Update: The thread has now been made private (original link) but we have preserved it for posterity.

Here it is:

Unpopular opinion: the modern obsession with dogs & its derivatives (calling oneself a “dog mommy/daddy”, dog items on menus, inviting dogs into spaces where they were once forbidden) is actually a vice, and has disastrous consequences for society.

First things first: as a Christian, I believe dogs—as all things in creation—are created good by a good and loving God. So my issue isn’t that dogs are somehow evil, or commit moral faults. My point is that humans instrumentalize dogs & dog culture in their turning towards vice.

Our family had a dog growing up, a basset hound. He was fat, lazy, and pretty good company. We trained him to use the bathroom in a designated area outside (think of a garden, but for dog waste), washed him regularly, and had clear boundaries with how he behaved in/out the home.

But there seems to be a huge difference between what dog ownership/habits looked like in the 1990’s, and what it looks like today. Maybe it’s because of the Internet, viral videos, and memes, but it seems as if there is now a “dog culture” that is sacred & unquestionable.

For example, it’s accepted as normal to be a “dog mommy/daddy” over being an actual mother or father of a human child. Of course, dogs can provide much-needed companionship to those unable to have children, or to older adults who have no family/friends nearby. That makes sense.

But dogs & dog ownership (or pet ownership, broadly-speaking) cannot replace an actual human family composed of a mother, father, children, & extended family members. Dogs can complement the family unit, can add to a family’s sense of home, but can never replace actual children.

So, from the start, it’s time to stop calling yourself a “dog mommy/daddy.” Presumably, you as a woman did not birth the dog, nor did you as a man participate in generating said dog. Even adoption is a stretch, as there is a substantial difference between adopting a human vs. dog

Today, it’s extremely common to see couples cohabitate before marriage (if that’s even on the radar, at all) & adopt a dog. Aside from being a gross, ersatz substitution for an actual family, it also reflects the contraceptive mentality so prevalent in our Western society.

Yes, children are expensive. Children are often messy, unpredictable, & needy. Caring for children can be stressful and draining. And yet, parents care for these little humans anyway. You know why? Because life isn’t about convenience & instant gratification. It’s about sacrifice

While there are some parallels with caring for dogs & caring for children—making sure they’re fed, cleaning their waste, taking them to the doctor—dogs are less of a commitment in terms of time (10-13 year lifespan) & energy (they don’t have psychological & spiritual needs).

It’s profoundly easier to take care of a dog than it is to raise a child. Perhaps this is one of the motivations for Millennials and Gen Z’s dog obsession: because it’s easier, cheaper, and more convenient than actually raising a family. A family requires far more maturity.

There is also an issue with the ubiquitous presence of dogs in modern society. They are everywhere. You can’t take a walk in the neighborhood, park, farmer’s market, or go into a plane, classroom, church, or restaurant without the possibility of them being there.

You also can’t *say* anything about the dog’s presence without getting accused of “speciesism”, being “judgmental” & non-inclusive, and so on. Sorry, I don’t think it’s okay that your dog is barking at my child & trying to get in his face. No, I don’t think it’s “cute”, at all.

We’ve been psy-op’d into thinking dogs are “just like us!” They’re seen as “man’s best friend”, and you see all of these heartwarming posts captioned “we don’t deserve dogs”. The easiest way to go viral is to post a cute picture or video of a dog doing something. It’s odd.

We also live in a society where it is far more accepted to say “I hate children” than to say “I hate dogs”. We’ve been conditioned into seeing dogs as moral agents comparable to humans. Sorry, Lassie, Buddy from “Airbud”, & Hachikō: you are not as special as people claim you are.

Dog owners are often incapable of distinguishing real differences between dogs and children. Here’s a hint: if it’s a dog, then it’s not a child. Dog owners are also entirely too comfortable with letting their dog invade the spaces of others, and when you say anything, they cry.

“Haha it’s okay, he doesn’t bite!”

I don’t care..? There was once a time where the only time dogs were allowed into certain spaces was when they functioned as service dogs or K-9 units. When did we suddenly open everything up to dogs like it’s normal to bring them everywhere?

I believe businesses should have a bowl of water outside for dogs to drink from, especially during the hot summer months. But why is it normal now to give free things to dogs (Starbucks ‘ “Puppuccino”) and not to children? Why can’t my kid get a small cup of something for free?

If I’m walking the neighborhood with my toddler, I shouldn’t have to worry about your “doggo” charging at us, while you sit outside with overconfidence in your “invisible fence”, which aren’t always effective. If your dog attacks my children, I’ll euthanize him with my two hands.

Anytime we see an article about a dog mauling a child, certain dog owners respond “Ok but don’t bully my breed!” Despite what you think, your beloved dog is still an irrational beast incapable of judgment and discernment. Some breeds are more violent than others. This is science.

The modern obsession with dogs and dog ownership reflects deeper issues within our society— the disdain for children, the prioritizing of the “cute, convenient, and viral” over the messy, sacrificial, and real, the shrinking amount of public, safe spaces for families, etc.

Anyhow, I’m aware this is an unpopular opinion. And I welcome any criticism, as I do for anything I post/write. But after years of witnessing the rise of this “dog culture”, the more I think it’s weird, disturbing, and symptomatic of larger societal issues.