Prioritizing Children Over Pets: A Look At The Love Parents Have For Their Offspring

While cycling the other day, I noticed a woman donning a sling-like contraption over her shoulder and around her waist. Peeking out of the sling was the head of a small canine companion.

I have witnessed dogs being pushed in strollers before. I might have even come across people carrying them in purses or bags. However, seeing them swaddled in a sling like a baby? That is genuinely a first for me.

Observing such a sight shouldn’t really bewilder me. Nowadays, pets have become the contemporary substitute for children. Frankly speaking, that is quite lamentable.

To commence with, dog owners invest considerable time in training their furry offspring. Countless classes can be seen in the park where dogs and their owners engage in vital lessons – dogs learn how to behave while owners learn to expect obedience. These classes acknowledge that dogs cannot thrive if given an uncontrolled leash; they necessitate both love and balanced discipline.

Dog owners also dedicate a significant amount of time to their furry companions. They take them for walks, provide them with nutritious meals, engage in play, and have even started organizing playdates with other dogs. All these efforts are made to demonstrate the worth of their pets. Time is fleeting in a dog’s life, so why squander those precious years by giving them minimal attention?

Moreover, dog owners desire to take their pets wherever they go. This is evident in the aforementioned phenomenon where pets accompany their owners to stores, travel on airplanes, and even join them on vacations. They wish for their beloved pets to be respected, appreciated, and admired, along with the care they provide, instead of being scorned or met with judgmental glances.

What if, as a society, we encouraged parents to train their children by instilling a balance of love and discipline rather than allowing them to run wild and do as they please?

What if, as a society, we encouraged parents to spend quality time with their children instead of insisting that both parents work and place their children in daycare or institutional schools?

What if, as a society, we celebrated and embraced children, exalting their parents and respecting them for raising two, three, four, or even more little miracles, as opposed to rolling our eyes when they bring their offspring along to the grocery store or asking if they are finished procreating?

The increasing prevalence of dog owners treating their pets like children may seem amusing to those adhering to a practical and traditional worldview. However, this actually reflects a mirror image of our societal issues. One of these problems is redirecting the love, care, and responsibility that should be bestowed upon our nation’s children toward non-human beings.

Why have we done so? Perhaps it is because we are apprehensive about the impact children may have on our individual lives. Owning a pet entails responsibility, but it does not demand the selfless dedication to another’s welfare that a child requires.

The truth is, raising children is an arduous task. However, they also reveal our true, self-centered selves, and most of us do not wish to see that reflection in the mirror. Furthermore, we are not willing to make the necessary sacrifices to become the role models and examples that our children need. Consequently, we remain devoted to our pets, becoming exceptional dog owners who can direct our love towards them at a much lower mental, emotional, and physical cost.

Indeed, dog owners have much to teach us. Let us not allow these valuable lessons to go to waste. Instead, let us start applying them to our children and grandchildren, committing ourselves sacrificially to train them in truth, beauty, and righteousness.