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Our relationship with our dogs has levelled up from the friend zone to full-blown blood!
No longer mere mongrels, dogs have snuck their way up the ranks and have now turned into our proudest creations.
It's become the norm to refer to our dogs as "fur babies", and us, their owners, as dog parents.
As to why and how this has occurred, we'll leave that to our canine masterminds, but for one South Korean couple, raising a fur baby over a human one was purely financial.
"We both work and don't have the time so the thought of having a baby never crossed our minds," says proud pet parent Kang Sung-il, who shared his reasoning with Reuters TV.
Preferring instead to parent their 5-year-old Pomeranian, Sancho, Kang and his wife feel the same way about their pooch as parents feel toward their human offspring.
"Whenever I go on business trips abroad, I always bring something back for Sancho because I'm his dad."
Kang is not alone.
Also see: How dogs could make children better readers
Have you chosen to raise dogs instead of children? Tell us your story and we could publish your letter. If you'd like to stay anonymous, let us know.
Puppy love is real love
In 2017, pet sitting company Rover polled thousands of American dog parents revealing that when it comes to our fur babies, we're super devoted.
Considering their dog as a full member of the family rang true for 94% of those polled, with 56% of owners confessing to celebrating their dog's birthday.
For 47%, leaving work earlier to let the dog out was a regular occurrence.
Personalised gifts were not considered over the top for 39% of dog moms and dads, and 88% said they leave the TV on just so their lovies don't get lonely.
Also see: The goodest good boy: the 7-year-old who invented a holiday for dogs
Pet peeve
While dog love is intense for some, others, like The Cut writer M.A. Wallace, is calling bull on the whole idea.
Missing the days where people referred to themselves as pet parents in jest, Wallace pulls the rug out from under the beautiful dream that is pet parenthood:
"We should remember that pets are extensions of us. We keep them to meet our needs, not theirs. Though we fantasize that person and pet meet as equals and join forces out of mutual admiration and respect, that’s not how it is.
"Pets are biological Tamagotchi, and their dependence is absolute, built in to ensure their perpetual obedience. You can’t 'parent' a pet because you aren’t teaching it how to leave you and become an independent being. Your pet is stuck with no choice but to love you. Even Snoopy, who lived wild and free in his mind, never left Charlie Brown. He knew who had the supper dish."
While he has a point, we doubt his argument stands a chance against the kind of special that is the dog-human connection.
Love is irrational, after all.
Chat back:
Have you chosen to raise dogs instead of children? Tell us your story and we could publish your letter. If you'd like to stay anonymous, let us know.
