When statistics site that a growing number of
households in America are inhabited by single people
without children or by childless couples, it’s easy to
understand why the commercial world caters to pet
owners.

But, God love them, as much as we baby our dogs and
cats, caring for a pet is nothing like caring for a
child.  Let me tell you some of the reasons why.

Dogs and cats don’t roll their eyes when you tell them
to do something.  They don’t throw themselves on the
floor and pitch a fit.  They don’t lie and make you
ask them forty questions before you get a straight
answer.

They don’t smart mouth you.  You never hear them sass
back when they don’t get what they want.  They don’t
hold their breath when you refuse them a treat before
dinner.  And, dogs and cats don’t follow you around
the house tattle-telling on the rest of the animals.

For that matter kids are nothing like pets.

As much as I’d like to, I can’t leave a bowl of food
on the floor and feed them just once a day.  Children
never stop eating, they want variety and the dishes
pile up.  They’re never happy just drinking water.

You also have to bathe them often, sometimes three
times a day depending on their age.  And every time
you let them outside to play they keep running back
inside for more toys as if the ball and the thick
rubber bone out back aren’t entertainment enough.

Usually, kids don’t have to be de-wormed and I’ve
never had to flea-bomb my house because of them.  My
kids don’t shed, they don’t lick their tails and I
don’t mind if they hug my leg.

You see, there are important differences.  Dogs rarely
make it to age sixteen, and cats get slower and more
senile.  When my kids turn sixteen, they’ll just be
getting warmed up.  

And at some point, my kids are going to think it’s
stupid to wear a party hat for their birthday.  Most
dogs and some cats will never realize this.

But, to be fair, pets and children are sometimes very
much alike.

Both can be put on a leash.  Both sometimes love to
howl when they hear a siren.  Both will do almost
anything for a treat.  Both look adorable and
forgivable when they are sleeping.

I think the reason animals are equated to children is
because humans have the capacity to nurture and
childless individuals and mothers of older children
lavish their pets with attention because of this.  But
lets not confuse the species.

I can train my kids to salivate when I ring the dinner
bell, but I’ll never have to form my pet’s moral
conscience.