Yes I agree it is fairly harmless. It just makes me squirm to listen to it.
I do actually like animals. I owned cats for forty years and only decided not to replace the last one when it died because I do tend now to no take a lot of holidays. The last cat I owned was "rescued" from a "cat lover" who just couldn't cope with the number of animals she owned. The cat was not properly socialised and was inclined to bite visitors but I think I gave it a good home for seventeen years.
Where I do object to the overly sentimental approach to animal ownership is when it impinges on the life of the animal. Cats locked up in houses all days with no access
to the outside world. Overfed animals suffering from obesity, dogs bought on a whim because they look cute or are fashionable.
A cat is a cat, a dog is a dog. They are not little furry humans. To treat them thus is to mistreat them. They should be treated and respected for what they are.
And why should one seek unqualified love from any creature?
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