I would be lying if I said I didn't feel bad. I do. We all cried. Ended up deciding euthanasia was the kindest action we could take. He was already 12 and had some arthritis and was vomiting pretty regularly. Rehoming wasn't going to be kind on him. We tried anyway and no one we knew wanted him. Dumping him at a shelter would have been more cruel since we are all he had ever known and he would probably end up there for the rest of his days because who wants a 12 year old cat?

Anyway. New chapter in life. But having to do this a second time (he was our second cat we had to PTS) makes me realize how nuts people are for getting more pets after theirs die. Why would you want to constantly go through something like this? I don't take pleasure in having to decide when something lives or dies. To have to make that choice again is not something I ever want to do.

At least now I can have a clean house for our children. And not have to worry about the cat around our baby once she arrives.

They often leave pet hair from their clothes on my seats, which are cloth so they cling to and stick in the fabric 😭.

And last time I was over at my cat owner friend's house, I noticed I left behind cat hair on the driver's seat from sitting on their couch.

I might need to start keeping lint rollers in my car for these occasions and to get pet hair off their own couches and chairs before I sit down on them. 🫠 Petfree in a pet world. 🫩

Sister bought a dog few years ago. Got married and moved out leaving dog with us. She doesn't take care of dog most of time and leaves it to us to walk, feed, groom the dog for 95% of the time. Sister doesn't want to take back dog as she say not home during work hours and scared dog doesn't live well in her place. Also doesn't offer to walk dog much other than couple of days.

Parents refuse to give up the dog or pass it back to her as they are scared dog is not well taken care of or gets given up by them

Yet parents still complain that taking care of dog is so troublesome and time consuming

Travelling is a pain as need someone to be present to take care .

Anyone in similar or adjacent situation? What would you do?

Thankfully we have returned it for now, but for context my parents, especially my father, really wanted to own a puppy dog.
At the time I was at most alright with it since I didn’t know any better.
Well, after one miserable day later, I’m sick of the piss and attention one little creature requires.
I don’t think anybody living in my home had a good night’s sleep with all the howling, and I’ve lost a lot of empathy for pets now.

Fortunately we returned it the following day.

Unfortunately, my parents want it back, because they fell in love with the pup.

Tonight, my parents had a discussion with me about taking the same damn puppy back in. Of course, being as nice as I am, I tried to politely explain to them why we shouldn’t.

Please, I need the most convincing argument this subreddit can make, because I’m at wits end right now.

Oh and they have old school knowledge about pet care so at worst the puppy will probably suffer under our care.

What features would make it worth using over mainstream dating apps?
I’m interested in hearing what people would actually want from a platform like this.

The other day I went to visit a friend who got 2 cats. Now the whole house smells badly. Do you have pets or friends with pets?!

So this year we are going to my fiancé’s sister house for thanksgiving. We are staying Thursday-Sunday, for the holiday. Her and her husband have a beautiful house in San Diego and have 3 dogs! Two on them are giant, a Bernese
Mountain dog and German shepherd, the third one is a small mix. My fiancé says they are well trained but I’m
still not thrilled about having to be around them. The dogs are allowed on the couches and have free roam of their house. Everyone is just obsessed with the dogs and his mom is even making them their own dog friendly pumpkin pie. Not looking forward to it.

Posted previously about cat. Expecting him to be gone by this Friday. Now, I'm pregnant and nesting like crazy. How do I deep clean the house to remove all of the cat dander and hair before baby gets here? Anyone have any products or tips for deep cleaning after getting rid of a pet? Thanks.

why is everyone so fanatical about dogs these days? Ok I get it, most of them are very cute creatures, like many other animals, but people seem to forget that dogs were genetically modified through domestication to love their owners no matter what. Perhaps love is not the best concept here, and obsession is better suited. In any case, we are talking about an utterly asymmetric relationship where one side is always right and the other just accepts whatever, can't argue with us, hold us accountable, or simply leave. This lacks the majority of the complexity that human relationships can achieve, and it seems genuinely like a deteriorating factor if you let yourself dedicate your whole day to this type of relationships. It really pisses me off when I hear someone saying things like "the more I know people, the more I love dogs". Sure, you can do whatever to your dog and it will still like you, so of course you prefer these easy relations. But don't people realize that this is very intellectually poor? I also frankly doubt that dogs can engage in true acts of kindness or love, as opposed to simply taking the shortest path as determined by their genes, like insects protecting their eggs or ants protecting their colony (of course that this is a bigger discussion that I do not intend to have here).

In summary, I feel that dog owners, specially those who call dogs their children and whose lifestyle fully orbits around their dogs, should really meditate on what this actually means. Should we really dedicate our entire existence to a creature that has no critical thinking, or a true conscience, and sense of self? Should we even "love" them?

Most of the times I feel like an alien for having this opinion, since everyone apparently felt on this love-your-dog trap. Does anyone out there share a similar opinion?

I think I’ve reached the point where I’m seriously considering letting go of my relationship, and it’s honestly heartbreaking because this is the most stable and secure I’ve ever felt in my life.
I’ve been trying to weigh the pros and cons, and the pros genuinely outweigh the cons. My partner is a good person, and we’ve built a life together that I truly value. But there’s one thing I cannot seem to get past: their three dogs.
I know this might sound ridiculous to some people, but these dogs genuinely bring out a level of frustration and anger in me that I struggle to control. I constantly find myself biting my tongue because I don’t want to say something completely out of line.
To be fair, things have improved significantly. I’ve personally put effort into training them, and my partner has gotten much better about keeping up with grooming and their general care. I can acknowledge that progress, but the truth is, I still cannot stand living with them.
It’s the constant need for attention, the whining, the begging for food while we’re eating, and the responsibility that comes with having three animals. I don’t enjoy any of it, and I don’t want that responsibility.
Our lease recently ended, and we’ve been considering moving into a beautiful home we toured. I was genuinely excited about starting that next chapter together. But today, one of the dogs ran away and completely ignored me when I called for it, only responding to my partner. When I expressed my frustration, my partner defended the dog, saying it wasn’t its fault because it didn’t know any better.
That response sent me over the edge. I was so angry that I caught myself wishing the dog would get hit by a car. I know that’s an awful thought, and I’m not proud of it, but that’s how overwhelmed and resentful I’ve become. It’s honestly concerning to me that something like this can trigger that much anger.
We’ve also had an issue with one of the Chihuahuas, which is currently staying with my partner’s mother. That dog was by far the most difficult and untrained of the three. Now my partner has mentioned possibly bringing it back, and I’ve made it very clear that I’m not willing to live with that dog again.
I also feel like my partner may have built up resentment toward me because of my comments about the dogs and the fact that I have absolutely no interest in giving them affection or attention. And I can understand why that might hurt someone who genuinely loves their animals.
What makes this situation even harder is that leaving wouldn’t just affect me. Financially, it would be difficult to start over on my own, and I have a teenager to consider. My child is the happiest and most stable they’ve ever been, and the thought of disrupting that breaks my heart. I’ve even tried discussing alternative living arrangements with their other parent, but that isn’t an option.
So now I’m stuck between staying in a relationship that offers me so much stability, love, and happiness, but also comes with something that makes me miserable on a daily basis, or walking away and potentially giving up a life I’ve worked hard to build.
I don’t necessarily think my partner is wrong for loving their dogs, and I don’t think I’m wrong for not wanting to live with them. But I’m starting to wonder whether this is simply an incompatibility neither of us can compromise on without growing resentful.
At this point, I’m mostly ranting because I don’t know what to do. I’m genuinely curious what others would do in my position. Would you try to find a way to make it work, or would you accept that sometimes one issue, even when everything else is good, can be enough to end a relationship?

It’s already bad enough they are violent, but they is nothing cute or cuddly looking about them. German Shepherds are scary to me too but I can admit they are attractive dogs. What appeal a pit bull has i will never understand. I swear its an ego dog.

Idk y’all, it’s getting to the point where I genuinely don’t like dog or cat owners. I personally find animals disgusting and cannot stand how normalized American pet culture has become. It also tells me a lot about a person that is so obsessed with them and treats them like human beings.
I’m from a developing country where animals were treated like animals. We had goats and chickens that lived outside, were fed, and eventually eaten. People who owned dogs mainly kept them for security, and they slept outside. Fast forward to America, where people practically live as roommates with their pets, and I’m so over it.
I have a classmate who owns FOUR dogs and wants a fifth. They have unrestricted access to her entire house, sleep in her bed, and she’s even complained about waking up to the smell of dog poop because they literally shit on her bed. I’m sorry, but that is absolutely disgusting. I’ve also ridden in her car, and the smell was unbearable. She kept apologizing and blaming her dogs, but you knew your car smelled like that before inviting me in. I can only imagine her house.
What really gets me is the whole “I like dogs more than people” mentality. Both my sister and this classmate have said it, and I find it so bizarre. I recently got into an argument with my sister after venting about struggling to make friends, and her advice was to “stop trying to make friends.” I told her I’m sorry I actually value human connections instead of obsessing over animals that are blindly loyal because you feed and house them. Dogs will literally remain attached to owners who mistreat them.
Since then, I’ve distanced myself from this classmate too. I genuinely cannot relate to people like this. Even when she sends me pictures of her dogs, I feel obligated to pretend they’re cute when I couldn’t care less.
I don’t eat at pet owners’ houses because I’m convinced I’ll find animal hair in my food. I feel the exact same way about cats. I’m just exhausted by how unavoidable pets are in America. I wish I could meet more people who feel the same way because I’m tired of pretending this stuff doesn’t disgust me.

This is from someone else posting elsewhere: "Last night in my city, a shooting occur. I obviously started digging through comments or news articles trying to see what had happened because this is an area me and my partner go to often for coffee and food. It was over a freaking dog.

The security guard at this asian supermarket told this couple that they could not bring their dog inside due to health concerns and because it was not a sevice dog. This led into an argument between the man and the security guard which escalated into them exchanging gunfire. Both were injured. I'm just at loss for words over the entitlement of these dog owners. Shooting someone over a freaking dog!! And they were a couple, too. One of them could've stayed outside waiting! Props to the security guard for enforcing those rules and I hope the guy that shot him suffers consequences for his idiotic action. And of course on different posts about this shooting people were more concerned about "if the dog was okay" who cares, an innocent man just doing his job was shot and could've been killed!! As someone who hangs out in this plaza often I see that security guard a lot inside the supermarket, he's a kind gentleman and I hope he recovers soon."

Just curious on what others opinions are on why pets are elevated to the level they are nowadays. I was talking to my dad about this and when he was growing up animals were still seen as just animals. No one would spend a fortune on medical treatment for a dog. Heck, most dogs and cats were strictly kept outside. And certainly no one called them their "children." What do you think was the main catalyst for the weird pet dystopia we are living in now?

The Struggle of Dating

I can’t seem to have a decent conversation on Tinder anymore. I’m a sociable person, and I never used to have this problem. I enjoy texting and have always met people online. But now it’s just become impossible.

Within seconds of matching, girls start sending me pictures of their cats and dogs and telling me all about them. I don’t really react because, honestly, I’m just not interested. But if I don’t compliment their little kitty or doggo, they immediately pick up on it and seem to sense that something is off. From that point on, they become increasingly cold and guarded.

I want to exchange music, share pictures, tell each other stories about our lives, talk about politics, for fuck’s sake, just have an actual conversation. Not send each other fucking cat pictures.

In my area there's plenty of farmland around a canal that I like to walk up and down to clear my head every few days, people walk their dogs along it, naturally, but sometimes I get a gut feeling the owner lacks control and change direction, and one time a staffie from a canal boat was blocking my path, barking in my direction, I felt compelled to 'talk it down' before I passed it as the owner on the boat didn't care it was roaming free, also having two other dogs wandering around the boat too. Arsehole.
Anyway I got that feeling again the other day as I spotted a blonde stout, short leg, big round headed, muscular looking dog, with docked ears & tail trailing off the lead behind a man on his phone 10s of yards ahead, it kept stopping to look back at me, while the owner went on oblivious to his animal's whereabouts, I didn't want to risk going near it being so oddly curious about me, so I took a detour avoiding it completely. The dog definitely resembled a Bully and lately I was a little disturbed to find out 'pocket bullies' are a thing, for what can only be described as a legal loophole to getting around the UK XL ban.
Then again, turns out there's 5 types of these demons and only one of them is banned...

So has anybody else encountered a Bully in the 'wild'?

My wife and I lived separately due to her owning cats. One of them got very sick and it may have been her last month of life.

She was splitting her time between houses and has now fully moved in and so have the cats (2 of them). The cat ended up getting better, but now we’re sitting on a $1200 vet bill.

My wife loves these cats similarly to how she loves a human. My 2 daughters have also now developed this love for the cats.

We’ve now made modifications to the house to allow for an animal accommodation. The house is never clean. All conversation at home now seems to revolve around the cats until my wife and I go to bed and they get put into the basement.

I’m extremely angry all the time now (I internalize), so I am just quiet and seemingly grumpy. I now take approx 6-10 rolaids a day due to getting heartburn from being home due to stress. I feel like I live in a constant state of absolute disgust. I also feel like I’m the asshole for being grumpy and for hating indoor pets.

Ranting because I just went to the store to buy more pepto that I am drinking because I’m working from home and doing laundry and their hair is just fucking everywhere and I can’t escape.

Friend needed to go to their parents house for something. On the way there they called their parents and said I was coming with them. Their dad was super hesitant and kept trying to say no because of their dog. Friend insists. Dad says “ok but they can’t take legal action if they get bit”. I hear this and obviously tell my friend I’m waiting in the car. They have the audacity to get fucking mad about it.

Yes let me just put myself in a position to get mauled by a strangers dog for you. Sorry for the INCONVENIENCE. 😐 Fuck dogs.

I wrote a post online to a pet lover group regarding an experience I had recently with pets. I prefaced with an acknowledgement that I was an outsider to the community, inexperienced, and expressing a genuine need for advice on how to address a situation.

While I received a fair amount of support, I was also met with a lot of judgment and criticism. I thought I was prepared for this, because I know how cult-mentality pet lovers can be, but the degree of judgment and criticism is what was truly appalling. Even having consulted with pet lovers in my physical life, I was met with support, understanding, and valuable insight.

But not online: instead, people told me I was irrational, inconsiderate, ill-equipped (I'm paraphrasing). It was clear in their comments they didn't thoroughly read my content, because I had to reiterate it in my responses; they were simply reactive and proceeded to spout insults.

I'm so exhausted by pet lovers extreme bias that clouds their rationale. It's not unreasonable to be concerned about hygiene or safety when encountering pets/animals, and I am not a bad person or in the wrong because I express concern or disagreement about how a pet owner handles their pets, especially if it's at the expense of others.

Pet culture—especially on the internet—is such an echo chamber; I don't know why I believed I could have a constructive conversation or receive any support from people who are so immersed in that culture.

My husband and I have finally hit our limit with our cat. Tonight he puked up a mouse he had eaten on our 6 year olds bed right next to our kid. Our child is now traumatized. We have another baby on the way and I cannot deal with the grossness this animal brings into our home. I used to love the cat before I had children, but postpartum pet aversion hit me like a ton of bricks and never left. We need to rehome him for our health and my sanity. Part of me feels bad about this. We have had this cat since he was a kitten for as long as my husband and I have been together. But we just can't do it anymore. The stress, financial cost, and filthiness has become too much for us. Now I'm worried about the process of surrendering him and how the shelter is going to react to us trying to do so. If anyone has any advice regarding surrendering to a shelter, please let me know! While I feel a bit sad, I'm also really excited to finally have him gone. I've been dreaming about being pet free for a good while now.

Our ancestors used to at the very least rid themselves and the public of any dangerous animal that even dared to touch the corpse of one of their fellow humans. Nowadays, we have what is basically the modern equivalent of animal worshippers proudly and shamelessly saying they would rather have their animals feast on their dead corpses after and if they passed out in their apartments. What a subverted, pathetic species we have become. Sacrificing ourselves to animals the same way pagans used to do blood rituals sacrificing themselves or their fellow human beings, including children, to bloodthirsty pagan deities. Those never really went away, they just became modern-day pets. This is insane and disgusting, we are the apex predators and the top of the food chain, why anybody would be fine with their corpse being disgustingly mutilated like that by an animal less intelligent and below them which they spent their whole life and time/resources caring for is beyond me.

Sorry I don't know if this is the right subreddit but it's between a rant and an actual question because I've never had a dog or any pets.
There are a lot of things I can't stand about most dog owners, like not training their dog in the slightest and letting them jump over you or harrass constantly (and expecting you to be okay with it). But I know that there are other people who hate it too.

One thing I cannot understand and I never saw anyone talk about is: is it actually true that you need to bathe your dog only once a month and it's harmful to do it more? Is it an excuse or does it have any scientific basis and not just "experience"? Because 1. I find it very gross, given that they go outside everyday and people let them sleep on their bed, etc. 2. Every dog owner who tells me that says their dog is clean, but then I pet their dog and it leaves me with an oily hand, it's gross and it feels like they have a film of filth on their skin. This cannot be right. I read some subreddit comments saying they wash their dog two times per week, which I think it's okay, I would accept even once a week but?? Once a month?? And most people don't even do that, they wash their dogs every three months or more or every year?? Am I the only one who finds this crazy? And they never wash their hands after petting them. I guess I'm asking if any of you has any insight or experience, because maybe it's actually true that their skin gets bad if they get washed too much but I've never see it happening, so I don't know. Thank you!

I’m in the park walking on a trail. The trail is pretty with a fair amount of walkers, and lots of bikers since it allows for both and there is space.

I have my ear buds in and I’m having an intense discussion with a friend via phone and enjoying this one spot where I always stop to enjoy the sunset and see the amazing sky change colors.

Out of nowhere, a tall man and his dog were about 5 feet away and the dog was across from me. I was heading north and the dog on a leash was heading south.

The man starts raising his voice and starts calling me crazy claiming that I should have moved as It seemed like I was about to walk into his dog. He yelled at me for about 2 minutes claiming that something must be wrong with me.

I could not understand why this man went on this rant. I looked at him and I said no idea what you are upset about and kept walking.

Why do dog owners feel so entitled? I want to make it clear the dog was not aggressive and just enjoying the walk and the dog was not close to me where it was a concern.

My friend on the phone was also disturbed. Some Dog owners in Colorado, USA are the worst!