How important is a pets life to you.

[kikoalex]

The question on the poll is whether animals should be considered as important as a human.  Surely most of you agree with that.  I'm not saying more important than your own flesh and blood, but surely they deserve the same love, respect and care as any human.  I love my little animal babies.  I know one day I will have children and my poor little ratties (and other pets) will be put second.  Not because I don't love them, but because I simply can't do everything.  If I had to choose, I'd be heart broken, but would have to choose my real child.  But, right now, the only thing I have are my "real" children, all my pets.  And I would give anything and everything I can to make sure that they live the best life I can possibly provide, free from fear, stress, hunger and pain.  That is my responsibility as a person owned by pets.  I don't own them, or else they wouldn't pee on the walls .

Perhaps when I have children I'll train my dog to open all the cages, load the ratties (and other small pets) into their carriers and take them out of the house.  This way there's no fire concerns... but sadly that'll probably be a dream.  But at least that way, I really wasn't choosing.

[Tibby]

  Good topic, even if it does bite at people's innermost concerns.

Our pets are our children t the moment.  But if we had a human child, the animals we have would still be considered pets. I don't have any human kids either and me and the husband are still in the debate stage over wether or not to have them.  I'm like alot of folks here.  And I can relate to what people are saying in an odd way.  I don't like human children very much (toddlers scare the bejeezus out of me) and feel really uncomfortable around them.  But, when you have a sugnifigant other like a husband, and are starting life and begining a family ... ideals and perspectives change dramaticly.  I was one of those folk who swore up and down to the ends of the universe that I would NEVER, EVER have human kids.  Now, 3 years later of marriage, things have changed.  I'm still not fond of human kids, other people's make me all squirmy and nervous for some reason.  But I've been doing a lot of inner-personal exploring and thinking about my choices and outlooks on the furture.  Having a human child is not such a non-prospect anymore.  We have tenitavly decided that perhaps we will have at least one.  I'm an only child myself and would deffinatly prefer to raise 1 human kid.

Hypotheticaly in my case (reality for others):  If I was to have a child who would get the priority? For me it would be the human  child.  I love animals just as equaly, but when it really comes down to it ... people are most important, especialy if the child were a part of my own flesh, blood and DNA.  It doens't mean I would go get rid of the pets, of course not! Unless the kid was severly allergic to them or something. Our pets are in our family circle and our cat Cheddar is the only "child" we have at the moment.  We love them to death and give them only the best care possible.  If we are to have a child, the kid would be the most important and at the top of the list of priorities.  Please be assured that cat, or rats will get no lackof care.  But if it really came down to it ... our child would go above and beyond the rats or Cheddar.      

I will caution folks here on what I am about to say.  This might raise the hair on the backs of some people's necks and make them a tad upset.  After all, this is a sensitive topic ... but remember this is only a personal opinion and it's not intended to be imposed on anyone.  I am merely sharing my perspective on the topic at hand.  OK, that out of the way, here it goes:

What it comes down to between pets (companion animals) and human children is the fact that pets are replacable and having your own human child is not.  We love and adore our cat Cheddar tons and tons and provide nothing but the very best for him.  Same with the rats.  When one of the animals passes on we will be very sad and greive very much.  Here's the part that might make people growl, the pets are replacable.  When inevitablility comes around and one of our pets passes on, we can always be assured that we can go to the shelter and adopt anouther cat or go to a responsible rat breeder and get new pet rats.  If (hypothetcial in my case, reality in other people who are parents) "my" human child where to die for some reason or anouther ... you cannot replace that.  It's not like you can go to the pet store, or a breeder or a shelter and "get anouther Timmy, or Jane".  You can replace a pet, you cannot replace a person.  Granted our pets seem like our kids at times and when they die we feel just as much grief.  But, we can ALWAYS go get a new pet to refill the void the deceased one left.  

Yes, the original pet is gone and his/her personality cannot be fully replaced, but it's simple fact that we can easily get a new rat or cat.  Human kids (or a human in general), when they die are gone for good.  Human beings are not as easily replaced, especialy those that we hold closest to our hearts and lives.  We cannot replace our Mom, Dad, sister, brother, daughter, son, in-laws, grandma, grandpa, ect. ect, when they pass on.  People who have lost a person dear to their hearts probably understands this better.  Rats and cats and dogs can be replaced, humans that are super close to us cannot be replaced ... ever.  Thus is the difference of pets and people.

I appoligize in advance if that makes people mad and want scream at me.  I advise people who will get defensive or angry at me to really think about it sometime ... I have thought about these facts tons and tons and it makes my stomache churn every time.  If someone (who is not a pet) you hold closest to your heart where to die tomarrow, what would you do? Shrug and say .. oh well,
I've got my animals.  Or would it really make an impact?  

Here's the grand hypothetical question I ask everyone when it comes to people and pets:  You child (or Sister, Brother, Mother, Father) is deathly ill. So is your pet rat. (or whatever pet it is).  You only have enough money in savings to take 1
of them to a hospital for treatment.  Who would go, the child (or relative) or the rat?  Would someone really sacrifice the life of their own child, (or closest human relative) for the life of their beloved rat/rats?

I would hope that the human would be the first choice.  If not ... well ... that's your personal choice to make and nothing anyone can say will change that persepective.

[Ziggy]

The question on the poll is whether animals should be considered as important as a human.  Surely most of you agree with that.  I'm not saying more important than your own flesh and blood, but surely they deserve the same love, respect and care as any human.

I think, or hope, most people here would agree with that. I know I do. That doesn't necessarily mean the EXACT same rights, since I would house a horse in a field and my rat in a cage, but not a child! But with regards to whats best for them, animals should have the exact same standard of care as your kids get.

Unfortunately, the laws in this country, and I'd expect over seas too, don't seem to give this message. You can do hideous things to an animal and get away with just a fine or community service or at worst, a ban from keeping pets for the rest of your life. Hell, this country still seems to think fox hunting should be legal, how can we ever expect people to view animals as precious and valuable like children when laws still allow us to chase them till exhaustion and rip them to bits? No wonder people view animals as expendable or there purely for our benefit when they know they'll get off lightly if they do anything to them. Unfortunately, I don't see those laws changing to be the same as they are with children. The general public would probably be up in arms if someone got life imprisonment for starving their rabbit. I think it should be done but unfortunately, most people probably don't.
And it's horrible.
However, having said that, children have these laws to protect them and many are still abused daily.  

[ruthiechan]

Eg, if you had to choose between giving your rat or your baby a life saving operation.  Would you really have to think about it?

Not at all.
My baby would be first.

To be honest, I don't spend as much time with my rats like I used to because of Hazel. I told this to a friend who only has rats for "kids." She said, "Oh, that's too bad." Why is that too bad? They used to be out 4 to 6 hours a day, and now they're not. They still get plenty of play time, and they're still happy rats. I still provide proper care to the best of my ability.

Straight up, my family comes before the rats. Parents, siblings, husband, daughter.
This doesn't mean I don't love my rats. I do, and I cry for them when they die.
I still miss my rats who have passed on and I ache a bit when I look at their album.
Though I do know that if something were to happen to Hazel (God forbid) that the pain I would feel would be more, and longer lasting.

The question on the poll is whether animals should be considered as important as a human.  Surely most of you agree with that.  I'm not saying more important than your own flesh and blood, but surely they deserve the same love, respect and care as any human.

I think, or hope, most people here would agree with that. I know I do. That doesn't necessarily mean the EXACT same rights, since I would house a horse in a field and my rat in a cage, but not a child! But with regards to whats best for them, animals should have the exact same standard of care as your kids get.

I agree.
I also think that senior citizens and adults should have the same standard of care as well.
*sigh* There's too much abuse in this world.

Now if it were between the animals and the hubby, I'd take the animals.  

I hope that was a joke. If not, then I hope your husband never sees this. It would hurt his feelings.

[jen50schick]

I voted that pets are just as important as human children.  I don't have children of my own, so many probably think that I have no right to compare, however I have 3 godchildren, 2 of which I have every day of their lives (so I feel like they are mine).  Animal rights has been my passion since I was a child.  I turned vegetarian when I was around 9 or 10 years old (when I figured out that my supposed dinner was really an animal) and stopped wearing leather, suede, wool, angora, etc.  I have been a quest to save all the critters that I can ever since.  Animals are such a major part of my life.  I can never imagine my life without animal companions as a part of my family.  

[Ensie]

The question on the poll is whether animals should be considered as important as a human.  

Semantically, that's not quite what the original question asks, but I can see the connection.

In order to answer either question, we had to weigh whether or not a pet's well being is the "same" as a human child's. We had to consider whether or not one is more/less whatever than the other. Everybody assumed importance. That's where the more/less important comes from.

[Calviness]

My "kids" are no longer kids.  My son is almost 14 and my daughter is almost 19.  I would give my life for my children.

I also love my rats. The kids tease me that I love the rats more than I love them.

  I am SURE that my parents' golden retreiver Molly is my mom's favorite daughter.  And I NEVER miss a chance to tell her that.

[redneckrattie]

Wow... what a thought provoking question.

Honestly, I can not answer the poll becuase I can not compare my love for my rattie boys and my human children.

Basic survival? Well, gee.. I would hate it, but, if my house was on fire, I would have to make sure my children were out first, but You better bet I would be trying to grab the rat cage on the way out!!

Daily needs? Both are taken care of. I make sure my children Rattie and Human are cared for on a daily basis before my own needs are met.

Health care? no question, I would sacrifice whatever it took to so that all my children are cared for. Luckily my human children have great insurance so thats not a problem. heehee.

Love? I can't explain it, but, its a different love. Love thats different yet, both intense..

Time and attention? OOps Sometimes I do spend more time with the ratties one on one.. eeeks. but, they sleep most the day and during that time my human children catch up on some quality mommy time!!  LOL .

So, hmmm well being?? how can I answer that?? It depends on the situation... in an emergency where my human child's life is in jeapardy NO QUESTIONS ASKED!! My human children come first.. but, Love is a huge thing, and our hEARTS are amazing... just when you think you can not love another being as much as the beings you have, you find that you can...

Example, before my second human child was born I swore I could not love another child like my daughter.... I was wrong... there is room.. there is always more room..... same with ratties

[Jay and the Fuzzie Pajama Girls]

This is almost turning into one of those "What would you do for a million dollars" type of posts.  I have no human children.  Don't want any human children.  All my girls are my kids, and I put them before anything.  I'll scream or get angry with anybody and even yell at other people's kids.  I do not raise my voice to my girls.  When they decided to shread the back of my leather couch, who caught the blame?  Myself.  I blamed myself for not watching them more carefully.  The more people I meet, the more I love my girls.  

I haven't seen anyone pose the question "Save my animals or save my mother-in-law?"  

[ruthiechan]

I haven't seen anyone pose the question "Save my animals or save my mother-in-law?"  

My Mother-in-law.
Yeah, she's an idiot, but she's a very generous kind idiot. She just doesn't get a lot of things.
Though, I'm sure some people would disagree.
*thinks of Shawna*

[Blue]

Hypotheticaly in my case (reality for others):  If I was to have a child who would get the priority? For me it would be the human  child.  I love animals just as equaly, but when it really comes down to it ... people are most important, especialy if the child were a part of my own flesh, blood and DNA.

just curious - how about an adopted child? Someone who didn't share your DNA?

I hope I'm not diving into a whole other debate here.. just honestly curious.

[Tibby]

An adopted child would get exactly the same priority as the other.   I didn't intend to exclude anyone in my babbling.  It makes no difference to me.    

[ruthiechan]

An adopted child would get exactly the same priority as the other.   I didn't intend to exclude anyone in my babbling.  It makes no difference to me.    

I agree!

[Lin]

On a very broad scale of the things that are important to me; more important than myself less important than my human family members.

[Marybelle]

Hypotheticaly in my case (reality for others):  If I was to have a child who would get the priority? For me it would be the human  child.  I love animals just as equaly, but when it really comes down to it ... people are most important, especialy if the child were a part of my own flesh, blood and DNA.

just curious - how about an adopted child? Someone who didn't share your DNA?

I hope I'm not diving into a whole other debate here.. just honestly curious.

Coming from a family where my sister is adopted, I can tell you that the love is the same, no matter of the DNA.  I don't think of her as my adopted sister.  She's just my sister, and I love her just as much as I do my brother, who's flesh and blood.  And I know my parents feel just the same about her as they do about me (although she'd tell you they love me more, it's an ongoing argument between us).    

[kikoalex]

Love? I can't explain it, but, its a different love. Love thats different yet, both intense..

Love is a huge thing, and our hEARTS are amazing... just when you think you can not love another being as much as the beings you have, you find that you can...

I think that explains it best.  I know that the love i have for my niece and nephew is very different from my love for my ratties, but that doesn't mean I love either of them any less or more.  It is certainly different.  I would never hesitate to stand up for any of them.  I also know my niece does not look forward to the day I have my own kids, as she will no longer be my only baby.

[Noe]

On a very broad scale of the things that are important to me; more important than myself less important than my human family members.

In general, this is how I feel as well. But there's obviously a scale of importance. I might not go without some basic things in order to buy more rat toys, but I certainly would to pay for a life-saving operation. However, I'd probably go without basic things for myself, in order to buy birthday/holiday presents for future human kids, even if they didn't really need them.

There are some things I would not want to sacrifice - my job, relationship, home, emotional and mental well-being, etc. If these things were threatened I might, depending on the circumstances, have to consider rehoming my beloved animals. At the point where my own well-being is threatened, theirs is as well. However, I can't imagine placing my own children in a foster home just because we were going through tough times. Families are supposed to take care of each other and support each other when the going gets rough. I don't feel my companion animals and I relate to each other quite as directly in this way; also, because their lives are so short, I would want them to have as much comfort as possible during the time they do have. I can't imagine them being as seriously affected by leaving me as human children would be.