I used to have kids. They grew up and had kids. Now I have grandchildren, which is far more delightful than having children. I have always had pets.

With those credentials, I submit this possibility: The childless person who is telling you about her pets is trying to communicate, as in, hold a 2-sided conversation - i.e.; you say something and then I say something - instead of the one-sided "me, myself and my life" monologue that Robert prefers.

In grown-up life, we are often forced to feign interest. Please consider the possibility that absolutely no one is interested in your trip to the ER. No one. They're faking it. You fake interest in their pets and we'll all be civil.

After 15 years of working with animals, I've come to realize that people get really weird over their pets. And some honestly believe that having an emergency with the dog is comparable to an emergency with a child.

Grownups also know the difference between the health of a child and a pet. I'm not picking on those who know this and truly love their pets, I'm picking on those who are clueless as to the vast difference between being a parent and being a pet owner. And Kayris is right: some people are truly werd about their pets, and while they might THINK it is the same thing, they have yet to experience it and therefore are in the dark. It's just an observation I've made, no hatred towards these type of people, just something I've seen and experienced that puzzles me , especially becasue the "me myself and my life" conversation actually is alweays started by the other person. You ask, I tell you about something actual for 25 seconds, then go one to hear for 5 minutes how something you went through is somehow the same. That's the pet peeve Granny.

well, it is comparable to an emegency with a child - they are both family members. I dont get it when people reason that they are giving away pets because they have a child. Would you give up part of your family? Apparently so.

I'd agree that it is comparable, but those who know will tell you it is not all that similiar. In reference to those who think something might be a big deal, try experiencing the so-called "comparable" event and tell me then how similiar these really are. Again, I am a pet lover, just find it quite odd when those who think leaving their bird with a neighbor or having their cat watched by a friend is somehow the same as something like going on a week-long buisness trip two times zones away. The part that becomes the pet peeve is when you mention something sort of matter of factly, then they dwell over somethig that is not even close to the same level of worry or concern.

Go Granny! You are right on the mark. I have kids and pets. I love them both but not in the same way. But if I'm telling parenting stories to someone who has no children, what should I expect them to say? They are trying to relate and so they talk about the closest experience for them.

Now what gets me is when the truly crazy pet owners (and they are really a small minority) expect the same rights for their pets at children, like their menacing dogs should run free in the park making it impossible for my children to do the same. Though it's futile, I have tried to explain to some the children are *people* and dogs are not.

In their hearts a pet might equate with a child. But what's in their heart is their business, as long as they don't expect the rest of us to do more than politely nod when they make that equation.

Exactly LB, that is the heart of what I'm talking about. It's a matter of understanding the difference between the two situations. I get an erarful about a pet experience that hardly relates to what a parent goes through. I almost laugh myself away from the argument.