Comments on: We’re not kidding: Sunday is National Pet Parents Day!

By: Colorado Transplant

Colorado Transplant — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:27:32 +0000

Sounds like McKenzie needs a rest from all that “neediness” from her kids, I mean pups.

By: Gina Spadafori

Gina Spadafori — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:04:18 +0000

MCKenzie says she absolutely can’t wait until her kids are out of the house and sending her cards. And she has six more weeks of parenting to go!

By: Colorado Transplant

Colorado Transplant — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:59:17 +0000

This Sunday I wish you, McKenzie, Happy Pet Parent Day! You have done a wonderful job with your pups so far.

Since the animals and the humans are all mammals, we all deserve to celebrate, I say!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Nadine L.

Nadine L. — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:47:11 +0000

Must say I’m with Gina, Kim and 2CatMom on this issue. I do have human children and clearly know the difference. I’d never teach my human kids to sit on a stool, put a treat on their nose and have them flip it into their mouths on command…real kids learn this on their own…but the Mini Schnauzer…well, I had to teach him. ;) He seemed to want to entertain and would get very silly. Tell me again how they’re not like humans. He also wore a red peppermint striped sweater in winter for warmth. The two Bouviers and Mini Schnauzer patiently donned their matching yellow slickers because they seemed to make the connection that they would not get cold or soaked through on long walks in the rain. And, yes, the sight was amusing to people in passing cars who would smile and wave to us, but that was not my intent. When they were little, my two boys would dress the dogs up in all sorts of get-ups and giggle to beat the band. They’d also dress up the rabbits and guinea pig and sit them in their toy fire engines and airplanes. Then they’d put themselves in ridiculous costumes for fun too. I just always saw it as rampant creativity.

Always, to differentiate my role as pet parent versus human child parent, I referred to myself when speaking to or about our dogs as their “Mama” instead of “Mom” or “Mommy,” which is what the boys called me. When my boys were growing up I never referred to the dogs as my boy or girl. Since there are no human kids in the house today, I confess that I now do. Truth be told, I have an enormous Mama’s Boy living with me (a little separation anxiety going on - the result of living in a backyard, not allowed in the house, for three years prior to coming to live with us). I do not dress up my current two dogs and cat, although some days they should be wearing t-shirts that say “Talk to the Hand.” ;O) Regarding my position as a mother of young boys back then, and of dogs then and now, I am the loving authority who has provided the finest care available, all in the interest of their well-being. Must have worked. They all keep coming home! ;)

By: Original Lori

Original Lori — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:44:38 +0000

Jill, that sounds like my mom…who although she claims she’s “not a dog person,” makes Kasey soy-butter toast in the mornings when she dogs sits, and has to buy him a stuffie every time she sees one.

By: Jill

Jill — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:33:31 +0000

She has 6 grandkids from my two brothers, so my sister and I are free to have dogs for children. And, my mom is very happy with her grand dogs and puppysits them when I am out of town, spoiling them rotten. My parents have no dogs, but still have a counter full of dog treats. :-)

By: Gina Spadafori

Gina Spadafori — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:45:01 +0000

Jill … does you mother known her four-legged grandkids are the only ones she’s getting? :)

By: Jill

Jill — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:38:57 +0000

I would rather be called a Mom because of my dogs than I would because of a two legged creature. (spoken like someone with 3 dogs and no kids)

By: 2CatMom

2CatMom — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:09:45 +0000

I’m with Gina on this. Calling myself a cat Mom doesn’t mean I dress them up or expect them not to act like cats. It means that I care about them as individuals - they are not disposable or replaceable like furniture. And to me Mom (or Guardian, or Owner) means that I take responsibility for their well being for their entire lives.

By: Gina Spadafori

Gina Spadafori — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:20:02 +0000

I was happy to find out that AP style says to refer to animals as a he or she unless the gender has not been established or you don’t know their name.

Still leaves room for an it though, but less awkward than “he or she”

Comment by Sheyna — April 23, 2009

One of the horse-racing announcers on ESPN, Kenny Mayne, INSISTS on referring to horses as “it.” This is utterly ridiculous, since the gender of a racehorse is listed in the program, and because much of the value of a racehorse has everything to do with his status as a “not it.” But Mayne is so bad in other ways I hit “mute” when he’s talking now.