring for all the "kids" whether furred or not, that's none of my business, quite frankly.  Doesn't affect my life, so no reason to get my knickers knotted.      

Just as important. We have no human kids, and don't want any. Our ratties, piggers, doggies, bunny and hamsters fill our lives enough.

sadcat, mark the day i completely agree. and like kmw, i am bowies mommy. i would give heaven and earth to make my dog healthy, and keep nixon with me, etc.

I love my rats a lot, and sacrifice enough for them that "normal", no-pet people think I'm absolutely insane. But in this community I fall on the conservative end of the spectrum. Though I don't have children of my own yet, I know that I would love my human children more than I can even imagine, far more than I love my pets. Somehow I just know this to be true with every part of my being.

If I had human children, I'd give up anything for them, including my life. I love my animal companions very much, but for me, there is a greater depth of love waiting to be tapped by human babies.

Really? If one of my friends broke her leg and couldn't afford treatment but I could, I'd pay for it in a heartbeat.

But I do understand what you mean, I think (as I posted above) and I don't think your a bad person, just as I don't think people who love their rats as much or more than they'd love human children are bad. We all just have different connections that are the most meaningful to us.

I totaly agree with SADCAT. I voted Yes. I also have no human children.
All of my pets are as important as another human's life to me.

I have no human children. I don't know if I could ever love them as much as my rats. I'm weird that way, but my rats mean everything to me. I told my husband that I could not live without them. There is no way for me to be happy without my rats. We call our rats our babies. All of them are rescues (thus so very grateful), my darling Dante is my very first rat and I just love to be cuddled my them.
I worked a lot with children, I get along great with teenagers, but whether I want some of my own is a different story. Right now, there is nothing and nobody who could make me happier than those rattie eyes looking at me and telling me how much they love me.

I have no children. I don't like them one bit.

I do every thing in my power to make sure my rats have the best and most natural life possible, and I often go without so they can have something. I love them with all my heart and I feel what I imagine is very similar to the love felt between mother and child. I love them more than words can say.

BUT

If it were their life or my mothers, I'd pick my mum. Obviously it wouldn't be a nice decision to make but it would have to be my mum. It's just human nature, and in a way probably comes down to self preservation a lot. I know that I need my mum's love and support to get on well in life. My mum will, hopefully, be here in 30 years time and no doubt Ill still be going to her for help and advice.
All my rats are going to be dead in 3 years regardless. Before anyone says it, it doesn't make their lives worth less just because they live short lives. But from a survival perspective, and ALL humans have the deep seeded instinct to survive, having my mother around is more beneficial than having a rat around.
My mum is completely irreplaceable. You can also say that of your pets, of course, but it's not the same thing, as demonstrated by the fact that we are constantly going out and getting new rats or dogs or cats in the place of ones we've lost. Of course we never forget or stop loving the ones who've died, but we're usually ready to get another one not long after. We know we'll get just as much love from a new rat as we did from our old ones. We can't just go out and get ourselves another mother or family member. This in no way means I don't love my rats every inch as much as anyone else, just that Im being realistic with myself here. I'd love to say I'd choose my rats over a family member but I think that if Im honest, thats not true.
I also think ensie is very right in saying that those of us without kids probably shouldn't comment since you don't know the love you can feel untill you're holding your own baby in your arms (or so my mum always says when she's trying to tell me that I WILL like kids one day)

However, having said that, if it were my rat's life, or the life of a complete and utter stranger, the decision would be different. I may well pick my pet over a stranger.  I prefer animals to people immensely. I have strong bonds with my mother and immediate family, but feel nothing towards a stranger in the street. I give to animal charities, but not to human ones. I help out at an animal shelter, but never do anything exceptional to help disadvantaged people. I don't know why that is.

But I do believe animals deserve the same protection as children. It should not be as acceptable as it currently is to beat, starve, mutilate and mistreat your animals. If you can be locked away for doing it to a child, you should be locked away for doing it to your pet.