Fur babies!

I think people use the term rainbow bridge on social media because it's difficult to know what term to use when telling people they have lost their pet. Put to sleep or euthanised seems rather cold and clinical so it's become a term that other people understand instantly. I don't really see people out and about with dressed up dogs other than in my sighthound walking group in which the dogs wear them because they do feel the cold so maybe it is far more prevalent than I'm aware of. I do think dressing up small dogs and carrying them around gives them small dog syndrome which is to be avoided at all costs. I never used to allow my dogs on the sofa until my current one and, even though she now spends most of her life on the sofa when she was a puppy she went through a phase of being snappy when on the sofa, as if it was her space. She did grow out of it but it did worry me for a while; it was only on the sofa when she was at eye level with me so I did think there was something territorial about it.

Maybee70 when my parents died, I told people that, my Mum/Dad has died, so I don’t understand the problem?

Jaxjacky

Maybee70 when my parents died, I told people that, my Mum/Dad has died, so I don’t understand the problem?

There is no problem. You said they died in a way you were happy with. I’m sure you don’t begrudge others to talk about death in the way that they’re comfortable with.
The only problems arise when people aren’t kind enough to let people mention death the way that makes them feel more comfortable.
And it’s usually the people who prefer to use died or dead that criticise others who use, which is a bit sad.
I can’t remember hearing of someone who prefers passed away, or lost, criticising people who want to say dead.

1yorkieterrier

Dislike phrases like fur babies. Also pooch. Would not put my dog in silly clothes or carry in any form of transport. So degrading.

I am a cat lover but I do like dogs. Except for my friend’s cockerpoo type thing. It’s a nightmare, never been trained, jumps up on random strangers, attempts to hump anything of the right height, slobbers on you, pulls on its lead and has no recall. Frankly it’s just an embarrassment.
I never refer to my cat as a fur baby but he got called a ‘little s**t’ when he delivered a live mouse to my bedroom last night, dropped it proudly and wandered off. I still haven’t found the mouse. He cares not.
I do think he’s good for my blood pressure though. Nothing nicer than the absolute trust I get from such a small creature and the calming sound of a contented purr. But why did he have come and plonk himself on my newly knitted jumper that I was fully intending to sew up? Now it is covered in gritty bits from the rhubarb patch where he likes to sleep and lots of black fur.

Jaxjacky

Maybee70 when my parents died, I told people that, my Mum/Dad has died, so I don’t understand the problem?

The difference is that, unless it's the result of a tragic accident as pet owners we usually have to make the decision to have our animals put to sleep. I, for one never seem to have got the call right and years later still tend to castigate myself for letting them down.

Me too. Yuk!

I would personally avoid "Rainbow Bridge" & "Fur Baby" but many pet dogs are fur babies in the family and if you watch the RSPCA ads, you have to be pleased for them that they are cared for as carefully as a baby would be.

My cats were never my babies. For one thing I have never seen a real human baby sitting under my car (so I couldn’t reach them) dismembering a freshly caught rabbit.

valdavi

I would personally avoid "Rainbow Bridge" & "Fur Baby" but many pet dogs are fur babies in the family and if you watch the RSPCA ads, you have to be pleased for them that they are cared for as carefully as a baby would be.

Well said Vivaldi. Every dog deserves a loving home with owners that put the dogs wellbeing first.
I am a dog owner and treat mine as loving dogs, don’t dress them up etc. If people want to call their dogs “fur babies” and refer to themselves as mummy and daddy, why should that annoy other people? Indeed it isn’t anyone else’s business!
I do have a friend who is rather disapproving of the dog/human bond and I rather enjoy referring to my dogs as “fur babies” just to wind them up!

Dotty123

Is it just me or does anyone else cringe when owners refer to their dogs as ‘fur babies’? Think I’m turning into a grumpy old woman 😠.

I am not sure I understand why that should provoke a reaction from you - what dog owners call their dogs is their own business!
Dogs, and cats have been shown to relieve loneliness and stress and they can be a lifeline to some people, so it’s not surprising some people think of them as fur babies. Part of the human instinct to nurture maybe.

It can be disconcerting to see appeals on Next Door and other social media which say ‘My boy has gone missing’ when it is not a child but a beloved animal.

I would never assume that a post on social media saying 'My boy has gone missing' would be in reference to a child.

Happilyretired123
It’s just something else to moan about. As you say, what people call their dogs is their own business.

part of human nature to nurture

Yes that’s a good point Happikyretited123. During my tough year with bereavement, shoulder break and abdominal surgery meeting the needs of my dogs played a significant role in my following medical and physio advice to the letter.

Don't know about fur babies, but I just love the term cake baby for someone who has put on a lot of weight around the middle, but nothing to do with pregnancy!

Betony

Don't know about fur babies, but I just love the term cake baby for someone who has put on a lot of weight around the middle, but nothing to do with pregnancy!

I think that is quite a cruel term. Probably because I have a lot of weight around the middle with the skinniest legs you've ever seen!

Point taken, icanhandthemback! Just remember what the great Billy Wilder said: 'Nobody's perfect'.

Thank you, Betony. Billy Wilder was quite right!!

I think there are a massive number of dogs in this country. They seemt have become a sub set of homo sapiens.Will not be surpised if the near future they will ne counted in the population and allowed to vote

WithNobsOnIt

I think there are a massive number of dogs in this country. They seemt have become a sub set of homo sapiens.Will not be surpised if the near future they will ne counted in the population and allowed to vote

Couldn’t get it much worse than the present bunch

RosieandherMaw probably an improvement

BlueBelle when an animal dies and goes to the other side (what I call back home) they are guided by the angels. The bridge is made up of the colours of the angels that take them across. E.g.archangel Michael is the blue or indigo.
I know a few mediums and psychics and some of them have actually seen people’s pets go across the rainbow bridge to safety, love and happiness and all illnesses have disappeared

WithNobsOnIt

I think there are a massive number of dogs in this country. They seemt have become a sub set of homo sapiens.Will not be surpised if the near future they will ne counted in the population and allowed to vote

Hmmm the problem would be that not all digs live to 16. Although the 7 dog years to 1 human year would make them just over two. I’m not sure that even the most ardent early boter woukd go for that.

Early voter!!!

Absolutely agree. At the park yesterday in the kids’ playground — children have this small fenced off area while dogs get the rest of the huge park.
And still the ‘fur baby parents’ brought them into the no-dog zone 🤢
Do we have our priorities wrong in this country?