Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Pets Are Not Children!


There seems to be an inordinate number of dog and cat lovers (mostly dogs) in the U.S. today. More so than in the past. People are constantly posting pictures of their pets on Facebook or celebrating their pet's birthdays. Not a week goes by when I don't see the bumper sticker "I love my grand doggy." But pets are not children.
  I think this pet-loving trend is due to people having less children. I notice that married couples without children often have pets that they treat as if they were their children. People whose children are grown long for grandchildren. The natural nurturing instinct is unfulfilled so people try to fulfill it through lavishing love and attention on their pets.
  But pets are not children. They are not family members; they are accessories to a family. They are pets. Children are human beings and pets are animals. A human being is the most complex of God's creation. Animals are limited in their thinking and feeling, not to mention their relatively short lifespan in comparison to people.
  There is nothing wrong with loving a dog or cat. But there does seem something wrong with putting a pet on the same level as a child. Pets can be loyal and affectionate; they make good companions for adults and children. They serve us well. But they are not children; and treating them like children is an affront to God.

No comments:

Post a Comment