Originally Posted by AlphaGamUGAAlum (Post 1477959)

I think it's only something that people without human children can imagine because anyone with human kids isn't going to really love the dog as much.

But for those of us without kids, pets can be pathetic stand-ins that we enjoy spoiling with attention and love that they probably don't appreciate; the food and vet care, I think they appreciate.

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle (Post 1478187)

But at the end of the day, they (animals) are limited by their very nature as to what they can be to me. Relationships with pets do have the advantage of being very simple - but the very complexity of human relationships is one thing that makes them more satisfying in the long run.

Originally Posted by kstar (Post 1478103)

An animal isn't a 25$ investment.

My dogs cost me about $7,000 dollars last year, for food, medicine, vet bills, training classes, and animals don't generally have pet health insurance, so I would have paid more without. Not to mention the sleepless nights that I'm going through now because Tasha (my new foster) was abused in her previous home and howls all night. Or the sleepless nights after Boomer had his GDV surgery, or before we discovered Tips had eaten a sock and we had to wait for it to all pass. As they age, the cost only goes up as vet bills increase and we have to buy specialty items for geriatric dogs.

In return, I get unconditional love, companionship, and something that simply makes me smile. I understand that.

I don't understand the relationship people have with their kids, as generally kids aren't grateful, don't love you unconditionally, and cost the parents both money and their sanity. And everyone around who has to put up with the rugrat.

Originally Posted by DeltAlum (Post 1478118)

It's hard to take your fish for a walk.

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog (Post 1478420)

So, what you're saying is that you wouldn't give your animals up for a million dollars, but if you had kids, they'd be gone in a heartbeat?

I have two kids, a dog and a cat. Either or both of the animals would be gone without a thought for $1M.