DEAR MISS MANNERS: When I was at the vet with my cat, the staff kept referring to owners as "parents" and pets as "babies" or "children."
I feel the urge to ridicule these types of statements. While I understand that people adore their pets (as do I), I think it is incorrect -- and even offensive -- to put them in the same category as human children. Can you reflect on this topic a little bit?
GENTLE READER: Since the subject is animals, albeit domestic ones, Miss Manners' advice is: Do not poke the bear.
Many pet owners feel as you do -- often strongly enough that they would consider, as you have, doing something that would be quite rude: namely, ridiculing those who disagree. The pet owners who disagree are equally passionate -- with the added incentive that they believe you are attacking not just their pug, but their first-born. Surely this is enough reason to let sleeping dogs lie.