I think different people have different ideas about the "function" of pets. For me, having a dog helps accomplish several things. It helps me create and stick to a routine in both the short term and the long term, what with the walking and feeding, the baths, monthly tick medicine, vaccinations, etc. This is good for me because it forces me to get at least two hours of light exercise a day and it keeps me from getting lost in my head and coming out of a fog of ideas one or two days later, finding that I've missed appointments and obligations. My dog also reminds me not to take things too seriously. Maybe the day was disappointing, but a little tug-of-war or taking a minute just to enjoy lying on the floor in a patch of sun light might be a good way to refocus on the present moment. The anus thing is true though.
I agree that pets serve many functions and that for me, most of them are emotional. Much like a friend. In fact, steve, there are many friends that I would gladly choose my dogs over. You're lucky my dogs can't edit video :) I of course kid (you are the bomb)... but people/pets/things do not need to have the type of ROI you outline. They need not read brail in order to serve a function. My dogs are like friends but they're definitely not like children. I've always had friends and therefore I could always make that comparison. My bone of contention is when people that haven't had kids claim their pets are like their children. They have no idea.The anus thing is true though.
Ha.
Bwahahahahaha. My wife is wondering why I'm laughing so hard. Hey - I'm not trying to convert anyone here. I probably should have just kept my mouth shut. I firmly acknowledge that I'm the weird one here who doesn't get it- and that's ok. And back to your original point... Yah... Dog park people... When we hang out in person, remind me to tell you about my vizsla friends (is yours a vizsla?)You're lucky my dogs can't edit video
Yep. Vizsla here. Vizsla owners are a proud and extra strange "breed".
This is why it bothers me when people call me "dad" in reference to my dog. There's a difference between interacting with an adult human and a pet that many people like to think mirrors that of the interaction between an adult and a child. I don't have any children, but from teaching I have seen how disturbingly aware children are in ways that pets are not.