human pets

A few days ago one of Jennifer's coworkers announced that she is expecting a baby.  This woman already has a dog and couple of cats.  Another coworker told Jennifer that he had told the mom-to-be that once the baby comes she will hate her pets.  Jennifer said she really doubted that.  The guy said 'oh yes, once you have kids animals just become annoying.'

Jennifer has heard this claim, and others like it, several times before.  It goes along with the theory that people who have pets really want children and the animals are just kid-substitutes.  Jennifer agrees that there certainly are people like that (these are also generally the people who get little rat-sized dogs, dress them up in clothes and push them around in baby strollers).  She will grant you that if the animal is just a baby place holder, one the person gets an actual baby they may not have as much use for the pet.  But she argues that if you have animals in the first place b/c you like them you're not going to start hating them once the kids come along.

Of course, when Jennifer tries to argue the point she tends to get a reply along the lines of a condescending little pat on the head and "you just don't understand b/c you don't have children."  She even had one person say to her "when you have kids you'll never want a pet again."  And in response to her question of why, then, are there so many people who have both, he said "well, that's because the kids want pets.  The parents never do."  Never?  Really?