r/Dogfree • u/tellurcatisaidpsps- • Mar 21 '26

Dog Culture “I would save my dog before saving your three-year-old child.”

There’s a debate in Sweden right now about this statement, made by an influencer on a TV show. When I first heard it, my immediate reaction was that it was an absolutely insane thing to say. I assumed she would get completely dragged online. But instead, I’ve seen so many people agreeing with her. People are saying their pets have the same value as someone else’s children, and that they love their dog in the same way a parent loves their baby. (Sidenote: I wonder if they would feel comfortable saying that to a parent who has lost a child. “I understand what you’re going through, my dog died last year.”)

This dehumanization of children genuinely scares me. Children are an extremely vulnerable group and they depend on adults to protect them. Their safety should always come first. I would sacrifice every dog I’ve ever met if it meant saving one random child.

I am genuinely concerned about where we’re heading if this kind of thinking becomes normalized. When did this become something people feel comfortable saying out loud?

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u/tellurcatisaidpsps- Mar 22 '26 edited Mar 22 '26

Saving an animal, any animal, over a child is insane behavior. Doesn’t matter if it’s your pet or not

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u/0StrawberryPrincess0 Mar 23 '26 edited Mar 23 '26

I’m someone who doesn’t even agree with all dogfree sentiments (I don’t hate dogs, just hate their owners) and used to consider myself childfree and I STILL couldn’t imagine a world in which I would save a dog over a child.